Dr. Wes Crenshaw and Kyra Haas

Dear Dr. Wes and Kyra:

A friend of mine who is over 18 recently went down really hard (more than a couple years in prison) for sale and distribution of weed. My friend wasn’t this big drug dealer, just bringing it from Colorado and selling to friends and coworkers. Just about everyone who smokes sells now. Even I’ve done it. But as much as I disagree with this law and putting someone behind bars for nothing, I think people should know that it’s more dangerous than it looks. I really care about my friend and don’t want other people to have the same experience.

Wes: Just about every week I become more supportive of legalizing marijuana. Your story is a fine example of why. While I don’t agree that, “just about everyone sells now,” a whole lot of kids do, many of them teens. In fact, if the high schools were to actually decide to enforce drug policies, heads would spin at what might be found. Which is exactly why that will never happen.

Even I’m shocked at how dealing weed is now seen as “no thing,” when in fact people are going down every week all over the state for similar charges. Colorado’s new export crop makes for easy pickin’s in the Kansas law enforcement community. Legalization would generally stifle that black market and wipe out a ton of illegal and unregulated small businesses operating on every block in town.

To be clear, I support legalizing marijuana. I don’t support using it. Yes, some people partake at only the most recreational level (e.g., once in awhile and moderately). But, let’s be honest. Responsible consumption isn’t reality and thus not the point of contention. It’s heavy daily use that creates the concern about pot just as does daily or binge drinking. Increasingly that’s the norm for many teens and young adults. They don’t respect any limits and anyone who argues to the contrary is hurled out of favor, fast.

While I sympathize with your friend and I hope we’ll see changes that allow regulated, legal sale and distribution, I also agree that until then, even part time, low-level dealers shouldn’t do the crime if they can’t do the time. And after reading the longer version of your letter, I know your friend will be doing quite a bit of it.

Kyra: During a few unsupervised moments in ninth grade biology, my table partner dug into his backpack, pulled out a baggie full of something green and began animatedly waving it around. That was the first time I saw marijuana.

As a particularly naïve freshman, this flaunting of an illegal substance stunned me. As a senior, it’s so common that I’ve become completely desensitized. While flagrant displays are rare in the hallways, one regularly sees the bloodshot eyes, smells the oily herbal musk, and hears the weekend’s waterfall bong hit stories. Weed really is everywhere, easily accessible and socially acceptable. It is not, however, legal here nor even in Colorado for the under-21 crowd.

Most people’s discretion exceeds my lab partner’s. Consequently, I find myself acquainted with numerous weed users and dealers who’ve never seen legal repercussion for their chill recreation. But until Kansas and the rest of the country follow Colorado and Washington and abolish Pot Prohibition, one misplaced gram could result in a sticky icky situation.

In Kansas, possession of any quantity of weed, even just a gram, is classified as a class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to a $2500 fine and/or a year in jail. That misdemeanor jumps to a level 2 felony if the substance is distributed to a minor or within 1000 feet of school property. Remember, I’m not a lawyer. But my mom is, and she advised me to add this disclaimer. However, that is what the Kansas Statute says.

As high school dealers turn 18 and continue selling to underclassmen, the stakes become much higher, punishable by up to 68 months in prison. A five-and-a-half year stint in a cell just isn’t worth hooking someone up with an hour or two of euphoria and a strong, burning desire for Doritos.

Wes Crenshaw, Ph.D., ABPP, is author of “I Always Want to Be Where I’m Not: Successful Living with ADD & ADHD.” Learn about his writing and practice at dr-wes.com. Kyra Haas is a Free State High School senior who blogs at justfreakinghaasome.wordpress.com. Send your confidential 200-word question to ask@dr-wes.com. Double Take opinions and advice are not a substitute for psychological services.