Drug decriminalization: a sensible middle ground.
America's "drug war" myth has been that anything short of severe criminal penalties leads to massive drug abuse, escalating crime and worse. But in Portugal, none of the predicted parade of horrors has occurred. Decriminalization — rather than legalization — could this be the sane middle ground we need here, too?
4/24/09|The Seattle Times| by Neal Peirce - Syndicated columnist - Editorials/Opinion
The criminal factor is being lifted from marijuana use in California. The other 12 states where marijuana is permitted for medical use can't be far behind.
And if 13 states now, then all 50 in the next years?
That's the future some see flowing from a decision announced Feb. 25 by Attorney General Eric Holder Jr. The federal Drug Enforcement Agency, Holder announced, would stop its raids on marijuana dispensaries in states where marijuana is legal for medicinal purposes.
The order spells a refreshing respect for states' rights. In California, where hundreds of new dispensaries are springing up to meet demand, customers need only produce a physician's recommendation in order to buy marijuana. California law allows pot to be dispensed for "any illness for which marijuana provides a relief." Back pain, anxiety, sleeplessness, glaucoma — virtually any condition can now be claimed.
Perhaps no line can be drawn between serious conditions for which marijuana is a godsend, relieving many patients suffering excruciating pain, and simple recreational use.
And then there's the sheer numbers issue. Surveys show 100 million Americans at some point in their lives have smoked pot. It's time to ask: What's government doing prohibiting marijuana in the first place?
In California alone, the marijuana market is already estimated to total $14 billion a year. Legislation pending in Sacramento would regulate the trade and yield the state $1.3 billion in revenues. In an America whose revenue-hungry state governments have already gone hog-wild legalizing another practice once thought evil — gambling — what's so different about marijuana?
And there's a parallel. At the height of the Great Depression, state governments drowning in red ink seized the opportunity to repeal prohibition of alcohol as a way to institute legal taxes and fill their empty coffers.
The myth we need to break is that the use of mind-altering drugs is really different from a whole range of activities that humans have engaged in since the dawn of time.
I'd put gambling on that list, but even more deeply entrenched are alcohol, drugs and sexual practices. All have legitimate roles; each, depending on its form and application, can be seriously abused. A mature society warns of problems but holds back on prohibition — and sensibly, because rules of total denial will be broken anyway.
What's missing on the marijuana front, suggests Eric Sterling, president of the Criminal Justice Policy Foundation, is any fair, open debate about its use. How serious is it, for example, if a high-school student gets "stoned"? Is "binge drinking" really less serious? Would a successful prevention model aim mostly at abstinence or some safer, moderate form of use?
By good fortune, a fascinating new European study has become available to us. In the late 1990s, Portugal was faced by seemingly runaway drug usage, together with record arrest levels and imprisonments. (Sound familiar?)
So the Portuguese government decided to create a high-level commission, dominated by health-care professionals, to recommend a solution. The commission's surprise recommendation: Don't officially legalize all drugs. Instead, decriminalize them — take away all criminal penalties.
"I think it's bizarrely underappreciated what's been done in Portugal," says analyst Glenn Greenwald, author of a just-published study on the Portuguese experiment for the Cato Institute, a Washington think tank.
The Portuguese parliament didn't "go soft" on drug traffickers — they're still liable to arrest and criminal prosecution. Police can still issue citations to drug users. But under the new law, in effect since 2001, the worst fate an apprehended drug user can expect is mandatory appearance before a "dissuasion commission" — which in turn is most likely to suggest a course of treatment.
The crucial advantage of decriminalization, says Greenwald, is that it removes citizens' fear of government punishment. So they feel free to seek out help for treatment or stopping drug use altogether. The money formerly spent on "putting drug users into cages," as he puts it, is going for counselors and psychologists conducting quality treatment programs.
America's "drug war" myth has been that anything short of severe criminal penalties leads to massive drug abuse, escalating crime and worse. But in Portugal, none of the predicted parade of horrors has occurred. Drug use among youth has actually declined, and surveys show use of marijuana, cocaine and dangerous substances like heroin are all well below Europe-wide averages.
Decriminalization — rather than legalization — could this be the sane middle ground we need?
