A recent phenomenon is walking down the street of your neighborhood and picking up the scent of marijuana. All of a sudden it’s no longer a strange occurrence. Apparently, pot smoking is everywhere. It’s no longer only at concerts and in clubs, but it’s also outside schools, at the beach and in public parks.
Young people feel that there’s nothing wrong with a little pot. How often have you heard it compared to just having a few beers. Adults have their booze and the kids have their pot.
The de Blasio Administration even supports the legalization of marijuana rather than trying to enforce any ban on the drug, simply because it’s out of control. Think of all the taxes the government could collect if it regulated marijuana in the same way that it “controls” alcohol.
Couldn’t the government’s efforts and money be better spent on drug education and recovery programs – helping folks avoid the temptation of drugs, and not turn a blind eye to the problem!
Rather than helping our kids get off drugs, the City seems to want to encourage them to take drugs and ruin their lives and everyone’s around them.
Does the Church have a position on decriminalizing marijuana? Try this quote from Pope Francis: “Let me state this in the clearest terms possible. The problem of drug use is not solved with drugs. Drug addiction is an evil, and with evil there can be no yielding or compromise.”
That’s pretty clear and straight forward!
The New England Journal of Medicine says this: “Adolescents’ increased vulnerability to adverse long-term outcomes from marijuana use is probably related to the fact that the brain, including the endocannabinoid system, undergoes active development during adolescence.”
Frequent use of marijuana in teens leads to curiosity about other drugs and leads to more potent substances. Hence, the term ‘gateway’ drug. Almost all heroin or cocaine addicts started with smoking pot.
The recent demonstrations in Manhattan in favor of legalized cannabis – a more palatable term for pot – were discouraging. At least one gubernatorial candidate was there, pandering to the young vote. Probably the others won’t be far behind.
Several years ago, Bishop Salvatore Cordileone, then the Bishop of Oakland, spoke out against legalization in California.
“The ingestion of brain-altering chemicals – legal or illegal – cannot be categorized as good stewardship of our earthly lives,” he said.
In addition, a move to make marijuana use legally and socially acceptable could “then lead to the faulty conclusion that it is also morally acceptable,” the bishop said.
“Adding the use of marijuana to the list of activities that are legal – but not necessarily moral – does not benefit society.
“Widespread use of marijuana will inevitably lead to deteriorating health and increased accidents, with the consequent health care costs involved.” In addition, a black market in marijuana might continue among those who do not want to pay the new taxes, he said.
Legalize pot? Let’s hope the whole movement goes up in smoke!
