<p>wouldn’t it be worse if the parent didn’t let him though
at least this way it’s supervised…
he’s going to do it anyway, why not make sure he doesn’t kill himself</p>
<p>rocket6louise, earlier in this thread, you posted:
“I just don’t get what the big deal with pot is?
it’s not harmful
it’s not addictive
and, if removed from illicit channels, actually does more good than bad…”</p>
<p>So – if pot is so safe, why would anyone need Mommy or Daddy to supervise them to “make sure he doesn’t kill himself” ?</p>
<p>Given your statements above and how they don’t make sense, this comment by you does seem rather…odd: “i see no issue with smoking it…i dont see it affecting my judgment, social life, or education”.</p>
<p>why is letting your teen get high in the house the only other choice?</p>
<p>as a parent we hopefully guide our children thru each developmental stage, with age appropriate supports, so for instance when we are raising toddlers, it is a typical thing to childproof one’s home, to reduce the risks that the child will out of curiosity stick his finger in an electrical outlet, or bang her head on a glass cocktail table. Now little kids like exploring and experimenting with their environments, should we let them take those chances and not childproof our homes to “prevent accidents” that could be tragic. at the same time, we offer our toddlers trips to the playground, finger paints, board books, and music to dance to so they really don’t miss the electric sockets too much.</p>
<p>when we are raising teenagers, it is a typical thing to limit certain things being available, we ask our teens to leave the door open when entertaining in their room, we talk with them to help them develop their own values, encourage their exploration of life as safely as possible. Now we can’t “teen proof” the world, but I can tell you that I will teen proof my home, and no they will not be safer drinking pr getting high with my supervision. they will be safer putting off those choices and exploring other exciting things…hopefully by say 16 they’ve discovered a few activities, hobbies that they find more interesting than getting high for the sake of getting high.</p>
<p>oh and I’m curious, do you actually like getting high, drinking, with your mom looking in on you. I would find that really weird. as a parent it would seem like watching my toddler drinking floor cleaner and checking on him to be sure he hasn’t passed out.</p>
<p>Northstarmom</p>
<p>i was referring to the fact that this kid already has emotional issues…
i would rather them stay home where i could make sure they are ok…</p>
<p>i stand by the fact that pot is absolutely fine…</p>
<p>I would rather my kid go out into the world prepared to deal with it, rather than sit home getting high being babysat by his mom</p>
<p>the emotional issues are the reason he shouldn’t be getting high, but should be addressing those so he can have a life…</p>
<p>I agree with lindz. If a kid has emotional issues, he needs to deal with those issues through therapy, support of parents or other healthful means. Sitting around smoking pot will simply help him avoid his problems even if he is smoking under his parents’ supervision.</p>
<p>*I’m sorry, but i have never seen conclusive arguments that pot is bad. I’m a debater and have looked into the issue thoroughly and still come to the conclusion that there is not a single downside…
*</p>
<p>Did I miss you addressing the physical/mental effects as cited in the medical studies that I linked?</p>
<p>I don’t seem to remember them being discredited although I will admit if you look hard enough and extrapolate out only the information that supports your thesis, you can find research to say anything you want.</p>
<p>Marijuana wasn’t made illegal because it was harmful, but for political reasons. Tobacco, alcohol, and scads of other less common substances that are legal are more harmful than marijuana by far. So maybe a few studies have found a small amount of damage done by marijuana-- that’s not the majority, and not anywhere near close to enough to justify its illegality.</p>
<p>And as a teenager-- I have to say-- it’s very often the children of parents who say their child would <em>never</em> do drugs, that have kids who do drugs, and that 90% of the attraction to pot is the thrill rush of breaking the law/thwarting the parents. It’s reverse psychology-- I don’t want it until you withhold it. I honestly think marijuana use would decrease if it were just made legal. That would take away so much of the mystique and the culture supporting it.</p>
<p>Marijuana wasn’t made illegal because it was harmful, but for political reasons. Tobacco, alcohol, and scads of other less common substances that are legal are more harmful than marijuana by far. So maybe a few studies have found a small amount of damage done by marijuana-- that’s not the majority, and not anywhere near close to enough to justify its illegality.</p>
<p>correct-and because it is easily grown, less easy to regulate and tax.
