Let’s Talk About Pot Some More

by Kathleen McKinley | April 2, 2011 2:04 pm

I think I’ve written about Pot once before my last post, and I got pretty much the same reaction. As you can see in the comments of my last post, a lot of people have been affected by pot. I want to make clear that I don’t endorse pot use in any way except for medical purposes.

While it is illegal it is simply stupid to smoke pot. In the comments below one person wrote how her 20 years of a teaching career went down the drain because of pot. I had a friend whose son had full ride at a prestigious college. The week after he arrived he was drug tested. He had smoked pot the month before and it was still in his system. They kicked him out. He lost it all. He now lives hand to mouth. His parents try to help him, but he just won’t stop smoking.

Another commenter said he wasted 20 years of his life smoking and drinking. There has been a distinct difference in the last five years of my oldest son’s friends who smoked pot and those who did not (Yes, I was aware of it. As I have said before, for some unfathomable reason, teens seem to imagine I am cool). If you are wondering if I told their parents. I did. In most cases it was pure denial. In other cases, they simply didn’t care. Anyway, the distinct difference is that the ones who smoked either didn’t go to college or are limping through college slowly. That’s just been my experience. I realize you could give me examples of some geniuses who have a 4.0 and smoke. But as many have pointed out in the comments, it doesn’t matter if it’s pot or drinking. If you let being impaired overrun your life, you won’t get anywhere in life. As in all things, moderation is always the key. But sadly, many people, especially young people, don’t seem to understand that.

We have become a society that masks our pain in drugs, alcohol, sex, and consumption. I have a loved one who is an alcoholic. The pain and misery and worry it has inflicted upon our family is immeasurable. But at the root of every person with a substance abuse problem is emotional pain. You would think with all the information out there that we would be more aware of it.

How do we fix a society that overindulges? Did you know that the average American is over $16,000 in debt? That is excluding mortgages. That is ridiculous. But it illustrates our need to salve our wounds with things as well.

I believe that we all have a hole in our heart that is meant to be filled by God. If it isn’t, we spend our lives filling it with other things. I also believe that true emotional healing comes from God. Since so many dismiss that, they just keep filling that hole up with drinking, smoking pot, hard drugs, sex, and buying things. We waste so much of our life that way.

Honestly, I don’t care how you find God. You don’t have to go to organized religion. Just lay in your bed and talk to Him. Give it a shot. It certainly can’t hurt, right? It’s ok if you think it’s all hogwash. No one has to know that you prayed. I read a article not too long ago from a avowed atheist. She had a friend who challenged her to pray for five minutes every day for two months. She said to her, “Just try it.” So, she did. At first she felt silly talking to the air. She started by ranting about all the things that weren’t fair in life. But as the days went by, she calmed down. She prayed about her family, her relationships, her future. At the end of the two months, she was a believer. She didn’t join a church. She just realized that things got better. She realized that life starting taking on new meaning. She found God.

Goodness, I didn’t mean to get all preachy. Sorry about that. When I write, I just write. It comes out as it comes out.

I guess what I really want to say, is that we are all broken. No matter what the substance, no matter what our addiction is, it only covers up what we need to put back together. It doesn’t mean being perfect. it just means being better.

*Follow me on twitter! @KatMcKinley

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