The Mission

Anyone who has taken a look at this blog has been a part of a mission. My goal for all this time has been to educate people about marijuana and the reasons why people push for its legalization. More importantly, however, I want to bring to light the stigma against people who take marijuana. I know that it is wrong for nonviolent offenders to get sentenced to years in jail for committing simple crimes of possession or usage of a drug that may be less harmful than cigarettes. I know that it is wrong for people to be hindered in getting the medicines they need simply because of an outdated law. I acknowledge that these things are wrong as a rational human being. And if my writing has caused even one person to think at all about any of these issues, I feel as though I have done my job. 

However, the work does not end there. Even if people have learned from and/or agreed with me, they may be at a loss as to what to do next. The eternal inquiry "So what?" may enter into their minds. Some probably believe that legalization is already inevitable and will happen on its own and is inevitable, so there is no reason for them to push for it. However, social change is not the same as evolution--it is a man-made rather than a natural force. It requires supporters and momentum to continue its progression, lest the movement peters out and dies. And to those who think that their contribution to the movement would be merely a drop in the bucket, as the saying goes, "Anyone who believes that one little person has no impact has never been bitten by a mosquito."

The most obvious move would be to petition one's legislators. Support those who advocate for legalization and talk to your own local government about making pot legal. If they hear enough voices wanting the same thing, they will begin to support that thing in the hopes of gaining public favor. However, even if the government is not onboard, there is nothing to say that you cannot change someone else's mind. Education is key to everything, and by sharing credible information about why marijuana should be legalized, you have the chance to change.