Marijuana legislation. I’m not one to post on the topic. I’ve never written my view of things, and the drastic perspective change between beginning of my college career and now.

When I move to Colorado next year, I want to advocate for change in this entire nation. I think I would be willing to take that fight of opening minds and changing hearts. As a Sociology major, I understand our foundation. Every single one of us is a byproduct of our socialization; you’re not as original as you think. “I don’t let the media or anyone influence me.” You’ve already been internally shaped to reflect the people around you. The ones you are influenced by. You’re for or against issues mainly because you were raised to think that way today. What I like seeing in college is students thinking for themselves, breaking away from their methods of thinking and forming their own educational stances and opinions. But the mistake that keeps our society from progressing and changing in a forward direction IS keeping that personal opinion rather than carrying the next step, which would be viewing society from both macro and micro level and asking “is this best for society” and “is this for the greater good.”

Americans are selfish and proud. We never ask ourselves what is best for humanity. We ask ourselves what is best for ourselves. And THAT is how society is worsening. I could go into depth many examples of this. (ie. I’m against this kind of marriage so these people cannot marry [I need to refrain from writing about this, because it is undeniable that everyone deserves to have their “this is the happiest day of my life'” me included.] or I choose to dress modestly so anyone who doesn’t should be punished or sent home.) We do not think of what is best for society as a whole. What is surprising to me is that the ones who are contributing to the problem have the best intentions, are the most well rounded, and want to better humanity and change the world. They are so founded on their values, but to change the world and to change it in the way it needs to be changed, it takes more than strong values. It takes understanding of how society functions, what its problems are, and what is good for the overall people. If your “personal values” do not match up to what is good for society, then you are not helping the world, you are helping yourself and your own chosen communities.

STOP this is not purposely directed to anyone in particular, and if you feel that way than you match the statistic. I’m writing to you from a Sociological perspective. And I am telling you that maybe you’re not making the decisions for society. If you truly think you are, and intuition can be deceiving, look closer, see what experts are saying, and know they can fall into the minority voice. Not only listen to varying viewpoints, but understand those viewpoints and the factors contributing to them. Amendment 2 would have permitted the sale and distribution of medical marijuana in the state of Florida. Last November after voting, Amendment 2 failed having only 58 percent voters voting yes out of the 60 percent needed to pass. (42% of voters said no). When you can see the results and repercussions like I do, you realize that this was a sad day. I am challenging you, Society, to take a look around you. And if you fall in the population opposed to medical marijuana whether it is due to personal opinion, personal experience, family upbringing or because of the portrayal of marijuana in the media, it is time to take a step back and know the ‘preventative measures’ you are contributing to. I will stand for the voiceless.

For the twenty year old college student susceptible to seizures and experiencing them twice a day every other day. They’ve already been to the hospital and had their testing done, even stayed to be observed for a week. Doctors do not know the cause of seizures, and student is forced to withdraw from university due to their medical condition and constant sudden attacks of altered consciousness and convulsions. These seizure episodes are unexpected and takes a tolling effect on the body. But its okay, because the patient does have any recollection of their seizures afterwards, anyway.

For the young man recently diagnosed with cancer and who has started to undergo chemotherapy. He’s lost his hair and his strength, but he is remaining mentally strong. We all are familiar with cancer in one way or another, however, unless we have experiences or seen it first hands, we will never know the horrors of treatment and its side effects on the body. Literal poison is being pumped into him to kill the cancer cells. Every system of his body begins failing, the heart, the mind, the immune system, the kidney and bladders, the reproduction system the digestive system, and then there’s the psychological and emotional toll. But its okay, because this patient has the love from his family and friends, and they will always be around, even when he had not been able to leave the bed in three days, infection has spread throughout their body, they have become anemic, and as they’re shaking and unable to lift their head they’re in their own pool of a mess of feces and vomit. [In November 2014 London scientists discovered that cannabis “dramatically reduces” the growth of new brain cancer cells].

For our wonderful American soldiers who have risked and dedicated their lives to our country and the military. It is never guaranteed who returns from oversees. We are fortunate for the soldiers who are able to come back. However, they are not unchanged. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a living nightmare. To have a clearer picture, put yourself in the absolute worst situation you can see yourself in. Let it be a violent sexual assault, or witnessing first hand a bullet going through your partner and friend’s skull. If you were ready and alert one second earlier, you could have prevented it. PTSD is a mental health condition triggered by experiencing or seeing a terrifying event. The person with symptoms experiences reoccurring flashbacks, so it is as if they are reliving the experience all over again. Episodes can be triggered by places, people, sights, sounds, smells, and words. No one should have to live their life in fear. Read that again. No one should have to live their life in fear. PTSD episodes can happen anywhere, even in the safety and comfort among friends, familiar places and in their own homes.

Last for today, this is for all the adults, young and old, who have lost their lives or ability to live due to depression, anxiety, bipolar, or any other type of mental health illness. This is for the ones whose anxiety keeps them from leaving their apartments, and this is for the ones whose depression keeps them prisoner to their bed. This is the ones who are faced with the decision every other day whether to continue cutting through skin or making the one effort to finish the job. This is for the ones who are unable to handle any relationship because their partner cannot understand how to work with their mood swings and episodes. This is for the ones who have had to have their friend order the food for them because they’re too scared to do it themselves. This is for the ones who forget what happy feels like.

I do believe there are good people out there. But great people know how to make the world a better place. If we all made our decisions and held personal perspective based off of what was best for everyone of the whole, nothing would be as it is now. Imagine the number of lives that would improve. Realize the number of lives negatively effected by legalization medical or recreational marijuana: 0.

I wish that people saw the world in the way that I do.

Colorado and Marijuana Legalization One Year Later: What Has Changed?