In my own experiences, almost everyone I’ve encountered -especially on the party scene- just universally accepts the act of smoking weed. I feel like it’s almost a normal thing for people our age to do.
Now, I don’t smoke weed at all, but I am for legalization. I’ll stop there, because this isn’t another “legalize weed” opinion article. The point I’m trying to make here, is that marijuana is socially accepted, at least for our age group. I’m not saying it’s a good nor bad thing. But do you know what isn’t socially accepted? Smoking cigarettes.
It honestly bothers me that smoking marijuana—which is still illegal, by the way—is more socially acceptable than smoking cigarettes.
I bet a lot of people who know me didn’t know I smoke cigarettes. I know for a fact that over half of the Torch staff didn’t know. That’s because I have to hide it to avoid being judged.
I think that’s bullshit.
If you want to smoke weed, cool. If you do drugs, whatever. If you drink every single weekend until you black out, fine! If one night stands are a regular occurrence for you, great, but don’t give me a look of disgust when I step outside and light up a cigarette.
I can honestly say that I don’t judge anybody for doing any of these things because I have met people that do them. If you get to pick your poison, why can’t I?
“Don’t you know that’s bad for you?” Gee, thanks, man. I really didn’t know that. Thank you so much for letting me know, because I haven’t had that pounded in my head since the 3rd grade.
“Do you want to get cancer and die?” I’m not going to go through life being afraid to die because you and I both have no idea when, where or how that will ever happen to any of us. Sorry, people, but are you thinking about cancer when you skip on over to the tanning salon to get your fake n’ bake on? Of course not.
“Do you know how much money you’re wasting on that?” Do I tell you how to spend your money? Why don’t you tally up how much money you spend on booze and unnecessary trips to parties and clubs a month? Then maybe we can talk.
Some employers won’t even hire people that smoke cigarettes anymore, yet they don’t do random drug tests. They definitely have their priorities straight. I believe that a company can regulate what happens on their property all they want, but it’s none of their business what someone does outside of work.
In reality, what I’m trying to say is that there’s a reason drugs are illegal and cigarettes are not. If drugs are going to be socially acceptable amongst teens and college students, then why shouldn’t smokers?
Stop shaming people for what they do in their free time, no matter what that might be. That is someone’s personal choice that you have no right to decide is right or wrong.