Annoyed.

[jen_b0nter]

I have come to the conclusion that teachers, in some case, mislead youth. I'm tired of sitting in my classes (keep in mind that I've only been in classes for the past THREE days) & listening to teachers constantly grappling over "pot heads" & how they ALL cause trouble to society & our school in general. It's bullshit. I've kept an 80+% average throughout highschool - I'm planning on attending University next year, I work at a part-time job & I do not have a criminal record. & I smoke pot. It's completely unfathomable to teachers that someone smokes pot & manages to be an active member of society - I'm tired of being hassled for a means of escape. I'm tired of being heckled about smoking pot. "Lay off me & stop preaching about something that you don't know anything about" - I feel like saying that every single day. There are a lot of people higher in authority to me that are bashing marijuana, & are against it because of what they think they know. I just wish more people would sit down & look at the aid that marijuana has brought to many people. It's exhausting trying to explain to everyone that I don't have a problem - & if I even question the martini that they're sipping on I'm always guaranteed to get an answer similar to "alcohol's legal." Just because something's legal doesn't mean that it's a good drug. Look at salvia. Look at tobacco. I know that those have caused many more deaths than marijuana. UGH. I'm frusterated by people who rule out what they don't understand.:confused:

[Marco Renda]

Hi there and WELCOME to our growing medical marijuana community.

I understand where you are coming from. Most folks go by what is printed in the main stream media. I hope that 1 day people will educate themselfs other than the local paper or local TV news. We educate the masses via our magazine and at the various shows that we participate in. In a few weeks TY will be at the HOME SHOW in Toronto and we will be handing out information so those who DON'T use marijuana can get EDUCATED

Take Care and Peace
Marco

[eu4ia]

You are in good company here,there is rarely ANY bashing on this site,and theres not much that escapes Marcos eyes.
You can feel free to talk here and you shouldnt be bashed because we are all here for usually the same thing.
Educate,educate,educate,and being educated.
If Marijuana was legal(someday)very few of us would be here:D

Again welcome,enjoy your stay

[pixie35]

Just walked through the door from my teaching job to this! Thanks.

[pixie35]

Oh...and the cover story about an "incredible (wo)man" on the next issue of Treating Yourself magazine was written by a teacher (not me). I'm sure Ms Renoir will be delighted too!

[neutrino99]

So glad you found your way here to join us. Nice to have a real life neighbour here!!

I know for a fact that this young lady works hard and maintains a "respectable" image. I was floored to find out she used as well. I will be writing an article for an upcoming issue about stigma and using some opinions from Jen and her friends.

Thanks so much for coming and sharing your thoughts. Dont forget to make an introduction post and enter those contests before they are gone!!!

[Pain Pal]

Welcome to TY Jen.You are absolutly right.I like your attatude about people talking about what they don,t know about.You will be an asset to our TY community so please hang out with us as this famely needs all the education and knoledge it can get.I realy like your post as i,m sure many others here will also.
Peace and Puff
John

[Marco Renda]

What folks need to understand is that NOT ALL teachers are against marijuana use. I know quite a few teachers that support us BUT... Most of them are afraid to speak up as they may loose their jobs. You must remember that they have to deal with the parents of the students. BASHING the teaching profession is WRONG you need to try and EDUCATE them on the respectable and responsible use of marijuana.

My whole point from my original reply is that we need to EDUCATE everyone and NOT JUST TEACHERS! We need to EDUCATE the Police, Dr's , Politicians , Family and Friends who are NON USERS that this plant is helping hundreds of thousands of sick people worldwide. We need to show them that NOT ALL MJ users are STONERS / POTHEADS but PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS of SOCIETY.

And as the old saying goes theres GOOD and BAD in every walk of life.

Take Care and Peace
Marco

[jen_b0nter]

I didn't refer to all teachers in general - I said "some teachers mislead youth" not ALL. I'm sure you both are doing wonderful at letting students keep an open mind to things like medicinal marijuana. Sorry if I offended you.

[Miranda]

Hi Jen & thanks for such an interesting post - my school years are a distant memory though a number of things you said were just as true back then as now - the 'stoned hippie potheads' were going to do us all in.

I became curious about it all and ended up on the 'wrong' side of a Gr. 10 class debate about whether or not Rochdale should be closed down. Since I had to argue in favour of Rochdale I was compelled to go source it out. I never tried anything then but through the people I met I realized for the first time how much the truth was being manipulated supposedly for our own good. The inherent problem with that type of education is that we are left ill informed to make decisions for ourselves - we have to look at things (not just drugs) from the perspective of actual truths not perceived ones.

Drug education to be successful has to be approached from a truth standpoint otherwise it is a waste of time to have any of the programs in our schools and an unfair burden on teachers.

Look forward to seeing more of your input & best wishes for another successful school year :)

PS - I won the debate! :D

[Storm Crow]

I work in education, also. Like Marco said- EDUCATE! I have a nice little post on MMJ that might help. Please feel free to use it or any part of it. I put it out there to be used!

http://www.treatingyourself.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=23136

In the past, my doctors have gotten a packet from me now and then with the latest MMJ abstracts. Since I live in a very small town, I send them anonymously- I love my job and intend to keep it! You might say I keep a low profile, but I'm "quietly subversive". Anyway, dear, welcome to our jolly little group. Be sure to check out the contests!

ps- about 2/3 of the 7th graders at my school look like they are trying hard to keep a straight face during the DARE lectures- but they really look forward to the lectures....... they get no homework on DARE nights!

[Mz. Nice]

I too was raised in a small town where most of my teachers gave me a great deal of misinformation and fear mongering with regard to drugs and mostly marijuana. I was so afraid of both pot and those that used I would cross the street to avoid anyone I thought might do this. I am convinced that I would have ratted out my parents for even legal drug use as I was so afraid.

I hear your frustration about having to defend yourself in the face of clear evidence that you are a good student and on the right path in life. It is especially disheartening when someone uses alcohol and then justifies their mind alteration as loftier somehow due to the legality of it all. No one should hoist themselves from a higher petard as I am certain there is mud on all our shoes.

In time - as you leave High School, your voice will be stronger, your teachers will have the ability to be more honest (even being 18 helps you with that from this day forward) and you will be more confident and less afraid. It is just a harsh reality that until more people understand the real facts about marijuana many will feel stifled in their opinions and beliefs.

Try to stay positive, know just who you can be honest with and keep up those grades!

[Cannabishop]

That's an awful lot of people who stopped by to welcome you, Jen. Let me be another...welcome.

As an aside, my wife is a grade eight teacher in the Catholic school board and even she laughs at the some of the stupidity running rampant through the education system.

Think how hard it is for medical patients to get a signature from their physicians (which is COMPLETELY LEGAL) and you can easily see how archaic the attitudes are in the education systems and how hard it will be to change them.

All I can suggest is learn more about cannabis and it's REAL effects on society and embarass anyone who tries to lie to you and others. The more we educate each person we meet, the more likely we are to make serious changes.

Welcome again and keep up the great grade average,
Jimmy