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Are You a Mom for Marijuana?
Moms got MADD about drunk-driving and pushed for stiffer laws. They helped to pass and then later repeal alcohol Prohibition. And now the nation’s mothers — or at least a vocal segment of them — are lobbying to legalize marijuana.
According to the AP, their key argument is that pot is safer than booze and cigarettes. Moms for marijuana believe that teens shouldn’t be tossed in jail for experimenting with marijuana. They also point to pot’s health benefits, claiming it can help ease postpartum depression. Some mothers also say it helps to treat autism.
Moms for pot legalization say that prohibition creates a black market which leads to the sale of dangerous drugs to their children.
NORML, the nation’s largest marijuana legalization lobby, recently started a women’s group. The Moms4Marijuana website attracts thousands. In honor of Mother’s Day, SAFER, a Denver-based legalization group, and the Women’s Marijuana Movement created a web card asking moms to support legalization.
Founded earlier this month, Women’s Marijuana Movement already has nearly 5,000 Facebook fans. They are planning to lobby and organize protests in states that have legalization measures on the ballot, including California, Oregon and Washington.
Marijuana activists are urging moms to publicly back the cause if they want to change public officials’ attitudes.
“I know so many mothers who support this but aren’t willing to come out and say it,” said Sabrina Fendrick, head of the Women’s Alliance at NORML.
Apparently, there’s still a gender gap — at least when it comes to pot legalization. Last month, an Associated Press-CNBC poll showed that women opposed legalization in greater numbers than men. Just under half — 48 percent — of males surveyed opposed legalization compared to 63 percent of women.
Did you send your mother a Marijuana Mother’s Day card? What do you think of Moms for Marijuana?
Photo: Showtime
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13 Comments
Marj commented on May 13 10 at 10:49 amIf it helps with autism, I’m all for it. To be honest, I’m all for it if it can be used in any medical way. I don’t think it’s great recreationally, because I’ve seen the damage long-term use can have. I’ve seen bright people become slow-talking, slow-thinking stangnant doorstops. That said, I don’t think jail time is appropriate for a little experimentation where nobody gets hurt.
jenny tries too hard commented on May 13 10 at 11:04 amI’d be for legalized marijuana–for adults recreational use and possibly children’s controlled medicinal use— whether I had kids or not. But, I don’t like the arguments about whether it’s better than alcohol or cigarettes. The point is that the government shouldn’t jail people for putting substances in their own bodies, or for selling (without false pretenses) or growing those same substances. A person should be left to his/her own devices until he/she becomes harmful to others or uses shared things like public roads. It’s a liberty issue, not really a parenting one.
JBoogie commented on May 13 10 at 11:06 amAs someone who, to put it mildly, “experimented” in high school and college, I think marijuana really isn’t that big of a deal. And I do think some cops are wasting their time busting kids for pot, because most of the time the judge throws it out or makes them do a little community service….not that I know that from experience or anything. ;-) In fact, I know many, MANY, successful adults with great jobs (pharmacist, lawyers, heart surgeons, business owners, etc…) who occasionally get high. A friend of mine who is an open and vocal supporter of the legalization movement did a lot of research on smoking marijuana while breastfeeding and came across a study from Jamaica where the children who nursed from mothers who regularly smoke marijuana actually had increased motor skills. So, and I’m sure there is going to be a backlash of opinions on this, she did smoke occasionally while she was breastfeeding her daughter (for a year and a half). And, to my knowledge, her daughter is nothing but a healthy, thriving, smart, beautiful little girl. I haven’t looked up the study or anything, so it might be bogus, but it’s something to consider if it was a legitimate study. And, like Marj, it has numerous medical uses, and it’s a natural resource. A friend of my husband’s was seriously injured in a construction accident, and the doctor prescribed him Oxycotin. He flat out refused the Oxycotin because he knew the addiction risks–he was honest with the doctor and told him he was going to smoke pot. And the doctor didn’t even argue with him! It worked great for him. I think marijuana is highly stigmatized, and it shouldn’t be. I don’t smoke anymore because I am breastfeeding, and I just can’t bring myself to trust a study from Jamaica yet, and also I am a teacher and I know the ramifications would be devastating if I ever “got caught”. And no, I never talk about this with my students, although most of my students are admittedly getting high on a daily basis. In fact, they have often come to my class high. They are very giggly on those days. :-)
Mistress_Scorpio commented on May 13 10 at 11:23 amMy perspective is right in line with Jenny’s. It’s ridiculous what this country spends and the things this country does in it’s War on Drugs. I saw a video last week of cops raiding a man’s house b/c they thought he was a seller. Men in riot gear with ginormous guns shot his two dogs while his wife and 7 year old were in the house. All they found? MJ residue on a pipe. And this goes on daily in the US. It just ain’t worth it.
