Darian 9/29/23
Imagine a bustling city where individuals from all walks of life come together. In this city, the use of cannabis has sparked heated discussions and raised important social issues. Some people believe that cannabis is a harmful substance that leads to addiction and negative consequences, while others argue that it can have positive effects on individuals and communities. My personal experience with cannabis wasn't like people made it seem like it's all bad and scary or whatnot. My first encounter with cannabis was an experience I’ll never forget due to the fact that it changed my life for the better. My first time with cannabis was very, very memorable because it's a moment I'll never forget. The smell of the marijuana plant is somewhat soothing, if you will. Some people don't like the smell of weed or weed burning, but to me, I don't mind or feel any way about the smell. Many may argue with me about how cannabis shouldn't be legalized everywhere and how it should be illegal, but I tell them if you haven't tried it, don't say anything about it being legalized or not. Let's explore some facts! Scientific research suggests that cannabis contains compounds called cannabinoids, which interact with our body's endocannabinoid system. These interactions can provide relief for individuals suffering from chronic pain, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and other medical conditions. Cannabis has also shown promise for reducing inflammation and protecting brain cells. I remember one time we came from a family party late at night and the front of our apartment was smelling like weed, and my mom got upset. She started cursing in Spanish and going on a rant about how people who smoke weed have no respect for others. Curiously, I asked her what I would do if I ever smoked or tried weed, and you found out. When I told you she spazzed out, oh my god, she got so angry she started

yelling at me in Spanish. One thing she said that always stuck with me and made me scared was the fact that she said if she ever found out she would give me a crazy beating and kick me out of the house. Once she said that, I told myself I would never try it, and
because of this, she became more strict and kept reminding me how smoking weed is bad and it could get me arrested.
Back in 2016, marijuana was only legalized for medical purposes, so in order for someone to legally possess marijuana, they would need to own a medical card stating their prescription from a doctor as a form of identification. If you don't have a medical card and get caught with even a little bag of weed, it'll be punishable by a fine or even jail time. In New York, possession of less than 25 grams (7.8 oz) of marijuana in any form is unlawful possession of marijuana, which is punishable by a fine of no more than $100 if the defendant has no convictions for the offense within the last three years back in 2016. Since then, this has now changed drastically. Since marijuana got legalized, the penalty for possession of marijuana has increased, so now if someone gets caught with less than 3 oz, there would be no consequences because it's not a lot. If you get caught with 3–16 oz, on the other hand, then that'll be considered a violation, meaning you wouldn't have to spend jail time but would have to pay a fine of $150. Now here's where things start getting serious: if you get caught with 16 0 to 10 lbs, that'll be considered a misdemeanor, meaning 1 year in jail or a $1,000 fine, but if you get caught with 5 to 10 lbs or even more than 10 lbs, then you're pretty much screwed because

that'll be considered a felony, meaning you'll be facing 4 to 7 years in jail or a $5,000 fine.
To some, this isn't a big deal, but to people who enjoy smoking marijuana like myself, it's a HUGE deal, not only because we can smoke marijuana legally and not get fined or jail time depending on the amount, but we don't have to live in fear anymore and be cautious with it because at that time it was something that many people feared due to the fact of getting arrested. In 2016, the New York Police Department arrested 18,136 people for marijuana possession; compared to now, there's barely any people getting arrested for possession. Not only that, but while growing marijuana was still considered illegal and people were getting arrested for it, racism was involved because in 2016, 46 percent of those arrested for marijuana
were black, 39 percent were Hispanic, and 10 percent were white. As I started realizing this, getting older meant that a majority of the people that were getting arrested and targeted were black, so during the time marijuana wasn't legal, I've seen people start living in fear because they were scared to get pulled over due to the color of their skin and racist cops, even if they didn't have or smoke weed. I had a similar experience one time when I got falsely arrested for something I never did. First-hand police brutality is something I never want to experience again because one of the cops was a dirty, corrupt cop who tackled me and never gave me a reason for my arrest. During that whole time, I felt like everything I was saying wasn't being heard and I was being treated like an animal. The whole thing was unfair, and when I was found innocent, it just proved to show that any cop could decide to use their power for good and get away with

it most of the time. As I was getting older and still learning about marijuana, my mom was very against it, just like every other parent. She always used to tell me how bad it is, to stay away from it, to never try it, and to not fall under peer pressure. With her always telling me this, believing that marijuana is so bad and it's super illegal, it made me scared to try it, but as I grew up, I realized that marijuana isn't as bad as people claim it is, and it made me want to try it, so one day I went over to my aunt's house to talk to her about it because she doesn't smoke weed, but she's tried it, so I went over to talk about her experience. Once I got there, we had a really good conversation, and she gave me really good advice, which led me to smoke weed for the first time. What she told me was that it was okay to try weed, but as long as it's what I want and I'm not being peer-pressured, she continued by saying the experience should be something memorable and should be done when you feel ready. After she told me this, I let it sink in for a bit because I was still afraid of smoking weed due to what I was always told growing up, but after I tried it for the first time, it wasn't as bad as everyone made it seem while I was growing up. Eventually, once I tried it, I kept smoking weed, not because I was addicted but because it made me feel relaxed and helped me focus. There are many benefits to smoking weed, but I believe people refuse to acknowledge and believe that because of the way society portrays
marijuana. Nowadays, I see many teenagers around my age who are not only smoking weed but also drinking alcohol, yet nobody says anything about kids drinking when it’s proven that alcohol has a greater effect than cannabis. The other day I was hanging out with my friend Alex, and he has been living with chronic pain for years now. He's been

telling me he doesn't know what else to do to relieve the pain, but lucky for him, I had the Spliffington and offered it to him to try, but he said he doesn't know because he's scared and will let me know when he's ready, so feel me. I didn’t want to peer pressure him, so I told him when he’s ready to let me know. Fast forward 4 days, and Alex calls me after he learns about the potential benefits of medical cannabis. After consulting with his healthcare provider and following legal regulations, he has decided to give it a chance in hopes of reducing pain, allowing him to engage in activities he once thought were impossible. My other friend Jaydon, who has epilepsy, told me that cannabis-based treatments help reduce his seizures, enabling him to attend school regularly and participate in activities with our friends. As I'm observing my friends try weed for the first time, I'm learning how cannabis can alleviate certain symptoms and improve mental well-being. I tell people all the time who strongly believe that cannabis is bad that we are all witnesses to the potential benefits of cannabis in improving the lives of individuals facing various health conditions. However, I also tell them that it's important to note that responsible use, adherence to legal regulations, and open dialogue are key to ensuring the safe and effective use of cannabis because, as society continues to navigate the complexities of cannabis use, it's crucial to consider different perspectives, rely on factual evidence, and engage in informed discussions. By doing so, we can create a more inclusive and understanding society that embraces both the potential benefits and the social issues surrounding cannabis