It's part of my personality, you said.

I can't be very fair or objective about this, I just can't

"S**t or get off the pot,"
you finally did,
but it was
too late
for us.

"It's part of my personality,"
you said,
your friend
the famed
Mary Jane.

Everybody thinks
she's so
harmless,
but they didn't know her
like I did.

You stole
from your mama
and you stole from me
you even stole
from your babies --

Your anger
ate at every part of you
that used to be
leaving holes in the walls
and in my heart --

The sickness
filled you
consumed you
became you,
until you were gone.

You tried
to come back,
but you were
broken,
uncommunicative.

You quit,
but nothing
was ever the same,
thanks in part
to a b***h named Mary Jane.

Author's Note

I know pot advocates believe it's harmless. It isn't, in all cases, especially with
certain mental illnesses, it can cause psychosis & cyclic vomiting, I know, I lived it.

Reviews

[Bright Ocean Star]

KLG, everyone should have a healthy respect for all drugs, and stay the hell away from them unless absolutely necessary. All drugs have side effects, that in many ways are worse than the curative properties. I am so thankful my kids didn't dabble in that crap in high school. I have my fingers crossed over my last baby, but I'm determined to preach to them until they turn green and stay away from that crap forever. It is a one way escalator down to a very dark place. Thank you for this poem. The change in the law in Colorado is scaring me so much. People (and now kids) are convinced its harmless. It isn't. Thankfully, the medical marijuana advocates are beginning to really cultivate the varieties with the lowest TCH, so children can take it medicinally and not get high. Too bad we can't wipe out all the high TCH varieties. There's no point to those except the intent to fly like a kite. Thank you for this poem. We all need to read and think about it.

[Lyn Anderson]

Thank you, and yes, I realize I am a lucky one who tried many things and nothing stuck -- but people with certain mental illnesses get worse on pot, especially in the huge quantities my ex did. He was prescribed, but he took far and away above his scrip, just like people hooked on any other drug. And the rot about no physical side effects? Ha! Look up cyclic vomiting syndrome and try living with that 10 times or more per year. Anyway, it is an emotional subject for me, and the pot advocates refuse to believe what I say. I am not a liar, an alarmist, nor do I oppose legalization, but strict monitoring like any other drug. It is not completely safe, as people would have you believe.

[Rene Salinas]

Oh brother! This brought back memories of Jane's Addiction which incidentally would have been my choice of music. Perry standing on stage all disjointed and barely able to perform and yet so much passion so much determination so much desire.
I won't even start on the subject of addiction it would be rich and hypocritical of me but oh yes! there is a but in my world, if the drug itself would not interfere as much, and it would not create a dpendency, and well if it wasn't that harmful then it woudn't be so bad.

Well a lot of buts then...

Thankyou

[Lyn Anderson]

Yes, thank you. A lot of buts. I have friends who have depression and can't get off the couch. They self medicate, but don't see the connection ...

[Rene Salinas]

A familiar road for me and a "slippery slope".

[Vidya Bacchus]

In my opinion there is no addiction that is harmless be it marijuana or cocaine or alcohol.Anything that changes you that way and makes you forget your family could never be harmless.I lived this and it was horrible and I thankfully left before my kids had to go through more of that hell.

[Lyn Anderson]

Thank you for reading. It is very emotional for me and I get into these debates with teenagers who believe it has no bad consequences.

[AprilRN1210]

I lived through parents, and foster parents whom swore it wasn't anything, it was natural, everyone did it... well the kids lived in hell because of it.. no food... no lights... no running water... going to school with dirty clothes.. ending up in the system... could go on and on.. it may not affect everyone the same, but it does do damage, especially when mental illness is involved.. addiction is never pretty... in any form.. another well written piece girl...

[Lyn Anderson]

Thanks so much. Pot advocates generally think there are no ill effects. And yes, kids go hungry due to drug use on the part of their caregivers, including pot

[AprilRN1210]

always a pleasure.. and yes.. even pot..

[NoelHC]

A sad tale, and a true one, I agree with you, and yet there are lobbyists and politicians running around insisting we legalize it. I would suggest there are more important issues that need attention first, for example homelessness. Well stated, my friend.

[Lyn Anderson]

I actually am not anti legalization. I just think it needs to be treated with diligence and caution like any mind altering drug. Thanks for the read.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

sometimes well really, often, sickness is not so much physical....we become disinterested and disconnected...drugs can do that....i have seen too many friends go this route.

[Lyn Anderson]

Yes, you are right, mental begets physical, of course, and the drugs don't help. Thank you for reading and reviewing.

[Sami Khalil]

I agree wholeheartedly with your message. Thank you for raising the awareness...Excellent...:)...............

[Lyn Anderson]

I appreciate it. It's a hard pill for many to swallow, and I often draw the ire of people who refuse to see the other side.

[Sami Khalil]

Yep. You are right. Welcome...:)......................

[willweb]

I have to admit, I was there at one point, but it has long since become a very distant and mostly forgotten memory. You words on on point tonight KLGoode. I really enjoyed this.

[Lyn Anderson]

I thank you for that. I am not anti-pot, I am anti anything that sucks the life out of you and takes away from your charm, intelligence, and physical and mental health. And at the level of use my ex was at, he did permanent damage. People want to say it's harmless. Nothing that alters your brain chemically is harmless, it's to what degree and how each person uses that determines the outcome. Oxycontin worked great for me. I didn't get addicted. Many people do. Some people are just built different, a fact most pot advocates absolutely refuse to admit.