Neal Peirce's column appears regularly on editorial pages of The Times.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Michelle Rainey and Gregory Keith Williams plead guilty.
Seed company staffers plead guilty in pot case; lawyers suggest probation
4/25/09|The Globe and Mail| by Rod Mickleburgh
Two close associates of Canada's self-styled "prince of pot," Marc Emery, pleaded guilty in a Seattle court yesterday to selling marijuana seeds over the Internet, the same charge that has Mr. Emery facing the possibility of life imprisonment in the United States.
The surprise pleas were entered by Michelle Rainey, 38, and Gregory Keith Williams, 54, both of Vancouver, who were arrested, along with Mr. Emery, by the RCMP on extradition warrants in 2005.
The case has caused an uproar among pro-marijuana and some legal activists who accuse Canadian authorities of co-operating with the States' harsh war on drugs to put Mr. Emery behind bars when no similar charges have been laid against him in Canada.
Defence and prosecution lawyers made a joint submission to the court, recommending Ms. Rainey and Mr. Williams each receive a sentence of two years' probation. They will return for sentencing July 17.
Ms. Rainey told the court in a statement that she made up to $1,000 a week working for Mr. Emery's seed-selling business, with 75 per of its customers located south of the border.
Mr. Williams said he was being paid $300 a day by Mr. Emery. He added that Mr. Emery's claim of making more than $3-million annually from the marketing of marijuana seeds from his Vancouver headquarters was accurate.
An earlier attempt by Mr. Emery to broker his own plea agreement and serve about five years in a Canadian jail, if charges were dropped against his two employees, foundered when the federal government refused to go along.
Jody Emery, editor of Cannabis Culture Magazine and wife of Mr. Emery, said her husband is "very happy that Greg and Michelle will not be punished with a 10-20 year jail sentence.
"The United States wants Marc," she said, "and he has never wanted it on his conscience that Greg and Michelle were taken in, too. So he feels relieved."
The extradition trial of the so-called cannabis crusader begins in B.C. Supreme Court on June 1. "Now he gets to defend himself, and that's the way he wants it," Ms. Emery said.
"If he's punished, it should be here in Canada. That's where all his activities have been carried out. He has never operated in the United States."
The three were arrested after undercover agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration in the U.S. alleged in affidavits that they had been sold marijuana seeds directly at Mr. Emery's cannabis operation on Vancouver's West Hastings Street. Since the arrests, the business has closed.
4/25/09|The Globe and Mail| by Rod Mickleburgh
Two close associates of Canada's self-styled "prince of pot," Marc Emery, pleaded guilty in a Seattle court yesterday to selling marijuana seeds over the Internet, the same charge that has Mr. Emery facing the possibility of life imprisonment in the United States.
The surprise pleas were entered by Michelle Rainey, 38, and Gregory Keith Williams, 54, both of Vancouver, who were arrested, along with Mr. Emery, by the RCMP on extradition warrants in 2005.
The case has caused an uproar among pro-marijuana and some legal activists who accuse Canadian authorities of co-operating with the States' harsh war on drugs to put Mr. Emery behind bars when no similar charges have been laid against him in Canada.
Defence and prosecution lawyers made a joint submission to the court, recommending Ms. Rainey and Mr. Williams each receive a sentence of two years' probation. They will return for sentencing July 17.
Ms. Rainey told the court in a statement that she made up to $1,000 a week working for Mr. Emery's seed-selling business, with 75 per of its customers located south of the border.
Mr. Williams said he was being paid $300 a day by Mr. Emery. He added that Mr. Emery's claim of making more than $3-million annually from the marketing of marijuana seeds from his Vancouver headquarters was accurate.
An earlier attempt by Mr. Emery to broker his own plea agreement and serve about five years in a Canadian jail, if charges were dropped against his two employees, foundered when the federal government refused to go along.
Jody Emery, editor of Cannabis Culture Magazine and wife of Mr. Emery, said her husband is "very happy that Greg and Michelle will not be punished with a 10-20 year jail sentence.
"The United States wants Marc," she said, "and he has never wanted it on his conscience that Greg and Michelle were taken in, too. So he feels relieved."
