July 29, 2022

Everywhere I turn, people are getting high. From the streets of NYC in Manhattan, successful women known as “stiletto stoners” or yoga studios, I’ve been following the normalization of it all. As marijuana use becomes more accepted, normal and legal, I can’t help but wonder…is this progress? I believe there are 2 major driving forces behind legalization that are: a) money and b) legislation created by those that, well, smoke weed and never stopped since college.

The background I have in addiction is what gives me this pause. I have seen patients having full blown panic attacks, psychotic episodes and unable to sleep for months on end because they were smoking marijuana daily. The THC that gives the high in marijuana is to blame as strains become more potent, edibles more popular and then there’s “dabs” or “wax” which is pure THC; the effect of this on a person appear to be like someone on heroin…totally catatonic, My point is, legalizing marijuana and thinking it’s no big deal can lead to addiction and physical, mental/emotional problems down the road. It may start off innocently as most addictions do.

I also can’t help but think about American society and what it is about us that drives this desire to detach from reality? Why are we so addicted to quick “fixes?” Our cell phones remove us from the moment. Having a drink dulls whatever….and now marijuana? Why are we so stressed out? Isn’t there a better way to relieve stress without opening the door to a potential rabbit hole?