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the teachers had talked about the dangers of marijuana addiction. But her mother worked multiple jobs and seemed fine. The use of medical and recreational marijuana was legal in her state, and her mother had a legal prescription. It was for anxiety, which her mother had fought from a very early age. Her doctors agreed that it was best for Jenny, because no other antianxiety medications seemed to work for her. When Margaret turned 17, her mother asked her about pot on her birthday. It was right during her birthday party in front of her best friends and boyfriend, Gary. Her friends had already tried marijuana years earlier, and some of them smoked regularly. Gary even talked of becoming a marijuana farmer and was an advocate for the legalization of recreational marijuana use. Margaret wasn’t sure how to answer. This story illustrates the very real conflicting messages that many people experience every day regarding marijuana. For many years, it was demonized as a dangerous drug that was on the level of cocaine and heroin. Scare-mongering films like Reefer Madness exaggerated the dangers of the drugs and terrified a generation. However, the reality about marijuana is much more complex than other substances. That’s because studies have found that this drug has positive benefits. For that reason, more than 20 states have both fully legalized marijuana medically and recreationally. Many other states have legalized marijuana to some degree, but still made it illegal to use marijuana recreationally. With that said, the federal government still bans the use and sale of marijuana and treats it like a dangerous substance. Meanwhile, marijuana advocates, like Margaret’s mother and boyfriend, are saying that the pros outweigh the cons or saying that marijuana is completely safe. The truth, as you may expect, is more complex than either side allows.

Society’s Complex Relationship with Marijuana

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