The extradition trial of the so-called cannabis crusader begins in B.C. Supreme Court on June 1. "Now he gets to defend himself, and that's the way he wants it," Ms. Emery said.
"If he's punished, it should be here in Canada. That's where all his activities have been carried out. He has never operated in the United States."
The three were arrested after undercover agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration in the U.S. alleged in affidavits that they had been sold marijuana seeds directly at Mr. Emery's cannabis operation on Vancouver's West Hastings Street. Since the arrests, the business has closed.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Random Friday Night Thoughts
I'll type in a dark green today. It is 9:03 on a Friday night. I have a freeroll touney at 9:15. I wonder how long I'll last this time?
I went to St. Mary's to play golf today. This was my first time at St. Mary's Golf and Country Club. It was a beautiful day and once again I forgot to take my camera. I almost forgot my putter too. It was that kind of day. I conveniently forgot my score. I do recall having six 7's and an 8. I also recall a par 3, so at least something went well. My shots were coming up short and my drives were very long but nowhere near straight. One of those days, but better to be out there than not.
I am sipping some Buzz Beer, made by Cool Beer. It is made from Hemp! How cool is that? I put a couple bottles in the freezer for about 1/2 an hour. That seemed about right. It is a very dark beer. Very smooth and dammit, very nice. Leave it to me to find a new favorite beer that is likely very hard to find in a bar or restaurant.
I keep thinking about the Stoner Games in Toronto on the 3rd of May. I really want to go but don't have $150 to spend. Anybody else going? Wanna take me? I can find accommodations. Sure, maybe it'll be under a bridge, but it'll be a nice bridge. :P I just emailed a buddy in Toronto to ask if he wanted to take me to the games and put me up too. I wonder if I will hear from him again?
The poker tourney started. I got a K3 and folded to an all-in. In freerolls there are a lot of early all-ins. Sometimes I bite. Usually not. I always try to hang in to see the flop. Cool, I just doubled up with a JJJ22 tight.
Washington is beating up on NYR 4-0 with 5 minutes to go. Looks like there'll be a game Sunday in NY.
Words are not flowing tonight. I am at my typing best in the morning. I think I'll go play poker and watch the end of the game. Then maybe I'll go to Runescape and hunt penguins or maybe do my slayer task of too many Nechryaels. I need to go clear out Miscellania, which leads to planting trees, but that can wait until tomorrow, or next week. So much to do, so little time.
1030 players out of 1500 still in tourney. I am around 20th. Still a long time to go. To win takes a few hours. Only the top 10 positions pay. Washington won 4-0. No surprise there. Ovechkin had a great goal that will be seen 100's of times in highlights. 2 buzz beer now and a buzz smoke in the grinder. 9:39pm on a Friday night and I am feeling like it is almost bedtime. Man, do I know how to live it up. :P
Cheers,
Randy
I went to St. Mary's to play golf today. This was my first time at St. Mary's Golf and Country Club. It was a beautiful day and once again I forgot to take my camera. I almost forgot my putter too. It was that kind of day. I conveniently forgot my score. I do recall having six 7's and an 8. I also recall a par 3, so at least something went well. My shots were coming up short and my drives were very long but nowhere near straight. One of those days, but better to be out there than not.
I am sipping some Buzz Beer, made by Cool Beer. It is made from Hemp! How cool is that? I put a couple bottles in the freezer for about 1/2 an hour. That seemed about right. It is a very dark beer. Very smooth and dammit, very nice. Leave it to me to find a new favorite beer that is likely very hard to find in a bar or restaurant.
I keep thinking about the Stoner Games in Toronto on the 3rd of May. I really want to go but don't have $150 to spend. Anybody else going? Wanna take me? I can find accommodations. Sure, maybe it'll be under a bridge, but it'll be a nice bridge. :P I just emailed a buddy in Toronto to ask if he wanted to take me to the games and put me up too. I wonder if I will hear from him again?
The poker tourney started. I got a K3 and folded to an all-in. In freerolls there are a lot of early all-ins. Sometimes I bite. Usually not. I always try to hang in to see the flop. Cool, I just doubled up with a JJJ22 tight.
