Since my sister has tried everything in the world (so I am told) and lives in a haze of marijuana, I do wonder why people seek mind altering experiences through chemicals in plants. I do have an understanding that artists have often tried these things, and religious shamans have used them for centuries to great effect for trances, and even cures for illness (especially psychiatric disorders like depression).
But with the classification of drugs has come the plea that we must understand the social reasons people use drugs. In my sister’s case there are issues of high intelligence, guilt and escapism. Peer pressure and money lead others down the road as well as making money. I wish I could say it is the stupidity of youth but it affects all social classes and all age groups, so simple experimentation also plays a part.
Then again some people truly enjoy the ‘lighter’ drugs that do not kill you and since dopamines are released in the brain for many reasons the high one gets with sugar or some teas can also be assumed to be some kind of ‘drug’ therapy. Look at alcohol, which is apparently the acceptable face of chemical imbalance. We are a bunch of chemicals living off another bunch of chemical.
It makes me wonder what is really going on in my head when I stand on a cliff top, in front of a wild ocean and feel as if the whole universe is stuck between my ears.