Diane Fornbacher with her family. Photo by Kevin Monko
On Mother’s Day, we celebrate and honor those who gave us life. However as a mother, every day I am reminded of a terrible war that is destroying the fabric of our families and putting our children at risk. The so-called War on Drugs happens all around us, but it is mostly a war on cannabis consumers. Today I hope that mothers will join me and pay attention to some peaceful solutions for marijuana.
As a compassionate and reasonable society, it is time to legalize cannabis for responsible adult use. Drug dealers do not card children. Prohibition has only kept our youth in constant contact with pot instead of putting it safely behind the counter. Cannabis belongs in a controlled environment where taxpaying and responsible adults can purchase it.
Let me be clear – I do not want my kids to use or abuse cannabis. But I certainly don’t want them going to jail or losing their chances at a college education if they end up getting caught with a joint. Prisons do not protect children, parents do. By legalizing marijuana we can begin to have more truthful conversations with our kids and teens about using it.
Anne Davis, mother of two young girls, agrees, “Mothers who are actively involved with their children have open, honest relationships with non-judgmental communication. They strive to be positive role models. These qualities will serve the best interests of our youth, not the failed policy of prohibition.”
Further legalizing marijuana will keep families together. Mothers do not deserve to be persecuted in the courts or in the delivery room for having small amounts of marijuana. Children should not be separated
from their parents over pot. Hardworking Americans should not lose good paying jobs because they medicate or recreate with cannabis.
Mothers ended alcohol prohibition almost a century ago. I hope mothers
will join the growing effort to end marijuana prohibition today, for the sake of us all but mostly for the children.
Diane Fornbacher has been a cannabis law reform activist for 15 years. She has worked with some of the top reform organizations (NORML, Drug Policy Alliance, Americans for Safe Access, The November Coalition, Vote Hemp). Fornbacher is the current Vice Chair of the NORML Women’s Alliance and serves on the board of The Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jersey (CMMNJ). When she isn’t working to change the cannabis laws she enjoys photography, writing poetry being a mother and performing spoken word with local bands. Contact: grassroots { at } freedomisgreen.com
Marijuana is a mind altering drug. As parents we need to teach our children that having a CLEAR and PRESENT mind is the ultimate goal in life. Drugs are not a toy to be played with or experimented with. We should focus on all the JOYS of life that we can reap by AVOIDING any type of drug use. Our children need guidance, love and a strong sense of spirituality.
[Reply]
First off, marijuana should be legalized, I agree with that. But, when you talk about the facts make sure you know what you are talking about. Marijuana cannot be abused, it is not like pain killers and other chemical drugs.
[Reply]
I agree with Deirde to a certain extent. I agree that parents and adults in general need to have a clear and present mind, That’s why doctors prescribe anti depressants and anxiety medications to people to help them live in that mind stance. Marijuana is the same thing and u cant over dose on it. How many people die each day from over the counter drugs and prescription drugs? TONS. How many people die because they smoked too much pot in one sitting? NONE It helps cancer patients and other people with painful diseases and genetic disorders find relief from their pain, even gives them an appetite so they can eat!! it helps people with anxiety and depression. U can only abuse the drug if its laced with other narcotics but that’s why they’re saying put it in a controlled environment. So it doesnt end up in the hands of a 10 year old as easy. People who get too high off pot go absolutely nowhere. They dont go out, get wasted off liquor, drive a car killing a family. They sit on their couch with some of there close friends or alone and find a little sanity for a few hours. Is there anything wrong with that? Its a natural herb. When controlled it keeps it from being laced with street drugs and bugs and whatever else u can mix in it. Alcohol is legal and kills millions each year but yet people dont want to legalize pot? Who has it really ever hurt? There are far more worse things in the world like CIGARETTES that kill. I am all for legalizing marijuana in a controlled environement!!
[Reply]
Does that include other medicinal drugs? Or are you just focused on the one that causes the least amount of harm and the most amount of benefit??
[Reply]
There is so much mind altering substances that are legal. Caffine. Nicotine. How about medications. I take a benedryl and am tore up and ready for sleep. What about alcohol. There are so many accident and deaths related to alcohol. Marijuana is a soothing calm of a high. Comparing to the roudiness alcohol brings why is alcohol even legal? Well it is and hear to stay. So why not legalize the lesser of two evils.
[Reply]
I agree that honest communication with children and young adults is vital regarding the use of Marijuana (and sexuality). Teenagers will experiment most likely with marijuana and or alcohol at some point but if they are informed teens they may not continue on with those experiments…and it is true that young people who end up in jail or prison are not better for it one bit…they become worse.
[Reply]
Yes, it can be abused..reread the article.The author specifies responsible adult use.Perhaps, you mean that it can’t cause permanent physica lbodily damage. Eating a supersize fry every day, may not kill you, but it can alter your life in a negative way. Children and teenagers don’t have enough life experience to moderate well. They don’t have the vision that each decision they make on a daily basis will alter their future.Moderation is an important lesson to teach our children, especially if you are raising christian children. My point is, when you can’t wake up to go to work, you spend your bill money on a bag of pot, and your relationships with loved ones are strained/detatched…you are abusing pot. FYI…I am a CHRISTIAN, NON-SMOKER, who strongly belives in ending the prohibition on pot.
[Reply]
those that choose to consume alcohol don’t have a clear and present mind. whats more they will not lose a job or go to jail for their choice to drink. Alcohol consumption becomes a crime only when laws are broken. providing it for monors or driving while intoxicated. same should apply for use of marijuana.
[Reply]
We need to teach our children that we all have different goals and different roads that we need to travel. You find your salvation in an acceptance of self.
honestly I wish I didn’t have to hide something as silly as smoking weed from my mom. Kinda sows the seeds of mistrust when there are none.
[Reply]
we need to talk about this over coffee. chb
[Reply]
Well, we’ve all heard the details. The problems and so forth. Can we now work together on a solution? Or not? One problem is that we are trying to do this on our own. With God all things are possible, really! He even gave us an instuction manual and his son as well. The 2nd problem is , some of us forgot the first one.
[Reply]
if you support cannabis prohibition,you truly are blind,,,,it means you support people charging double /triple the amount its worth,and getting rich from it,,,you support the ease of access youngsters have to it,,,you support deaths from criminal elements who have raped the cannabis market,,,you support supression of a herb that is natural ,and truly is a medicine that people shouldnt be demonised for wanting ,,,you support big pharmacuetical industries telling you that you can only be healthy if you pay us a fee,,,you support a government that tells you blatant lies and glows in its arrogance of doing so,,,you support the shunning of nature ,whilst worshipping dangerous toxic lab derived “medicines”. WAKE UP.
[Reply]
we all have different views in life, whether we speak religion, politics, or healthcare! if marijuana works for those individuals, then so be it, let them use it. you can see the death rate over smoking pot is virtually null and void. alcohol on the other hand has killed so many millions of individuals and so many good lives have been lost because of drunk driving. as far as dui of weed, i do believe you should have a small wait just for reassurance that the medicine is not too strong. otherwise, i am with the alternative folks in the world. the gov’t has us by the balls and if it were legal, we’d pay higher taxes than cigarettes! so what’s it going to be, society? it can only help our environment, our gas wars, our tree cutting problems, the list is continuous. i’m pro hemp and up hold all morals in a christian family values. i act no different because of the way i think. i’m patriotic, love the USA, and love people. so again, i ask, “What’s wrong with Marijuana?” p.s. you have to instruct your children when to use and when NOT to use. there are regulations in my home.
[Reply]
if anyone can logically argue this without a bunch of christian gospel i would like to hear it
[Reply]