I
spend my days with teenagers. I’m a teacher. During the schoolyear from 7:30
until 3:45 I’m surrounded by young people. I hear them talk to each other. They
talk with me. Some consider me part of the furniture, never pausing to consider
what I might think about their conversations. Others enjoy having an adult that
listen to them, finding teachers unusual since we actually value their opinions,
sort of. Sometimes they’d rather not share their opinion, especially when they
did not read the assignment. At any rate, I hear interesting things. I hear a
lot of fuzzy logic, ill-considered things. Most of the time, I do not worry.
Time takes care of many things without my personal intervention. I occasionally
hear someone compare the recreational use of marijuana to enjoying a glass of
wine or beer with dinner or a cocktail in the evening. On the face of it that
statement sounds reasonable; however, despite the increasing number of states
that have decriminalized marijuana use, there is a significant difference. I
think we need to carefully consider that difference and its implications. These
implications shed light on a variety of other behaviors. Sadly, as one who has
engaged in using both substances in my past, I feel comfortable speaking on the
issues at hand.
Most
people who enjoy an alcoholic beverage, especially with dinner, enjoy the taste
pairing. A good red wine goes well with a steak or Italian food. A glass of
beer compliments a hamburger, pizza, or Mexican food. A cold gin-n-tonic with
lime over ice certainly refreshes on a sultry summer afternoon. We consume
these beverages primarily for the taste benefit or they quench thirst. In fact,
most consumers of alcohol carefully monitor their consumption levels to better
enjoy their beverage of choice. Over consumption degrades or ruins the
experience. A relatively small amount of alcohol dulls the taste buds;
something wine connoisseurs fully understand, hence the somewhat disgusting,
but necessary, practice of spitting into ready receptacles at serious wine
competitions. It is the taste that matters. People consume marijuana for
entirely different reasons.
Users
imbibe in marijuana seeking an altered perception of reality, the “high.” No
one consumes marijuana for the taste. As far as I know there is no recipe for
wilted marijuana salad. We want the effect that marijuana provides, that change
in reality, the altered state. This does not mean that everyone that uses
marijuana seeks an escape from some bitter commonplace existence. They may just
enjoy the buzz. After all, it is rather pleasant. But, at the end of the day,
they want to view things differently. They crave some level of an altered
state. That is the key difference. When consuming alcohol we carefully monitor
our intake in order to avoid the altered state that alcohol brings. In fact,
some legitimately exclude alcohol consumption in any form based on this
concept. So what is wrong with an altered state?
An
altered state seeks a different view, a perspective that does not conform to
reality. When making decisions, large or small, we need a clear understanding
of reality and the issues at hand. 6 So then
let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. I
Thessalonians 5:6. The Bible is replete with similar counsel in other places. We
must work to view the world clearly in order to render good judgments on any
situation. Of course one might say, “It’s only for recreation, the short term
effect.” That may be true. But that statement does not address the bigger issue
of using something to alter your perception of reality.
Living
sober is more than simply a lack of any mind altering substances. Living sober
includes your decision-making, your lifestyle. When we choose to alter our
perception of reality, through any medium, we damage our sobriety. If I choose
to binge-watch Star Trek instead of grading papers or grappling with some other
thorny problem, I’m altering my perception of reality. If I seek comfort in a
quart of my favorite ice-cream after a tough day in the classroom, I’m seeking
to alter my reality. When I avoid work by “doinking around on Facebook,” I’m avoiding
a responsibility I do not like. Reaching for that extra helping of mashed
potatoes and gravy to feel good after a rejection email debases my understanding
of the world around me. If I quaff a couple of pints to ease the burden of the
day, I’m not dealing with the reality of my situation. We must view the world
with a stringent, clear-headed mind in order to live soberly. And this is the
problem with recreational marijuana use.
This
missive does not seek to address the issue of legalizing recreational use of
marijuana. That is an entirely different subject with a completely separate group
of issues. This essay focuses on living sober. That is the fundamental issue.
By its nature, recreational use of marijuana damages or degrades sobriety. At
its core, marijuana use seeks to alter reality; whether to dull or enhance. We must guard our grip on reality, not alter
it. Making valid decisions requires a complete understanding of what is going
on around us. When we distort our sense of normal, we skew our decisions away
from acceptable and will endure the consequences of such poor decisions. And as someone who's participated in a variety of horrendous activities while deployed, I understand wanting to avoid certain desperate realities. But, sobriety requires facing reality and not avoiding it. This concept applies to anything we use to avoid reality, legal or illegal. So while I might
accept the proposition that the short-term effects of marijuana use are akin to
drinking a glass of wine or beer the long-term negative influence on our perception
of reality are profound and should be eschewed.
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