My personal feeling is that any law which turns otherwise good folk into criminals is a bad plan! There can never be a "war on drugs", only on those that elect to use them. I have spoken with very few people that object to the concept of legalizing this plant. I have had extensive exposure and experience with it, and I make no bones about it: it has improved the quality of my life. The medical benefits can't be denied: it has proven effective in the treatment of several diseases, depression, stress, allergic reactions, nausea related to chemotherapy. It is a difficult drug to abuse, you can only get so stoned and then there is no additional cumulative effect as with alcohol. I have never heard of someone smoking a joint and then going home to beat their spouse and children. It is not addicting, other than mentally, and to experienced users the loss of motor control or judgement is far less than the effects of alcohol which I regard as one of the most dangerous and deleterious drugs going, right up there with Cocaine. Considering that Marijuana sales probably exceeds that of wheat, it's financial intergration in our society is basically essential: our economy would likely collapse without it. Like all drugs, whether legal or illegal good judgement should certainly accompany its use.
There are no long term health risks that I am aware of, and if there were I would certainly not be here writing this, and half of my generation would be in their graves.
There are good drugs, and there are bad drugs - but is it the responsibility of Big Brother to dictate what they are? Didn't someone on one Fourth of July write, "We hold these truths to be self evident: that all men are entitled to Life, Liberty and the persuit of Happieness"? Just who exactly are these laws protecting? You from me? Me from myself? What if tea were made illegal, would you quit drinking tea?
The laws against Marijuana use have failed, and will continue to fail, to dictate the behavior of free men. The law is useless other than to turn otherwise good folk into crimminals, deny healing to the ill, and harmless pleasure to those who wish it. The sanctions against its use do nothing more than create a lucrative black market with high prices. You can bet someone is making out nicely from these laws. Now, that is a crime for you! It is a foolish law, made by those who were uninformed, and inexperienced. Time has passed since those laws were enacted, the facts are all well known now, but our lawmakers have not changed the law.
Now that Canada has adopted a more lenient approach to Marijuana use, following the lead of the very rational approach set by Denmark, isn't it time that we be granted the rights stated in the Declaration of Independence?
To add to the list of benefits: hemp yeilds a durable, soft as silk textile. The seeds have some of the highest antioxidant properties of any botanical substance. If the land that the government pays farmers to keep fallow were planted to hemp, the seed yield could generate enough methane to free America from foreign oil concerns, were the automotive industry to retool the car engines to methane. Shhhh. Don't say that too loud.
Now, with drug testing, those that would use it are very constrained. To me this is a violation of the Liberty our forefather's of this country intended us to enjoy and defend, and I greatly resent it. You betcha I won't be peeing into any bottle. Not ever.
A friend tested positive awile back. During the process of "rehabilitation", he explained that this herb made him more relaxed and more capable of dealing with the stress of a difficult job, eased his back pains and made him a better man. The Pysch. that listened to him wrote him out a prescription for one of the mood control drugs currently in vouge in our society: the sort that lead to health complications with long term use. I find it absurd to take away a pleasurable, aesthetic natural herb, and replace it with a useless and potentially detrimental chemical. Buut, the Pharmacuetical interests love it!
"Judge a tree by the fruit it bears". This tree has born nothing but good fruit in my life, apart from the paranoia and fear the laws against its use generates. The law on the other hand has born nothing but bitter fruit, and as a free man, I reject it. But I am tired of playing cops and robbers.
It may not be for you - if not, leave it alone but also leave alone those who think otherwise. Legalize it, and end the black market, crazy prices, free the courts, and keep good folk out of prison which are really just crime universities. Let those who suffer have ease from it.
Liberty is more than a patriotic word, it is our God Given right in this country. Supposedly. My father risked his life in WWII to insure that I have that right........now, where has it gone? It has fallen under the control of lobby groups and special interests! It's gone to those who say "Best leave well enough alone". The thing about freedom is you have to stand up and BE free, even if it means facing the heat.
Happy Fourth of July, and please think about what freedom means. I welcome your critique of my own Declaration of Independence.