Washington is beating up on NYR 4-0 with 5 minutes to go. Looks like there'll be a game Sunday in NY.
Words are not flowing tonight. I am at my typing best in the morning. I think I'll go play poker and watch the end of the game. Then maybe I'll go to Runescape and hunt penguins or maybe do my slayer task of too many Nechryaels. I need to go clear out Miscellania, which leads to planting trees, but that can wait until tomorrow, or next week. So much to do, so little time.
1030 players out of 1500 still in tourney. I am around 20th. Still a long time to go. To win takes a few hours. Only the top 10 positions pay. Washington won 4-0. No surprise there. Ovechkin had a great goal that will be seen 100's of times in highlights. 2 buzz beer now and a buzz smoke in the grinder. 9:39pm on a Friday night and I am feeling like it is almost bedtime. Man, do I know how to live it up. :P
Cheers,
Randy
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Reefer Poker
Are you an online poker player? I am. I only play the free stuff, though. I'll save my real playing money for live tables. I prefer to see the person I am playing against. Body language counts for a lot. Reefer Poker is not that much different than other poker sites except it is 420-friendly. For that alone it gets my vote. It also has frequent freeroll games, which appeal to a freeloader such as myself.
I play in the 9:15am (est) $50 Hold 'Em freeroll, the 1:15pm HORSE $50 freeroll, the 5:15pm Badugi $50 freeroll and the 9:15pm Hold 'Em $50 freeroll. The top 10 places pay from $1.00 to $15 real money. I finished 5th once and got $2.50 which I built up to over $11 in sit and go tourney's. It is not a lot of money for sure, but it is free and gets me into more games. I like the $2.20 10 seat games and the $.06 tourney.
I am putting that banner here so one can find it easily. I signed up for the affiliate program so I get a bonus if someone signs up through me. It's not much, but it's something, eh? So if you are into online poker, backgammon, blackjack and maybe some other games, sign up. Who knows, you might freeroll your way to a check in the mail. I have done it so you certainly can to. I know I am not a great poker player. Maybe not even good. :P
I am not sure if you can search for players, but if you can, I am 420londonont, for 420-friendly London, Ontario.
I play in the 9:15am (est) $50 Hold 'Em freeroll, the 1:15pm HORSE $50 freeroll, the 5:15pm Badugi $50 freeroll and the 9:15pm Hold 'Em $50 freeroll. The top 10 places pay from $1.00 to $15 real money. I finished 5th once and got $2.50 which I built up to over $11 in sit and go tourney's. It is not a lot of money for sure, but it is free and gets me into more games. I like the $2.20 10 seat games and the $.06 tourney.
I am putting that banner here so one can find it easily. I signed up for the affiliate program so I get a bonus if someone signs up through me. It's not much, but it's something, eh? So if you are into online poker, backgammon, blackjack and maybe some other games, sign up. Who knows, you might freeroll your way to a check in the mail. I have done it so you certainly can to. I know I am not a great poker player. Maybe not even good. :P
I am not sure if you can search for players, but if you can, I am 420londonont, for 420-friendly London, Ontario.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
World Stoner Games
Click the image above for a link to The World Stoner Games.
Click here for info on The 2009 World Marijuana March.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
The Day After 420
Tuesday the 21st. The day after 4/20 is Holocaust Remembrance Day. From a high to a low. Did you enjoy your 420 Day? I sure did, despite the weather.
It was cold and raining. I did not get to the park until 4:00. I waited as long as I could for the rain to let up. It did, but only enough to fool one into going out, then it would start up again. I did not take my camera. It was not a good day for photos.
I'd guesstimate about 200 people were in the park. There would have been 10 times that many if it wasn't raining. At 4:20 a great cheer went up. I am sure it could be heard all the way across the park to City Hall. I wonder if they were listening? Following the great cheer was a huge plume of smoke as the gathering crowd let out a collective exhale. Then another cheer. Now THAT was ubercool!
