Hi, my name is Rosalio Reyes and I am from San Antonio, TX. Personally I have never engaged in the use of marijuana, but whenever I state that I fall in the sided spectrum of against its legalization I am often told that according to society I simply “do not know what I am talking about” due to my lack of engagement with the drug. However, marijuana has affected my life in a way that has shaped my opinion.
Back home we had a very close family friend that I have known since I was born. This friend, whose name I shall not reveal, was considered part of our family even until the day his job had him transfer to the state of Colorado. Once there, I began to hear my family talk about him briefly on occasion at dinner stating that he began to smoke marijuana. I was shocked at first when hearing this news. I would have never imagined a close family friend smoking pot until the day when I realized I was not to imagine it.
Months later, receiving news over time from my parent, it became known that this friend of ours began to engage with other illegal drugs such as methamphetamine, LSD, etc. and later passed away due to the effects of these drugs.
Although, many may say it us up to the user on how they handle such drugs, marijuana is a gateway drug in some cases such as in the story above. Marijuana if legalized will give the notion that it is okay, and over time with this notion in the minds of individuals in society it can lead to a sort of craving for something better, something ultimately more dangerous.
The reality of this happening drastically across the country may be slim, however, the possibility itself should be a good enough reason to restrict and stop the legalization from happening.
In all honesty, I do believe in the benefits of it as a medical use, however, the thought of free consumption is my worry. The negative reality of it is just embedded into my mind after the passing of our good friend, resulting in my opinion. And possibly I might be fine with an agreement between these two outlines that could be set on the national table.