desiree commented on May 13 10 at 12:56 pmomg
Maureen commented on May 13 10 at 12:59 pmI don’t use it myself, but I’ll be voting yes in California this November. But I don’t have too much hope of it passing. There is too much money in it being kept illegal — think of all the prison guards who would have to be laid off because our prisons would lose a large number of inmates.
All about it commented on May 13 10 at 3:40 pmThere is so much more to this than recreational use! We as moms, and woman need to stress education on cannabis as a plant and the good for which it can be used as a plant. If someone wants to partake in a smoke here and there I feel its THEIR choicer and should never have been taken away. However as a resource to not be utilizing it is ignorant on our part! Maybe legalization is to strong to fight for at the moment but, decriminalization isnt. I hope one day its legal and regulated properly but until then I would settle for my friend that need it medically get at least that in whatever state they live in. :)
Some Dad commented on May 13 10 at 11:13 pmMy son has autism and intense rage – and he directs it at himself with such ferocity it’s horrifying. We couldn’t keep him safe, so we had to endure the heartbreak of sending him to a state-run facility many miles from home. And what’s the only medicine they won’t try there? Marijuana. Brilliant – give this poor child haldol, ativan, valium, risperdal, zoloft, etc. — but we can’t even TRY marijuana? It’s ridiculous. I’m glad we can keep these kids off the dangerous drugs like marijuana and put ‘em on those really safe, habit-forming drugs with terrifying side-effects.
The point? If pot were legal, maybe we could keep my son safe from himself. Maybe even happy.
Please help us spread our story: http://www.alexneedshelp.com/marijuana-autism-and-failure-a-true-story
(Sorry, I’m a dad, but had to comment)
JBoogie commented on May 14 10 at 8:13 amThank you for your comment, Some Dad! Keep fighting for your kid!
zack commented on Jun 23 10 at 2:50 pmi dont like the arguments about how devistating long term effects of marijuana are. yes, obviously with abuse anything is devistating. look at long term effects of severe alcoholism. they are just as devistating, if not worse. im freaking 15 and i realize that, if kept in moderation, no serious side effects should come from marijuana, except of course the occasional dry mouth or munchies! :D
from a medical standpoint… i smoked with a doctor last week. end of discussion. keeping marijuana criminalized and discriminated against is doing more damage to america than marijuana could ever do if it was left alone. think about how many kids dont have parents because one or both is in jail for marijuana related (non-violent) offenses. speaking for all of them, it is pointless and destructive. there is nothing more precious than any time you could have spent with one of your parents, especially when they may not be with you anymore. thanks uncle sam. i love you too.
tina cruz commented on Jul 06 10 at 6:49 pmCommentsi just want to say, i agree with the moms and is for ligalizeing medical cannabis, it helps on so many levels for an example, i’am under 40 years old, and i have lupus, n.f. types 1 & 2. and tendinitious in my feet, take lots of meds but nothing helps as well as medial cannabis, pit helps me with pain, weight gain, and nasuesa which is caused by the medacation. plus to many pills of sort can be harmful. so mom keep up the fight i’am with you all the way.
Lady Death commented on Aug 02 10 at 10:20 amCome help me with the argument about marijuana here – http://www.momster.com – join the discussion group “Marijuana” – I could use some pro-marijuana mom help over there!
Thanks,
Lady Death
All Alone Now commented on Aug 27 10 at 4:51 pmComments I smoked Marijuana and it help my anxiety and it helped me fall asleep at night. I can’t anymore. My husband who thinks it is the most God awful thing in the world reported me to Child Protective Services AND had me arrested. Now my life is an open book to the world and I have a Criminal Record. I was a respected professional and now I’m just dealing with a stupid court case and a husband who says I’m an unfit mother. I no longer smoke as CPS has charged me with Child Neglect………because I smoked. What arrogant people to judge me. I bet if they had cancer and were going thru chemo they would BEG for a bowl!
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