AMBIVALENT ABOUT POT LAWS

The idea of legalizing marijuana has never been something I have
seriously considered. More recently, as the issue of legalizing
marijuana for medical purposes in Wisconsin has become a realistic
possibility, and one that I support, I began exploring the pros and
cons more carefully. In this process, I learned that Wisconsin was
actually the 33rd state to legalize marijuana for medical use in 1982,
although the statutes later were changed. I wonder why that happened.

Many experts believe that marijuana is no more harmful than other
drugs that we legally use regularly, such as alcohol, tobacco,
caffeine and some prescription medications. Many believe that when
used in moderation, marijuana is actually less harmful, although that
likely is true for just about everything.

Others believe that marijuana is the stepping stone to hard drug use,
including cocaine or heroin. Wisconsinites already have major problems
with drunken drivers and alcohol-related tragedies, and I'm worried
about compounding the dangers with stoned driving - not that this
isn't happening already. I wonder just how many people are driving
their kids to and from school under the influence of Valium, Xanax,
Percocet and the plethora of mind-altering medications prescribed to
millions. I'm not sure if, or how, marijuana is different from that.

Our legal system is overwhelmed, and our prisons are filled with
people convicted of crimes related to small-time marijuana possession.
I most certainly want criminal behaviors to be addressed and
appropriately punished. But I also wonder what effect there might be
in terms of our legal and parole systems if marijuana were legal. I
have to anticipate that court time and resources would be freed up for
more serious crimes. With legalization, drug dealers would lose their
business, the illegal trade competition, and the subsequence violence
wouldn't be necessary anymore. That certainly sounds like a good thing.

The tax revenue that could be generated from legalization likely would
be tremendous. and I wonder what legalization would mean to the Food
and Drug Administration. Think of the enormous sums that are pulled in
with alcohol and tobacco alone. At the same time, I don't believe that
making decisions solely on the basis of finances is a good idea in any
situation.

Overall, what I worry about most is our children and how legalization
might affect the health and welfare of our greatest resource. I worry
about how it might change the way adults parent, how available and
responsive parents might be if they're using. I know that alcohol has
most certainly changed the practices of many parents - and certainly
not for the better.

I don't know what the right answer is, and I'm ambivalent about the
issue. But what I do know is that the declared war on drugs has been a
massive failure. Our approach to dealing with drug and addiction
issues, as well as legalization, needs some updating.

I hope that we can look at our cultural beliefs, habits and legal
guidelines and explore them thoughtfully, with the backing of science
and evidence. That I am not ambivalent about at all.

Lori Pyter of Germantown is a licensed psychologist.