TO USE IS HUMAN, TO ABSTAIN, DIVINE

The Editor,

Whether one should use marijuana or any other mood-altering drug is really
founded on one essential question: Do human beings have a divine nature or
are they just animals?

If one believes humans at their core are divine in nature, then one must
also believe that there is a "completenessa " as well. Consequently, if
human beings are essentially divine and completea then to participate in
anything that diminishes this truth is an affront to that person's divine
essence. Concurrently, if, as a society, we share this belief, the use of
mood-altering substances would be a considered criminal.

What ultimately becomes clear is that there is a strong correlation between
individual and collective spirituality, and the use of mood-altering
substances; the more grounded a person is in the belief of human divinity
and completeness, the less likely that person is to use drugs or engage in
anything that diminishes that truth. The opposite is also true.

Accordingly, since people use marijuana to alter their mood, they must be
in one of two camps: 1) they believe they have a divine core but do not
have a good relationship with their core self; or 2) they do not believe
that human beings are divine and divinely inspired, and, consequently, they
are relegated to the pursuit of personal pleasure and the avoidance of
personal pain.

At the end of the day, there's only one question with regards to marijuana
use: Whose side are you on?

John Solano, Port Moody