Keep it taboo

   My generation condones smoking pot. Sure, I think the opening scene of Super Troopers is hilarious, but does that mean I endorse running around like a bunch of extras from a Cheech and Chong movie? Absolutely not.
   Regardless of how common it is, or how socially acceptable it has become, marijuana is still a drug, and it's still illegal. Know what else is illegal? Jaywalking. Sure, you do it all the time, but if a cop sees you, you're going to get a ticket. Pot is illegal for a reason too. It's harmful. Side effects vary – memory loss, anxiety, depression, lethargy and impairment of motor skills. Organizations like the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws have bushels of reasons to legalize weed – it's good for medical use, it will free space in overcrowded jails, it's harmless and, my personal favorite, Europe did it, so why can't we?
   The active ingredient in pot is THC. This can be helpful to ease nausea in cancer patients, increase appetite in AIDS patients, help with sleeplessness and apparently relieve headaches. The active ingredient in heroin is opium, which is effective for pain. Vicodin, Oxycotin and codeine are all synthetic opiates. The key word here being synthetic. Likewise with marijuana, you don't need to smoke it to reap its medical benefits.
   According to NORML, our jails are filled with nonviolent drug offenders arrested after just trying to have a good time. Maybe not. People found guilty of possession of marijuana are usually sentenced to rehabilitation programs.
   Like the argument for lowering the drinking age, many contend that Europe's lax drug laws have paved the way for a more reasonable approach. Actually, many European countries have strict drug laws, and the Netherlands only allows the sale of pot in what they refer to as coffee shops.
   The legalization of marijuana would lead to a whole new generation of slackers. I know this is harsh, but it's true. There's always that kid who would rather lay in bed or sit on the couch with a joint and an issue of MAD magazine rather than go out and get fresh air, go to school, go to work, or make friends. Now, multiply that tenfold. Legalizing it would only open up weed to a new generation seeking escape without knowing pot can only make their problems worse.