With a New Law Comes a New Responsibility: One Teen’s View

By Kendall Stewart

A few months ago a ground-breaking law was passed in Massachusetts decriminalizing the use of marijuana. Since the law was passed, if a person over the age of 18 is apprehended by the police their only punishment is a $100 fine. If the person is under 18, they receive the same fine and are put into classes educating them about substance abuse. What does this mean for the youth today?

It means that smoking marijuana is less of a crime than underage drinking. If a person under the age of 21 is caught with alcohol they are at risk of arrest and a night in jail.

Some say that this is unfair, and these are the people who put alcohol and marijuana on the same level. They say that both are dangerous, not to mention illegal. They say that both substances are “gateway drugs.” A gateway drug is a habit-forming substance that may lead the user to the abuse of more dangerous and more addictive substances.  These same people think that if you can be arrested for alcohol you should be arrested for marijuana as well.

But others say that this is completely fair. All over the media, in movies, books and magazines, or on the news from real life events, every day we are shown that alcohol causes violence. It makes people angry, causes fist fights, (bar fights, anyone?) and leads to sexual crimes as well. Marijuana? Well, it only makes people lazy. It leads people to watch television and eat too much food. So what?

I am not condoning the use of either substance. I am proud of my straight-edge lifestyle. This means that I don’t drink, smoke or use drugs and this is what gives me the unbiased outlook that I have.  My opinion is that since this law is still new, if people want to keep it they’d better show some responsibility.

How does one show responsibility? By not going crazy. Marijuana is still technically illegal, the punishment just isn’t as severe as before. This means don’t walk down the street smoking a joint. If you’re going to smoke, do it discretely in your own home.

And if you are going to smoke, keep the drawbacks in mind. Smoking anything causes cancer, whether it’s a cigarette or not. Smoking also causes increased heart rate, reduced blood pressure, problems with memory, difficulty learning and problem-solving, increased susceptibility to chest illnesses, and a smoker’s cough.

It has been said, “With great power comes great responsibility.” In this case that power is decision making. Do we want to take advantage of the decriminalization and risk our health just because we can? I’m one teen who just says “no” to drugs ­– both pot and alcohol – whether there are criminal consequences or not.

Kendall Stewart is a Boston-area high school senior whose interests include journalism and drama.