NUG Magazine Issue 23

discovery of DNA induced by the consumption of LSD (Supernatural; Graham Hancock); however, a society that consumes LSD on a daily basis may be irresponsible. A Sunday afternoon of spiritual awakening in an environment created for the expansion of the mind and body may be a necessity to understanding our place in the future we all live in.

Why was LSD once distributed in stores freely without discrimination?

Although there are inherent dangers to the consumption of chemicals, those dangers are reduced greatly by utilizing their benefits responsibly. While the government and its officials demonize and punish the use of some chemicals, they glorify others by allowing irresponsible use. If your mother told you that you could never consume chocolate, it would induce a natural curiosity. When you later discover that chocolate is good, you begin to question other beneficial advice given by authority; therefore, disregarding other laws and rules that are completely necessary. Yet, most responsible parents simply inform their children, “No deserts until after you have had your dinner,” creating a responsible format in which to consume sweets.

We continuously tell our children, “Say no to drugs!” – while the drug induced lifestyle is glorified in the media, movies, television and books.

Is there no way to prevent mass consumption of irresponsibility? Most Italian families have red wine with dinner. Is there an overwhelming level of wine-o’s roaming the countryside in Italy? No (unless they are American college students); yet, this is the place that is credited for the birth of the resonance and the centralization of religions. Most churches of catholic denomination use wine as the blood of Christ, not grape juice.

Americans abuse many things within our society. Obesity is prolific.

Alcoholism has existed for as long as there was a constitution. The abuses of opiates are as old as the British Empire. No laws have ever prevented this; no religion has ever cured this crisis. By ignoring, punishing, and litigating, we have destroyed families, lives and people. By abolishing and abstaining, we have created predators. By denying, we have created abuse. The glorification of the few has led to disappointment, scandal, and a lack of trust of the establishment. There are cocktail parties at the White House, but the police are dispatched to incarcerate a citizen near you. Yet, wine is served with cheese, and scotch is served after dinner. These responsible perspectives are accepted because society has created parameters for use. An unattended camp fire can burn out or destroy hundreds of thousands of acres; so, is this a reason to stop using fire?

The creation of a legal drinking age has led to more teenage alcoholics than any other law. If children didn’t have the known limitations, there would be no glorification or correlations in being an adult and drinking alcohol. Being able to consume liquor should not be a perspective of becoming an adult. This perspective of adulthood only leads to an excuse for irresponsibility. “It’s my 21st birthday and I’m going out to a bar and getting wasted. There are no laws that can hold me back now,”(Karoki Rosamo; National Geographic’s’ Indestructible, July 10, 2011). A child that has indulged at a young age and become sick from stealing wine after dinner – this child has a greater understanding of the responsibility of wine. The 21-year-old has earned the right because they have aged to an adult, and the child that is sick might realize excess is unnecessary.

In conclusion, learning to consume substance in a responsible environment will only create responsible usage. Television and advertisements promote the consumption of liquor, the glorification of night club environments, and the “let loose and party” attitude. This will only lead to more DUI’s and more alcohol related accidents and crime. Did prohibition teach us nothing? Was the 21st amendment another industry related crime against humanity? The demonization of an act will only lead to a proliferation of epidemic proportions. This determines that lawmakers are responsible for the irresponsible declination of a society, and these laws must be repealed, removed and ratified. Decriminalization must be observed before the destruction of our great nation occurs.