The unpopular road is often the one less traveled...

So, I've been getting some slack over the last few days about my choice on voting against decriminalizing marijuana usage.
But no one has really stopped to ask me why I voted against it.

The general response I've received has been "it's ridiculous to make it a crime if I get pulled over on a random traffic stop, and get caught with a bone, or a small amount for a pipe".
Really now.... ? Ridiculous?

I don't care if you're a thirty-something or older and you've decided that you just can't handle life without self medicating. Or don't know how to distress in a way that isn't chemically induced. Whatever, that's your issue and you can deal with it. I'm not trying to sound holier than thou, because sure - I smoked for a few months when I was younger. I was 18. And then, I grew up. That's sort of how I perceive it. After a while, you grow up and realize that it isn't funny to have the munchies, or be paranoid and stupid - or be completely complacent. There are more things to do in life with your time. At least for me.

But here is my issue: We can't stop our kids from drinking. We certainly can't stop them from taking drugs. But if it's illegal, there's a different mindset about them using it. They're more careful about it, hopefully. Because if we downplay it and make it perfectly acceptable, then I think it's going to be impossible to keep kids from using it.

And here's the thing. You thirty-somethings and older who are career pot smokers, well maybe you're better experienced at driving under the influence. But you take a 16 year old kid, with a fast car and reduced reflexes without care of being caught smoking high, because after all -- it's perfectly legal -- then you have a dangerous mix.

The last thing I want to hear is that my child is god forbid in an accident because some other kid was high behind the wheel.

And it's not that legalizing prevents it from happening entirely -- it's just a way to try to make it a bit more difficult to obtain.

Ten years ago, maybe I'd have felt differently. But today, as a mother -- and a mother of children who are genetically predisposed to becoming addicts due to the amount of addiction that is riddled through their paternal background, I can't help but to try to deter my children from using recreational drugs of any kind. Every single addict that I have come to know throughout my life -- all started with marijuana. So do I believe it's a gateway drug? You bet I do.

But I also think that a good portion of being an addict is tied into who we are inherently as a person. It's a fine line between addiction and control.

And as a mother, I just can't agree with giving children the carte blanche availability to figure out which one of those personality types they may have.