Rapper Afroman released his song "Because I Got High" in 2001. The song's lyrics were a comedic take about how marijuana use had negatively impacted his life (ex: "I was gonna go to class, but then I got high"). Last week, however, Afroman, NORML, and the website Weedmaps released a "positive remix" of the song, this time detailing how marijuana use can actually in fact improve the quality of one's life.
The song touts the benefits of marijuana use for people suffering from glaucoma and anxiety, as well as not having to buy marijuana from "gangbangers shooting craps" if the drug were to be legalized. Afroman also pointed out in the song that alcohol and prescription drugs, which are both legal and commonplace, have many more side effects than marijuana use.
Alaska, Oregon, and the District of Columbia are voting to legalize the recreational use of marijuana this November. Polls show that the measures have solid leads in Oregon and the District of Columbia.
Regardless of what you may think about marijuana, Afroman makes very interesting points when comparing marijuana to prescription pills, Xanax, and alcohol. It makes no sense that children (some as young as three) are regularly given Adderall, an amphetamine, while marijuana remains illegal. The United States needs sensible drug laws.