It’s no secret that people smoke pot. If you don’t believe me take a stroll around campus on a Friday night and you’ll smell some ganja smoke.
Many argue that marijuana is fine to use because there are “medical benefits” associated with smoking weed. However, if you are going to the University of Idaho, chances are you don’t have narrow-angle glaucoma so that doesn’t apply to you.
Regardless of the dangers associated with smoking, minds are made up. Marijuana contains carcinogens and tetrahydrocannabinol, which change the way the brain functions and lead to higher incidents of depression, anxiety and psychosis. But many users have a carefree attitude and think, “Hey man, it’s my body so it doesn’t really matter. I’ll mess up my brain if I want to.” Unfortunately, this decision runs deeper than many realize.
The Attorney General Office of Mexico estimates that more than half of the multi-billion dollar drug cartels’ revenues are made from the sale of marijuana. And who, you might ask, is the biggest purchaser? It’s the land of the free and the home of the brave, of course. The U.S. is the largest market for marijuana worldwide. In fact, the market is so large that drug cartels have started growing inside U.S. borders.
The eighth you buy from your buddy for 50 bucks could very well have originated from a drug cartel. Which means you could be giving revenue to the same cartels who are responsible for countless beheadings, and in turn are supporting their organization. By purchasing an illegal product that is grown, smuggled and trafficked by drug cartels, you are condoning their actions — actions including murder, kidnapping and extortion. More than 34,000 people have died in drug-related killings since December 2006 as a result of Mexican President Felipe Calderon’s war with the drug cartels.
Due to this relationship between marijuana and drug cartels, many are calling for the legalization of marijuana in order to divert drug revenues elsewhere. While the logic behind this argument makes sense, the fact remains that it is still an illegal drug. Whether you agree with its legal standing or not, your purchasing power could be contributing to the loss of human lives.
The solution is simple: If the U.S. didn’t have such an obscene demand for marijuana, the drug cartels would take a huge hit to their wallets. As a result, they would have less influence in their communities and the Mexican government and Drug Enforcement Administration would have an upper hand. This would decrease the number of drug-related murders and make our neighbors to the south a happier, healthier community.
So how do we bring about this change? Considering the fact that marijuana is illegal, the only other option is to quit smoking.
Your choices affect others more than you think, so make healthy decisions.