Subtle changes

  I do notice the subtle changes over time. Perhaps that is where wisdom resides, you have to be paying attention. That is difficult over a long period of time as you can becomes disinterested, disgusted or downright detached. It's why some old people appear angry all the time. Changes hit those folks all at once, like a slap in the face. That seldom happens to me, as I am paying attention. Of course, I receive a great deal of criticism for that as I'm not supposed to notice. I'm expected to embrace the changes and feel empowered. Well, I'm not going to say I have gained any appreciable amount of wisdom or insight but I'm paying attention.

 Yesterday as I was watching some television programming the ever present PSA appeared. I'm so grateful for the government issuing these warnings and advice, keeping me informed and all. This particular PSA concerned the use of marijuana. Just recently Maryland decriminalized the use and possession of pot. Like many other states it is being taxed and licenses issued to those selling that product. This PSA was warning parents about their preteens and teens using this product. It was explained how using pot could possibly cause long term ill effects on a developing brain. It had previously been explained, by Vincent Schiraldi, secretary of juvenile services for the state of Maryland, that our brains aren't fully developed until we are 25. That's why you shouldn't hold youth accountable for their crimes, just provide services to them. This PSA was urging parents to monitor closely their child's use of marijuana. 

 Did you catch that subtle change? The message wasn't, don't allow your kids to smoke pot or take edibles, it was monitor their usage. Now I'm old enough to remember when the messaging was quite different. When the expectation was parents would prevent their children from using drugs and alcohol until they reached the age where they could legally purchase them. Those parents that allowed their children to use would be subjected to criminal penalties for that action. Today the message is, show them how to use it in moderation. As I said, the change is subtle, but it is there. Don't get angry, don't punish the children, just teach them how to set "boundaries" when using that product. It does also urge you to not drive while "buzzed" because "buzzed" driving is drunk driving. And we all know being drunk is far worse than being high, no PSA about teaching your children to drink alcohol! That's still a bad thing.

  This morning on the news they did a segment on Ozempic. You've heard of that new drug for weight loss haven't you? It is being heavily advertised and promoted. In some cases, assistance in acquiring that drug is available. Now it turns out that Ozempic may also be an effective treatment for "moderate alcohol use disorder." I'm guessing that is when you are only drunk some of the time, first I heard of that condition. Sounds like an amateur alcoholic. But I'm told by taking Ozempic you may be able to control that urge to drink, it has worked in studies. I wonder if they were obese people, getting drunk some of the time, and took that Ozempic. Then they didn't want to eat or drink. Well, a few million dollars of studies should provide the answer to that one. Maybe it was people with diabetes that quit drinking alcohol after that injection. Interesting to note is that Ozempic is even more expensive than Insulin. Another win for the pharmaceutical companies. 

 Skinny and sober is certainly a win-win. The miracle of medicine. Now to find a drug for "moderate marijuana use disorder." Apparently that has become an issue and parents need to guard their children from that. It was explained that the long term effects of pot could be severe. Yes, being a stoner is a real possibility. Interestingly there was no mention of the ill effects of inhaling that smoke. The implication was it isn't being smoked. So I guess the danger of lung cancer and other respiratory issues is being avoided altogether. 

 All we really need to be concerned with is the normal development of the brain, and no one has died from abnormal brain development, those people are usually the life of the party. It's all good as long as you stay "cool" man. And that is what your parents should be doing, teaching you how to remain cool. Just like in the old days when parents taught kids how to drink. The subtle change being, back in the day parents told their kids drinking was bad, they shouldn't do it. Those parents were subject to arrest and prosecution if they enabled that activity in any way. Today the PSA is, join the kids, show them how to be "cool." No worries about how they got that stuff, no worries about any of the legalities, just don't become a stoner, man. It's all good, dog.