People Who Punish Other People for Using Marijuana
Here’s a substance abuse counselor describing a new diversion program for marijuana offenders:
Could it be that marijuana wasn’t impacting their lives? If you forced a bunch of people into treatment for enjoying poetry, they’d be confused too. But after 48 hours of court-mandated therapy, I bet they’d tell you whatever you wanted to hear just to get the hell out of there. People can be terribly insincere when you hold a gun to their head.
I’m not saying there aren’t people who can benefit from marijuana treatment, but rather that having some in your pocket is a wildly insufficient diagnostic criteria for marijuana addiction. That’s like saying you’re an alcoholic if you have beer in the fridge.
And yet, despite the complete lunacy of indiscriminately forcing recreational marijuana users to complete drug addiction treatment, there are some who strongly believe a harsher approach is needed:
No, there don’t have to be consequences for your actions. There just don’t. If someone smokes marijuana 1,000 times and nothing bad happens, then it’s all good. There is no logical reason on earth why there have to be consequences for people who enjoy marijuana. Just leave them alone.
"We've had two groups go through the program now, and we are just thrilled with the results we've seen," she said. "Individuals are coming in with no real perception of how marijuana is impacting their lives." [Toledo Blade]
Could it be that marijuana wasn’t impacting their lives? If you forced a bunch of people into treatment for enjoying poetry, they’d be confused too. But after 48 hours of court-mandated therapy, I bet they’d tell you whatever you wanted to hear just to get the hell out of there. People can be terribly insincere when you hold a gun to their head.
I’m not saying there aren’t people who can benefit from marijuana treatment, but rather that having some in your pocket is a wildly insufficient diagnostic criteria for marijuana addiction. That’s like saying you’re an alcoholic if you have beer in the fridge.
And yet, despite the complete lunacy of indiscriminately forcing recreational marijuana users to complete drug addiction treatment, there are some who strongly believe a harsher approach is needed:
Bowling Green Police Chief Gary Spencer said he does not believe allowing people charged with a crime to complete an educational program and have the charge dismissed deters future crime.
"I'm not sold on any diversion program because I think it's a 'get out of jail free' card," he said. "It's giving someone a warning. To me, there has to be consequences for your actions."
No, there don’t have to be consequences for your actions. There just don’t. If someone smokes marijuana 1,000 times and nothing bad happens, then it’s all good. There is no logical reason on earth why there have to be consequences for people who enjoy marijuana. Just leave them alone.
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