After the damp celebration in Vic Park my buddy and I walked around downtown a bit. We then stopped in at The Poacher's Arms for a beer, then Joe Kool's, then The Ceeps and then Molly Blooms. That was were we party company since my buddy had a blind date at 7. LOL. He was in fine shape for a blind date. I wonder how that went. :P I continued homeward and stopped at Marino's for a final pint. Every pub I went to was very quiet. I guess that shouldn't have been too much of a surprise for a rainy Monday. I got home in time to watch 24, but cannot recall what happened. :P
For those following this tale... I shared The Perfect Blunt with a few people, but mostly it was my buddy and I who smoked it. Actually, it was mostly me. My buddy stopped taking the pass before it was halfway done. I continued to smoke as we walked through the park. There was something special about freely smoking while strolling through the park exchanging "happy 420" with all I saw. I was carrying a couple lesser joints, but never got to them. That blunt was enough to last me all day. Sweet!
What shocked me the most was this morning while reading the newspaper (something I rarely do) and looking through the London Free Press online, I saw not one word mentioned about the gathering in Victoria park. Not ONE word. It's not like it was a secret. I can only surmise that the conservative "Free" press was directed to stay away so as not to draw attention. Is the 420 celebration not newsworthy? I am sure the 200 that showed and those who let the rain keep them away thought it was. Maybe the Western or Fanshawe papers have something. Maybe not.
I hope we can do better on May 2nd (or 3rd as some cities are doing). Will London have a parade? I doubt it. I don't see anyone taking on the chore of organizing one. Toronto will have a great parade, the Stoner Games where you can win tickets to The Cannabis Cup. I would like to take part in something local, but figure I'll probably have to go to the Toronto events instead. We'll see.
Most of the day was great, despite the weather. Seeing no press coverage was a huge dissappointment, but I am used to being dissappointed by our local paper and City Hall. Maybe I should start looking for a 420 friendly city and move; or better yet start working to make London a 420-friendly city. When's the next election? I got excited yesterday when I saw a nice big marijuana leaf on the front page of the LFP. Turns out the story was about yet another grow-op bust, not about 420 Day.
In other news.......
I think I am going to sell 420-friendly.com. I am not the guy to take it where it can go. I am more of a blogger and will stick to that for the time being. I am not too unhappy with this blogging format. The only thing that bugs me is how the comments are hidden and how one cannot use much html in them. At least the editor isn't there as it is whilst making a new post. Now if I just make a new post intead of "commenting" my new words are at the top of the page so it has to be read bottom to top, which is not what I want. Is there a blog site out there where commenters have as much editing ability as the author? And where comments are visible below the main post? Let me know if you see one and I'll take it for a test blog.
Later.....happy Post 420 Day!
It was cold and raining. I did not get to the park until 4:00. I waited as long as I could for the rain to let up. It did, but only enough to fool one into going out, then it would start up again. I did not take my camera. It was not a good day for photos.
I'd guesstimate about 200 people were in the park. There would have been 10 times that many if it wasn't raining. At 4:20 a great cheer went up. I am sure it could be heard all the way across the park to City Hall. I wonder if they were listening? Following the great cheer was a huge plume of smoke as the gathering crowd let out a collective exhale. Then another cheer. Now THAT was ubercool!
After the damp celebration in Vic Park my buddy and I walked around downtown a bit. We then stopped in at The Poacher's Arms for a beer, then Joe Kool's, then The Ceeps and then Molly Blooms. That was were we party company since my buddy had a blind date at 7. LOL. He was in fine shape for a blind date. I wonder how that went. :P I continued homeward and stopped at Marino's for a final pint. Every pub I went to was very quiet. I guess that shouldn't have been too much of a surprise for a rainy Monday. I got home in time to watch 24, but cannot recall what happened. :P
For those following this tale... I shared The Perfect Blunt with a few people, but mostly it was my buddy and I who smoked it. Actually, it was mostly me. My buddy stopped taking the pass before it was halfway done. I continued to smoke as we walked through the park. There was something special about freely smoking while strolling through the park exchanging "happy 420" with all I saw. I was carrying a couple lesser joints, but never got to them. That blunt was enough to last me all day. Sweet!
