In the words of the great Kelly Kapoor, "How dare you?!".
Seriously speaking though, I don't understand how you can "#420BLAZEIT" but then openly ignore the remarks of government officials' poorly informed opinions regarding marijuana.
Oh wait, I know why! It's because you're privileged as f*ck.
Now before you head to the comments section to rant about how you had to work that one super hard job over the summer, hear me out.
There are many types of privilege. Not being disabled, being male, being straight, being white, having working parents, etc, etc. Those are all different types of privileges we can all have.
But I am talking about a very specific kind of privilege. A privilege that is different than just your race or sex.
The kind of privilege where you can say you don't like to look at what's going on in the world because you are a positive person (Shout out to Tom Brady). The kind of privilege where you can be called a great feminist despite only standing up for those who look and act like you (I see you, Taylor Swift).
The examples above are the same type of privilege of being able to enjoy marijuana without ever worrying about getting jail time.
This type of privilege gives you many perks to life. You can probably go through a day where your biggest worry is if you will have time to go out with your friends despite having an overflow of school work. You can openly talk about your views and opinions without worrying about getting in trouble with a person of authority (The Womens March vs Black Lives Matter Protests).
And let's say you enjoy smoking weed for a recreational purpose. You will always have the money or a chance to get good quality weed with no trouble whether it is illegal or not. And say you do get arrested, you will always have the money to make sure you don't have to spend multiple nights in jail.You can vote for someone whose administration thinks the war on drugs is purely about marijuana and not bat an eye.
Because hey, it will never effect you.
You can throw on your tie-dye Urban Outfitters book bag, walk out with your clean shaved face, be as baked as a cake, and no one will think you're suspicious at all.
Now don't misunderstand me. There are many who have this privilege who aren't of this mindset. They understand that not everyone gets to live life like them. They use their place in society to stand up for those who can't. The difference between you and them is apathy. You have no concern or interest to see how things effect others.
You both have the same certain privilege. But you also have the apathy that brings forward the problem.
Ignorance is bliss. It really is.
It's really easy to focus on ourselves. It's easy to only bother with the issues that will effect only us. It's easy not to worry about those who may get arrested for enjoying the same things you do simply because they come from a different background.
"Listen, I vote Republican because there are more important issues than marijuana legalization."
Sure, there are many issues.
Issues like supporting government cuts for funding of healthcare so poor underprivileged people can't afford to get treated, standing against gun control so you can buy a gun easily along with someone who has plans to shoot up kindergartners, or the cutting of federal loans so a poor student can't attend medical school but you can go to a party school because your parents can pay for it.
Or how about voting against same sex marriage so you will be able to have that dream Pinterest wedding, but someone who has a different sexual orientation can't.
Do you see a pattern there?
Maybe it's part of your religious beliefs to vote Republican. Maybe you vote Republican because it is a family tradition too. For whatever your reason may be, I don't always know.
But if you can vote for someone who will support the arrest of the poor black kid down the street simply because he enjoys the same past time as you, then you my friend, are a hypocrite.
I see a great sense of self-centeredness in your type.
If you don't see that, then please do something to prove me wrong.
