Dear Anti-cannabis community,

This is a public service announcement, a rant, a lesson, a spoken word, a moment in history, and a reason for you to finally open your minds. I am not a cannabis consumer, I have never thought about it, partaken in it, or even held it in my hands for that matter. So, as a fellow non consumer, allow me to give you another perception in this story. Yes, I am speaking to you. The anti-weed population that seems to propagate that cannabis’s sole purpose is to be a gateway substance for drugs that are incomparable to cannabis. While our parent's generation suffered the most from cannabis driving them into the drug epidemics that hit the streets before we were even a thought. This correlation with weed and negativity is a societal disorder that has contributed to the shape and mold of our culture. I am here to tell you right now. Cannabis is not your enemy. This community is dangerous and misleading for several reasons. One of the most concerning reasons is the inability to see the benefits that cannabis bring to those who consume it. Instead, we label it as a gateway drug to restrict those with smaller minds from diving into the true benefits that the cannabis industry provides. In this letter, I will enlighten you on the misleading propaganda that non-cannabis industries have chosen to display to the population. One of the biggest arguments I’ve heard is that cannabis use contributes to crime. While cannabis use is higher amongst those who are criminals, there is no correlation between the two. In fact, unlike alcohol; cannabis does not evoke aggression in the consumer. Anti-weed community, you all love the term ‘gateway drug’. You love to illustrate how drugs can cause addiction, and dependency upon these substances lead to unhealthy and unwise decisions. While it may be true that you can become dependent upon weed, only about nine percent of weed users ever do become clinically dependent at some point of their consumption. This nine percent is a staggering low compared to what your community seems to have actualized. It also amazes me how you all turn your opinions into facts. For instance, the Institute of Medicine found no conclusive evidence that the effects of marijuana contribute to the use of other illicit drugs. You would have a better chance defending the argument that one's environment and circle of influence contributes to the use of other substances. Do you not find it strange, that alcohol is completely legal? While it’s impossible to overdose on cannabis, people have died from over consuming alcohol. In fact, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention have recorded that about 88,000 people die from alcohol consumption every year. You could search the entire world for research on cannabis, and you will never find anyone who has died from consuming weed. Still, while alcohol does that much damage, our media is overly saturated by commercials encouraging the population to drink. If this was seriously about protecting the population and its health, we wouldn’t be seeing this push for us to take part in something that kills 88,000 people a year. While there is a constant push for products that kills us, and while pharmaceutical companies continue to profit off narcotics addiction, we continue to ignore that marijuana has saved lives, improves health and helps define a better way to live life. I am baffled that we choose to ignore the truth that’s laid out for us. There is a reason why cannabis is having trouble being legalized, it isn’t because of health, addiction or the deconstruction of society. No, there is a deeper meaning behind all of this. Behind the beer commercials that creates sheep in a growing population that continues to do what the latest trend is. Behind the tobacco companies who represents moral disrespect in selling products that can lead to long-term health problems and cancer; but find it okay by warning the population that it can kill you. Behind the silly banter and rage from those who can never understand that cannabis was never the enemy. We may find the true answer. The weed hating community needs to sit back and do research, instead of allowing politicians and puppets to falsely inform them. Ask yourself, are you the sheep or the shepherd? I hope you have the answer the next time I write to you, for this will not be the last. This is just my opening letter. This is the beginning of your enlightenment.

Yours Truly,

M