What shocked me the most was this morning while reading the newspaper (something I rarely do) and looking through the London Free Press online, I saw not one word mentioned about the gathering in Victoria park. Not ONE word. It's not like it was a secret. I can only surmise that the conservative "Free" press was directed to stay away so as not to draw attention. Is the 420 celebration not newsworthy? I am sure the 200 that showed and those who let the rain keep them away thought it was. Maybe the Western or Fanshawe papers have something. Maybe not.
I hope we can do better on May 2nd (or 3rd as some cities are doing). Will London have a parade? I doubt it. I don't see anyone taking on the chore of organizing one. Toronto will have a great parade, the Stoner Games where you can win tickets to The Cannabis Cup. I would like to take part in something local, but figure I'll probably have to go to the Toronto events instead. We'll see.
Most of the day was great, despite the weather. Seeing no press coverage was a huge dissappointment, but I am used to being dissappointed by our local paper and City Hall. Maybe I should start looking for a 420 friendly city and move; or better yet start working to make London a 420-friendly city. When's the next election? I got excited yesterday when I saw a nice big marijuana leaf on the front page of the LFP. Turns out the story was about yet another grow-op bust, not about 420 Day.
In other news.......
I think I am going to sell 420-friendly.com. I am not the guy to take it where it can go. I am more of a blogger and will stick to that for the time being. I am not too unhappy with this blogging format. The only thing that bugs me is how the comments are hidden and how one cannot use much html in them. At least the editor isn't there as it is whilst making a new post. Now if I just make a new post intead of "commenting" my new words are at the top of the page so it has to be read bottom to top, which is not what I want. Is there a blog site out there where commenters have as much editing ability as the author? And where comments are visible below the main post? Let me know if you see one and I'll take it for a test blog.
Later.....happy Post 420 Day!
Monday, April 20, 2009
HAPPY 420TH!!!!
HAPPY 420th!!!
That picture is a sample of my 420 Day stash. Yummy! Today is being treated as a holiday in my household. No work, no school, no chores. The morning will be spent in preparation for the afternoon. Mind you, this is my very first 420 Day so I am really not sure what to expect.
As far as I can tell the place to be is Victoria Park. I sent out word to my friends that that is where I was going to be. I am going to head downtown around noon. I'll start with a stroll through the park, just to see what the lunch crowd is like. I'll be strolling around downtown and Richmond row and looking forward to a late lunch at Stobies. I mean really, no visit to Vic Park is complete without it.
Between 4:00 and 4:30 I will be meeting my friends (and maybe even you) at the Holy Roller. At 4:20 I will set alight a very special blunt to honour the occasion. :D After that who knows? A beer at The Ceeps? Dinner at Molly Blooms?
I am going to be wearing my finest Armani suit with freshly cut hair all clean shaven. Why? Just in case there are pictures. :P If I happen to show up in some representative shot of Vic Park's 420 celebrations, I want to give a good impression. Why substantiate the stereotype, eh?
Got any comments? Do you wanna' meet up? What are your plans for the day? Share with us.
As far as I can tell the place to be is Victoria Park. I sent out word to my friends that that is where I was going to be. I am going to head downtown around noon. I'll start with a stroll through the park, just to see what the lunch crowd is like. I'll be strolling around downtown and Richmond row and looking forward to a late lunch at Stobies. I mean really, no visit to Vic Park is complete without it.
Between 4:00 and 4:30 I will be meeting my friends (and maybe even you) at the Holy Roller. At 4:20 I will set alight a very special blunt to honour the occasion. :D After that who knows? A beer at The Ceeps? Dinner at Molly Blooms?
I am going to be wearing my finest Armani suit with freshly cut hair all clean shaven. Why? Just in case there are pictures. :P If I happen to show up in some representative shot of Vic Park's 420 celebrations, I want to give a good impression. Why substantiate the stereotype, eh?
Got any comments? Do you wanna' meet up? What are your plans for the day? Share with us.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Do You Do Drugs?
Do You Do Drugs?
April 5, 2009
London,Ontario
by Randy Yeo
Do you do drugs? If you say no, you are a liar! We all do drugs of some kind.
I mean, if you are going to say an herb, like marijuana is a drug, then you have to say any herbal remedy is a drug. Therefore, when we include herbs in with pharmaceuticals (even aspirin), caffeine, tobacco, alcohol and even sugar, we all do drugs. Still no? How about in the food you eat. What drugs/toxins are in that?
