Pubdate: Wed, 12 Feb 2003
Source: Daily Nebraskan (NE Edu)
Copyright: 2003 Daily Nebraskan
Contact:  http://www.dailyneb.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1176
Author: Trish Hill

RESPONSIBLE USE

Andy Norman's Tuesday column "Potheads: lay down your weed," was an 
extremely annoying article because of its stereotypical portrayal of people 
who use marijuana. He cites anecdotal evidence about how pot use plays a 
causal role in the general apathy of some pot users.

Perhaps Andy and his friends started smoking pot for the same reason they 
became lazy and lost all ambition, some other variable that he hasn't 
considered. I could theorize all day about what that third variable might 
be, but that isn't the point. It's easier to blame your own personal 
failings (bad grades, failed relationships, laziness) on a drug than it is 
to say that you were the sole cause of your own demise.

I smoke pot all the time, I worked a full-time job throughout my years at 
the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and I have maintained a 3.9 GPA all at 
the same time. How is that for lack of ambition? What is interesting about 
"potheads" like me is we are less likely to talk about our use than others 
who are college dropouts with nothing to lose. We have to hide our 
responsible use and are therefore less likely to be counted in scientific 
polls and less likely to be encountered by individuals like you who help 
strengthen stereotypes by drawing fallacious conclusions from limited 
personal experiences.

There are more highly successful potheads in the United States than any of 
us will ever know. Until pot is legalized and the irrational social stigma 
surrounding this drug subsides, very few will be willing to stand up and 
admit their responsible use like I have done today.

Trish Hill, senior, philosophy and sociology.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens