2 SMOKERS DISCUSS THEIR USE OF POT

Following are conversations with two real people who regularly use
marijuana. Lauren's name has been changed to protect her identity, while
Bruce allowed the newspaper to use his real first name.

Lauren, 19, is a Fond du Lac native and currently a sophomore at University
of Wisconsin-Milwaukee:

Q: How long have you been smoking pot?

About seven months.

Q: How often do you smoke?

About every other day, but now that I'm living at home for the summer, I
don't get the opportunity very much.

Q: Have you ever been drunk?

A: I've been high more than I've been drunk. I don't like being drunk. I
don't like being out of control of my body.

Q: What does it feel like for you?

A: I'm not a giggly high. I don't feel stupid, just feel really glad to be
wherever I am. I think people should be happy that they are on this earth.
I feel so nice and so happy. You don't feel invincible, you forget about
what is going wrong in your life, that big assignment, your boyfriend
dumping you. You are just with your friends and you are happy. n Q: How do
you feel about the claim that marijuana is a gateway drug?

A: Marijuana isn't a gateway drug to me because I don't have any desire to
do any other drugs.

Q: How much does it cost?

A: Depends on what kind you get. The really good stuff is the bud, called
"nugs" or nuggets --$50 for an eighth of an ounce. Or there's something
cheaper, called "schwag" --$20 an eighth of an ounce.

Q: Do you live in fear and secrecy?

A: You can't go around broadcasting that you smoke marijuana, but you don't
have to do it in an alley. There are a lot of people who are down with
smoking marijuana. I can't tell you how many friends I made that I have
that in common with. They're like, `Do you want to hang out,' and we do,
somebody pulls out their stash, we get stoned and the day goes on. It's not
a big deal. You have the freedom and you don't feel guilty about it because
it becomes a part of your life.

Q: Do you get stoned before class?

A: Never done that; I made a promise to myself that I would never smoke
before class.

Q: Has it affected you academically?

A: I got better grades than I did my entire life. Honestly, I smoked more
marijuana the first three weeks of my second semester, and I got better
grades then I ever did in my life -- I was so happy. I don't think there is
a connection. I would like to say there is a connection but I don't think
there is.

Q: Why do you do it?

A: It gives you a feeling of happiness. It is not like I need the drug. I
could throw everything away tomorrow and not feel upset. I could make the
decision to not ever do it again and I would be fine. I do it because it
makes me feel good and takes my mind off certain things in my life, and
it's all right. I don't feel like it makes me sick.

Q: What about amotivational syndrome?

A: I don't feel it makes me less concerned about my appearance and forget
about my job and schoolwork. I don't have amotivational syndrome. I must be
strong willed.

Q: What would your parents say if they knew?

A: I think some parents smoked pot in the 1960s and '70s but I don't know
if mine did. I assume the worst, because they are pretty protective. They
would think they I lowered myself to that. I guess they would be really
upset; so would a lot of other adults in my life.

Bruce, 47, is married with two children. He has been employed full-time for
the last 13 years as an inventory control specialist.

Q: How long have you been smoking?

A: Since age 18 -- almost 30 years.

Q: How did you get into it?

A: Friends. Curiosity. When I was a sophomore in high school, a teacher
would pull out newspaper articles that related to marijuana, and I remember
thinking if I ever got the chance, I would like to try it. It was a shrill
commentary on the horrors of marijuana. But people weren't dying on the
streets. I got the chance when I was just about out of high school.

Q: Do you keep it secret from your kids?

A: They know about it. We waited for an age-appropriate time to tell them
They asked questions about drugs and marijuana in particular. Given my
participation in several drug policy reform groups, I gave them factual
information. And they asked, `Did you?' and I said `Yes, I have and some of
my friends have as well.' I was honest. I am a very responsible person. I
don't break any other laws, other than that one.

Q: What did your kids learn at school about drugs?

A: DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) has done a horrible thing and has
filled kids with lies and propaganda. They have brought literature home
from DARE, and it's mostly lies.

Q: What do you mean, lies?

A: I would suggest doctors and nurses talk about health problems related to
the smoking aspect, and not tell kids things that can't be proven -- like
it causes brain damage and it's a gateway drug. DARE is run by police who
have a vested interest. They tell kids to turn their parents in. The drug
war has ruined thousands of people's lives. Employers are reluctant to hire
people with illegal drug arrests, so people go on welfare. We have
exasperated all of our systems, because we have made an innocuous plant illegal.