So? Do you do drugs?
Chemicals (drugs) in food are okay. I think all of us except the most diehard organics have accepted this. Read any contents label and you'll see plenty of drugs. And make sure you wash the drugs off of your fresh fruits and veggies.
Herbal mood altering blends and remedies are pretty much accepted. I believe we are welcome to our herb patches and can do with those herbs as we please. Granted, maybe not ones that kill, but most of them.
[I was thinking of Remembrance Day and poppies and wondered if we were allowed to grow them? Can I grow my own Coca to make chocolate?]
Tobacco is taking a beating. That has opened the door for reserve smokes to enter the grey market. A great juxtaposition I see when I walk into a corner market here is all the marijuana paraphernalia out in the open and the legal but frowned upon tobacco products all hidden away behind secure walls. And I agree with this. Hide the legal killing stuff and lay open the peaceful pot stuff. Too bad you can only get paraphernalia, eh?
Alcohol is hugely accepted. You can go just about anywhere and find a nearby drink. In some circles, if you do not offer your guests a drink, you are looked upon as flat-out rude. You can walk into a beautifully appointed liquor store and browse. Heck, you can bring the kids along! Teach 'em how to chose only the "good brands.”
Pharmaceuticals. Meds. How many meds do you take? How many friends do you have that take doctor prescribed medications? How many people who are taking meds need to take other meds to combat the side effects of the first meds? Do you have to eat a handful of pills every day to just stand a chance? 'nough said on that.
Oh yeah I mentioned sugar. We know it isn't good for us. Most know it is REALLY bad. Yet we feed it to our kids, ourselves and it can cause cancer, diabetes, gingivitis, etc... and we don't care 'cause it's yummy and legal.
Am I missing anything? Right. Marijuana. Cannabis. A plant that not only has great medicinal properties, but also calming effects in recreational users. Nobody has died using marijuana alone. Marijuana users are not prone to rage and violence. Perhaps that stuff comes in with hard, easy to manufacture and transport drugs, but not marijuana. Marijuana is an herb that is illegal. It was made illegal primarily as an attack on certain racial groups. That fact alone makes me feel ashamed.
These days, even if you are say, 60 and never got as much as a speeding ticket, you can be jailed for growing a marijuana plant. That same plant that can contribute to our environment. It can save trees! The same plant with proven (time and again) medicinal properties. Yes, that very same plant.
Our governments are acting on centuries old propaganda. If not that they are being manipulated by tobacco, alcohol, big pharmaceuticals, maybe even the forestry industry. Yes, marijuana is a threat. It is a threat to some big businesses because available, legal pot may well replace a number of their products. Marijuana is not a threat to you or me. It is not a threat to society, just Big Business.
It is sad not enough of us vote. It is a crying shame and social injustice. By not voting we allow the same old dinosaurs to dictate our personal freedoms. I can understand that those with the wisdom to vote for new ideas are those wise enough to see there are no candidates to vote for. I mean really, can you trust ANY politician? Still, we MUST vote. If not for us, then a generation or few to come. Maybe my grandkid's kids will initiate a change. Maybe.
I am Canadian. I am free. Well, unless I grow just one marijuana plant. Then I am a criminal worthy of serving time in jail. I wonder what I would learn there? Would I be rehabilitated? Is there such a thing as jail/prison and rehabilitation? What if I, a person who grew one plant, was housed with say a safecracker. What if I had not much else to do with my time but fear for my life and take up a new hobby? What if? What if I was just left alone, hurting no one, with my treasured herb garden.
And then there's the economy, but I guess it isn't a given what cash crop could well save the government money as well as line its pockets. Senators, think of the junkets!
If I were in the control seat, I would say "just leave marijuana alone.” Not legalized or decriminalized. Flat out left alone. It's nothing. It’s a plant. Let some big business guys have a go at marketing it. Go ahead and make your cash, just leave us alone who would rather the pleasure of growing our own.
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About Me
- 420-friendly
- I am a single dad. I like playing on the computer. I smoke pot. I am slowly becoming a legalization activist. I am an open book, but only if you ask.
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