Splendor in the Grass

A few weeks ago, the Institute of Medicine, an affiliate of the National Academy of Sciences, released a report advocating marijuana use to help relieve suffering for AIDS and cancer patients. Feeling any pain?

Shanda Downs Age: 30 Resides: Ditmas Park, Brooklyn Occupation: Systems security administrator Should medical marijuana be legalized? I think so. Only for those who suffer so much, like AIDS patients. Should marijuana be legalized? I don’t think so. We have enough of a drug problem already. Have you ever smoked marijuana? I tried it once. Does marijuana use lead to harder drug use? I do think it is a gateway drug. When the high is not enough, they’ll go to the next level.

Tim Kobin Age: 34 Resides: Sydney, Australia Occupation: Theater designer Should medical marijuana be legalized? Yeah. Other drugs are legal, like alcohol or tobacco. It doesn’t mean everybody’s going to be an alcoholic. Should marijuana be legalized? I don’t see why not. Have you ever smoked marijuana? Yeah. But I choose not to anymore. Does marijuana use lead to harder drug use? Oh, no. It’s ludicrous.

Tonja Weary Age: 28 Resides: Upper East Side Occupation: Administrative assistant Should medical marijuana be legalized? Yes. If it can medically help, why not? It comes from the ground. It’s all-natural. Should marijuana be legalized? Yes. I think alcohol should be made illegal more so than marijuana. Have you ever smoked marijuana? Yes. When I was younger. It didn’t hinder me in any way. Does marijuana use lead to harder drug use? That’s a misconception.

Gordon Phillips Age: 76 Resides: Village Occupation: Writer Should medical marijuana be legalized? It’s too general a statement. If it can have a specific use in specific cases, it warrants discussion. Should marijuana be legalized? No. It’s the first step down a dangerous path. I think people put enough poisons in their body just by eating. They don’t need more. Have you ever smoked marijuana? No. Does marijuana use lead to harder drug use? Any drug leads to further drug use. It’s one step down a slippery slope.

Keelia Age: 19 Resides: Union Square Occupation: Student Should medical marijuana be legalized? Yes. Like in cases of glaucoma, it really alleviates suffering. Any natural form you can find to use to alleviate suffering is preferable to those that are synthesized. Should marijuana be legalized? On one level, yes, and on another, no. Because of the repression in our society, it could run rampant, cause chaos if you did it overnight. But it’s not as dangerous as something like alcohol. Have you ever smoked marijuana? Yes. I didn’t like it. Does marijuana use lead to harder drug use? That’s completely dependent on the individual. There are studies that say that it does. But you can use studies to prove anything.

Jurij Hirniak Age: 45 Resides: East Village Occupation: Unemployed Should medical marijuana be legalized? If it’s proven that it can help medically, I don’t see why it shouldn’t be used. Should marijuana be legalized? No. A lot of times you will be so high that you’ll feel such a euphoria that you have no control over yourself. Have you ever smoked marijuana? I used to. Does marijuana use lead to harder drug use? No.

Thomas Benjamin Age: 34 Resides: Brownsville, Brooklyn Occupation: Maintenance Should medical marijuana be legalized? Yeah. When you think about people on chemo, they need it. They need to build up their appetite and that stuff works, it makes you hungry. Should marijuana be legalized? That’s hard to say. Probably not. Have you ever smoked marijuana? Yeah. I used to smoke it every day. Not anymore. Party’s over. You have to grow up. Does marijuana use lead to harder drug use? No. For some people, it’s the social climate. You know, try some of this, try some of that. It’s not marijuana.