MARIJUANA USE DEBATED

Is The Leafy Green A Vice, A Dangerous Drug Or A Casual Pastime?

Drugs are bad. This consensus has driven the questionable War on
Drugs in the United States, the criminalization of anything with the
word "hallucinatory" in the description and the mantra repeated by at
least three generations of parents in North America.

But of all the red-lighted substances in the legal gamut, the most
controversial drug by a mile is marijuana.

Is marijuana a vice, or is it just "a lot of fun," in the words of
occasional user Derrick King?

"You don't need it in essence," said King. "You can be aware that you
want a toke, but you can ignore it; it doesn't reach the point of addiction."

Marijuana, cannabis, pot, green, dope, grass, etc., is a
naturally-growing plant that when smoked, produces distortions in
sensory input, memory and motor-related activities, according to an
informational package released by the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba.

"Under the influence, you are less competent to do tasks that require
more attention or organization," said Bruce Bolster, a professor of
psychology at the University of Winnipeg. "Memory and understanding
of facts are impaired or distorted."

Marijuana culture is active and kicking in Winnipeg, said Kevin
Trosky, owner of The Urban Bakery, an urban design store that sells
smoking paraphernalia on Portage Avenue.

"I think the culture is more alive today than it has ever been...
It's becoming more acknowledged and accepted by the masses," he said.

According to a poll by Health Canada, cannabis use among young people
is at the highest levels it has been in 25 years. The survey found
that 34 per cent of people aged 12 to 19 have used the drug more than
once, and 67 per cent had smoked cannabis before they were 15.

But experts say students are better off reaching for the bottle due
to prevention laws.

"Smoking marijuana is not as good as drinking, mainly because of the
infrastructure set up around the two drugs," said Harinder Aujila, a
professor of psychology at the U of W.

"For instance, though we have bars and places for people to drink,
there are also programs aimed to prevent drunk driving and advising
against heavy drinking. There is nothing of the sort for cannabis."

Aujila said that in general, cannabis is no lighter drug than anything else.

"All drugs are harmful. They hijack the reward system in the brain,
so you're getting positive feedback from something that may not be
very good for you."

However, Bolster said our mind might just be hard-wired for marijuana use.

"An interesting tidbit you can take away is that there are specific
receptors in the brain for the chemicals within cannabis."

The effects are therefore "not irreversible," he said.

As for marijuana's vice status, Trosky is on the fence.

"I think almost everything we enjoy can be a vice... That said, I
could go an entire week without smoking, but I would have a rough day
if I missed my morning coffee."

While marijuana sales and use are illegal in Canada, paraphernalia
and cannabis growth stores are littered throughout Winnipeg; The
Urban Bakery is located at 398 Portage.

[sidebar]

Words from the public

If only university students ruled the world...

"It's fun to do it. That's why people think they are addicted, 'cause
they feel better while high. It's not a vice 'cause I said so,"
- -Chava Rosenblit, first year, University of Manitoba

"The rehab for marijuana is two weeks. It's ridiculous. Who gets
addicted to marijuana, honestly?" -Lisa Brown, first year, University
of Winnipeg