I believe that all addictive mood-altering chemicals should not be available or used unless indicated to treat a specific condition and closely monitored by a competent professional.

That said, since alcohol, a known liver, brain, nerve and bone marrow toxin costing our societies to address and treat, is legal and widely available as to inhibit its unsafe or criminal manufacture and distribution, I propose that cannabis be treated the same as to control access and inhibit its contamination with fentanyl or other nefarious chemicals.

Sadly, our society celebrates chemically induced intoxication as a social lubricant medicating emotional and psychological pain or catalyzing sexuality that one would not otherwise engage in.

Since we don’t randomly screen school children under the age of 21 for illegal use of addictive agents, including nicotine and alcohol, as to intervene before the addictive cycle sets in, we demonstrate that we are not serious about chemical dependency in our culture and its costs to our bodies, souls, spirits and communities.

If we do what we always did, we’ll get what we always got. Does anyone want to do anything differently as to obtain a better result?

James Kennedy

Smyrna, Tennessee