As natural marijuana gains more support for decriminalization, synthetic marijuana is becoming less popular.
Fake weed has gone by a number of names, such as K2 and Spice, which is, in some ways, part of the problem.
Natural marijuana has been banned because, at its root (no pun intended), it is still a single, naturally occurring organism. In other words, if a person grows marijuana, there is no question that, should the seeds germinate and grow, marijuana will be the final result.
Synthetic marijuana is not so simple. The biggest problem with it is the set of laws that make it so easily accessible. Because synthetic marijuana is a combination of different chemicals in different proportions/ratios, each specific combination must be rejected individually. When that happens, the makers of synthetic pot simply change the chemicals and/or proportions, “legally” making it a new product.
Because of this, fake pot has been easily and legally obtainable in just about any gas station. Because natural marijuana itself is banned and not a chemical compound, the prohibition of organic marijuana has been very cut and dry.
Unfortunately, the synthetic stuff is far worse in terms of health effects on the body. While addiction in any form is bad, there are certain substances that go to the front of the line as far as treatment triage is concerned. Again, just because one substance has higher likelihood of causing brain damage and death does not mean other substances do not also require immediate intervention as well.
There is some good news and there is some bad news, though. The good news is that teens are showing dramatic reduction in synthetic marijuana experimentation and addiction. The bad news, however, is natural marijuana is becoming far more socially acceptable, and increasingly being perceived as harmless.
This growing social logical fallacy is one that addicts and alcoholics know all too well. Although there are worse things someone could be doing to himself or herself, it does not mean what we are doing is good.
If there is a 1:5 chance that something could harm us, and something else has a 1:10 chance, then yes, the 1:10 choice is better…assuming that a person is required to choose one of those two options. If it is not required, then choosing neither is by far the preferred choice.
As an addict and alcoholic, though, I understood that. However, the option of doing neither was not on the table—it was, in my mind, required that I choose, one or the other, or (as it usually panned out) both. Choosing neither was simply out of the question—until I came into recovery.
Therefore, while we are encouraged that the more immediately lethal choice between synthetic marijuana and natural marijuana is falling out of favor, we have experienced firsthand that, once the option of neither becomes available, we are all far better off.
The issue is making that possibility available.
Thoughts on synthetic marijuana?
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