However just because the reason that it is not available legally, has little to do with health- does not make it innocuous, as much as just because tobacco is * legal* doesn’t mean it is any better for you.</p>
<p>And as a teenager-- I have to say-- it’s very often the children of parents who say their child would <em>never</em> do drugs,
You come up with this by yourself did you?
I didn’t hear parents saying that their kids would * never* try substances, but I have heard them give supported reasons why their kids are unlikely to do so.</p>
<p>* It’s reverse psychology-- I don’t want it until you withhold it.*</p>
<p>That is a toddlers reasoning. I would hope that soon to be adults use higher criteria for decision making…</p>
<p>I agree that pot should be legalized— for adults.</p>
<p>Substances that affect the brain- harm developing brains- including those in their late teens/early adulthood.
As research demonstrates- sometimes permanently.</p>
<p>The reason why, I think marijuana should be legalized, isn’t so the " thrill of the forbidden" will vanish, but because with legalization, will come regulation and monitoring of the substances it contains, as well as who is allowed to sell/grow it and profit from its use. Not to mention * a new tax base!*</p>
<p>“And as a teenager-- I have to say-- it’s very often the children of parents who say their child would <em>never</em> do drugs, that have kids who do drugs, and that 90% of the attraction to pot is the thrill rush of breaking the law/thwarting the parents. It’s reverse psychology-- I don’t want it until you withhold it.”</p>
<p>hmm…interesting…I think most kids experiment with alcohol and pot as part of their teen years…for some it’s a one time thing at 15, for others its something they might choose to do at a party once in college–occasionally. For some its a daily thing that gets incorporated into their lifestyle. I am realistic about this and am open with my kids about this, as they are with me…I think setting a realistic expectation is helpful…along with remaining a parent…one who doesn’t enable the use by permitting it at home.</p>
<p>your idea that kids want marijuana bc parents withhold it is odd to me. I don’t find my kids battling with me, or rebelling, perhaps bc I let them make their own choices, and let them have the natural consequences of their choices. but I help guide those choices by setting limits…honestly, my kids are pretty comfortable with these limits.</p>
<p>if kids honestly believe that the real reason kids that have chosen to smoke/drink is soley the result of parents not allowing them to do so and that it is illegal, are fooling themselves. We all have choices.
Perhaps it is because most level headed parents will give those that choose not to the possible scenarios of the consequences of their actions, point out family members/friends who may have alcohol/drug problems as being “examples” of what happens to you when one makes poor choices, where your life may end up if you so chose to like it too much. One never knows if it will be a slippery slope of addiction or merely casual use. Too many variables to rely on the chance of addiction.</p>
<p>In a part of my world, there are some teens who find pot soothing and with medicinal value. It has been proven to be helpful for those on chemo therapy, and in some areas you can get a prescription for it. That, however, is a whole different story since there is medical oversight and is (sometimes) legal. EVen if it is not, these circumstances are such that there is a case that hold some weight. </p>
<p>But using pot you buy from your local dealer can be an unsafe thing to do. Smoking ANYTHING is not good for you or all of those within the vicinity of your smoke. I think the parent is making a very poor decision for a number of reasons. If the kid has a mental, emotional, physical, medical issue that pot is alleviating, he should be seeing some physicians to find safer ways to treat the problem.</p>
<p>“actually under proposed CA laws to legalize marijuana, all prior convictions would be erased and all those in jail would be released…”</p>
<p>Federal laws trump CA law. Even if a CA law passed in the proposed form you describe – which is a very long shot – federal laws criminalizing possession of any amount of marijuana are not going anywhere in the near future. And 90% of the U.S. population doesn’t live in CA anyway.</p>
<p>So you’re betting that that the state police rather than the feds will catch you. If you’re happy getting a state felony conviction and going to jail today because maybe someday down the road California might pass legislation exonerating you, then go right ahead. That’s not the future I want for myself or my kid.</p>
<p>I’m torn on this matter… I don’t think the parents should be enabling it… but it’s a weird situation. I had a buddy in high school who was manic depressive and had ADD… they tried him on medication after medication and everything just messed him up even more… his grades tanked… … he somehow got in with the ‘wrong’ crowd and started smoking pot and somehow it straightened him o ut… all of a sudden he could concentrate and was doing much better then the horrible medications that made him all loopy all the time… his grades went back up, he wound up with like a 1550 on the SAT’s, etc…</p>