I’m five years younger than Elton John, and while I don’t care for his music, I agree with him. The addiction is most likely psychological rather than physical. Still, for a person with an addictive personality, that’s all it takes. What we bought in 1970 doesn’t compare with what we get today. I’ll apologize in advance for the length of this.
As far as being a productive user, it can depend on whether a person is using sativa or indica strain. Sativa is touted as having an energizing effect. That can turn into paranoia. Indica has a relaxing effect and can help you sleep, they say. It’s not a great choice for driving or operating machinery. THC levels are 30-50 times what they were in 1970.
To those believing it not to be addictive, challenge someone using it regularly to give it up for 30 days. They’ll say, like an alcoholic, they can stop at any time. Like I said, issue the challenge and see what happens. As far as being a gateway drug, I maintain it is. Based on people I’ve known, their first exposure to drugs was marijuana. For some, it went on from there. I’ve never talked to someone using coke, etc., that did start with marijuana, usually hash. I know someone will tell me they know someone who didn’t begin with cannabis. If true, I view it as anecdotal. The fact is, it seems most people disagree with me.
Suppose you are injured at work while under the influence of cannabis; it can preclude recovery in Ohio for workers’ compensation. In Ohio, if an employee is injured at work while under the influence of marijuana, it can indeed affect their eligibility for workers’ compensation. If testing positive, it is presumed that the intoxication caused the injury.
For employment, it includes recreational and medical use. Employers in Ohio are not required to accommodate the use of medical marijuana, and an employee whose injury was the result of being under the influence of marijuana is generally also not eligible for workers’ compensation.
Understanding that being under the influence of anything can lead to bad decisions is crucial. When inhibitions drop, it’s more likely that people will make poor choices. These choices can lead to promiscuity, or worse, they can lead to the use of harder drugs. It’s a stark reminder of the weight of our decisions and the need for responsible decision-making.
I jokingly used Reefer Madness as a good documentary on the evils of marijuana; the movie may have been extreme, but it did highlight some real dangers of marijuana use. It’s important to be cautious and aware of the potential risks, even if they may not be as extreme as the movie portrayed.
I’ll likely change no minds, but who knows, maybe one person will consider I could be right. If so. I’ll take it.
