Ok, I said I would bow out, but I have to comment.
The topic is on Marijuana, not the other drugs which are obviously destructive, and have little value other than to provide a momentary and costly thrill. They have nothing to do with each other.
In my circle, no one uses speed, cocaine, or the other thrill drugs. No one has offered me a step-up, and if they did I would reject it, and them. Every now and again coke shows up, and is given a wide berth by me. I will not associate with those drugs or those that use them. I also do not sniff glue, stick needles into my veins, or abuse prescription drugs. The assumption that someone who uses marijuana will graduate to more dangerous drugs is a fallacy in most instances, and I reject it. In the cases where someone does abuse other substances, this is NOT the fault of marijuana. It is more propaganda shoveled out by the likes of those that came up with the "This is your brain, this is your brain on marijuana" campaign, if any of you recall this. Law enforcement still follows the Harry J. Anslinger headset found in "Marijuana: Assasin of Youth". I believe it is still part of the indoctrination that officers receive! Drug abusers and Marijuana users are two completely seggregated and different entities. One does not imply the other.
This type of propaganda has a negative effect. Those that do try marijuana and find it harmless may assume that the rest of the drugs out there are likewise harmless. If we are lied to on this issue, perhaps Cocaine and Meth also are OK! See my point?
Schloaty, I used to work in a nursing home as a Ward Clerk, and one of my duties was a state mandated monthly review of the client's Med sheets. I have seen medication's prescribed in absurd amounts: one client had over 30 daily medications to deal with various problems, and then their side effects! That is like a cereal bowl full of pills daily. Many of the symptoms that these pills were designed to remove simply engendered more side effects. Good Lord! Those same side effects probably could have been dealt with by this natural herb at far less cost both financially and in terms of health. America is overmedicated in the EXTREME, and the pharmecutical companies milk it for all it's worth. Although perfectly legal, this is a real crime in my book: to take advantage of the old and sick, to capitalize on a patient's hope for wellness......it is disgusting!
If this question were put to public referendum, I have not a doubt that marijuana would be legal tomorrow by an overwhelming majority vote, and the billions of dollars wasted could be put towards far better ends, lives would not be ruined, and the sick could afford their own healing. But we will never have that choice. How did we come to this in the Land of the Free?
Incidently, letters between George Washington and Thomas Jefferson discussed growing hemp (both cultivated it on their property), and the need for seggregation of the males from the females. For the purpose of making rope, it would not matter. But to produce the flowers rich in the active drug, it is optimal. They smoked it in clay pipes. This plant has been cultivated worldwide for thousands of years, based on its usefullness, beauty and healing. Like I said, you judge a tree by the fruit it bears.
I will not honor a Law which has been created and maintained to facilitate the profit of special interest while denying solace to the sick, and (relatively) harmless pleasure to those who would have it. The Law is not always right, or just, and if the collective will of the people can't change it, then there is no alternative other than to stand fast and reject it and bear the consequences. This is how our Nation started out. Judging by the ineffectiveness of the "War on Drugs" I still believe those truths are still self evident - we are not now, nor ever will be a herd of sheep or cows to be milked by special interest, unless we allow ourselves to be herded and milked, that is.
Well, I can see that those in favor might not wish to expose themselves, but how about those opposed? Is there anyone else out there who feels that the current stance and law is good, and that marijuana use should be considered a crime?
Just say "Aye" Raise your hand if you support the Law in this!
