SIFTING THROUGH THE SMOKE SCREEN

Not the easiest debate to wander into, this pot debate. I need to say right
now, my mind is not set one way or the other regarding the legalization, or
at the very least decriminalization of marijuana. So this is not a column
to sway opinion one way or another. This is the start of a long overdue
decision.

First, where is everyone at, anyway?

The ones that smoke, well, we know they say it should be legalized so they
don't have to head all the way down to buddy's place to score their dope.
Chances are that buddy is being watched, or at the very least has a few
things on site that aren't considered as gentle as pot. Get busted with
him, or her, and it's a different story than getting nabbed with a joint or
two. Then there's the old farts. The ones that figure if a 40 pounder was
good enough for them, it should be good enough for you, too. They look at
pot as "dope" and those who toke as dopey. As in when they toke they can't
express an opinion without dozing off or making no sense. (Curiously, the
40-pounder advocates are often the same ones who get hammered, scream at
their spouses, get impaired charges, suffer from DT's frequently and kid
about their addiction.)

Young children, they inherently know pot is not so cool. The DARE program
taught them that pot leads to other things. More importantly, they're
already high on life. What do they need a substitute for?

Then there's the reformed crowd. Many of them smoked dope, snorted coke,
licked their chops at a syringe, and almost died climbing the ladder. They
say legalizing pot is not the way to go because then we pretty well
guarantee that all kids will try it, and get their first leg on the rung.
So many ways to turn.

The religious can't say much. They're into the wine before noon most Sundays.

The military knows that it's better to have soldiers with hangovers on the
guns than flakes with a buzz on. It's the whole aggression thing.

Me, I say the answer lies with the children. Before they get hung up in
looking good and being cool, they show me that the whole idea that we
adults need to get high to be happy is simply false. Kids get out of bed
happy, and then the world sets about offering them reasons why they
shouldn't be. This pot debate is enough to make a guy drink.

Have you made your mind up yet?