Tell Your Children
I have a few books I plan to review for adults, but this one currently tops the list. I originally heard a plug for this book while listening to a podcast on my way to church one Wednesday evening. It also just “happened” to be at a time when some of my AP English students were writing synthesis papers, two of which were focusing on Marijuana legalization. If you have faith in God, then you know nothing just “happens”. Needless to say, I was quite thrilled when my local library actually carried this title and it was available. I’m not sure I should confess how much I spend on books a year, but it may be an obscene amount. As a result, finding one I wanted to read that I could borrow for FREE was exciting.
If you happen to be anything like me, I didn’t know much about Marijuana before reading this book aside from what I was told as a teen (“say NO to drugs; Marijuana is a gate-way drug”) or what the prevailing news clips or advertisements promote about medical Marijuana and the benefits of cannabis. Even if you think you know a lot about Marijuana, I still highly recommend every parent read this book. What could be more timely as legislation is continually before the state house floor and the new cannabis shop goes in down the street?
I cannot do this book justice in my review or account, but below are a few key takeaways that I hope will encourage you to read Berenson’s full account and study on the topic.
CBD and Marijuana (THC) are NOT the same thing;
“Wax” or “shatter” is high-potency THC extracts;
There really isn’t a such thing as medical Marijuana; many of those who would use it “medicinally” are recreational users;
Marijuana use has been shown in studies to link to mental illness, specifically psychosis and Schizophrenia;
America has the highest rates of Marijuana use and legalization has caused an increase in violence and mental illness in those area where legalization has happened;
“In its 2017 report, NAM [National Academy of Medicine] found essentially no evidence that cannabis or cannabinoids can help cancer or any kind. Worse, it found some evidence that cannabis use is associated with testicular cancer – and that mothers who smoke are more likely to have children who develop leukemias and brain cancer.” “The only conditions cannabis or cannabinoids have been proven to treat are chemotherapy-associated nausea and spastic muscles associated with multiple sclerosis” (75).
A word of caution if you plan to have your teen(s) read the book: the section on violence can be quite disturbing. Berenson relays incidents of violence and child neglect connected to Marijuana use. If you are sensitive or have a sensitive child, you may not want them to read this section. Additionally, there are instances of profanity that are a part of quotes in the book. Two examples include:
“If Lana keeps disrespecting me, I’m gonna burn that bitch with a slow bonfire on live television as I smoke week and laugh in her inferior face” (183).
“Fuck Trump,” he yelled. “They’re going to kill us all” (184).
Berenson does an excellent job diving into such a convoluted topic examining how the push for legalization has come about and evolved in addition to the scientific results that are buried by lobbyists and the Marijuana industry. I’m not sure what can be done to derail the train of legalization sweeping the nation, but if individual families can be armed with the truth and not Marijuana misinformation, then hopefully the tide of mental illness and violence can shift and our adolescent children and young adults can have an opportunity at the future they deserve.
As a personal side note, I would love to have further discussion with those of faith who read the accounts and data presented in Berenson’s book on the spiritual battle clearly resulting from prolonged Marijuana use. It cannot go without notice the spiritual impact this drug clearly has.
