Marijuana: How much longer are we going to put up with this shit?
In this morning's fish wrapper there was actually an opinion by national columnist Kathleen Parker that, "It's time to legalize marijuana."The article hits on all of the sane reasons to legalize pot... the punishment is worse than the crime, thousands of Americans have criminal records for doing nothing more than smoking it, the "War on Drugs" is a complete failure and farce, there are medical advantages to using pot, etc.While all of those are good reasons for pot being legalized, I have another reason altogether for its legalization...I like it and it's nobody's God-damned business what I do in the privacy of my own home!!That goes for all drugs for that matter. Your right to swing your arm ends at the tip of my nose. Other than that, what you do is your own business and none of mine. Extrapolated that means, so long as what you do does no harm to others it's your own business and not the government's nor anyone else's.Over the course of my life I have smoked pot and dabbled with other forbidden things. Along the way, I have also consumed cases of scotch, gin, vodka and wine. Thankfully, I've avoided cigarettes but I do love a good cigar. I can't see that any one of these things is any worse than the other and all of them have given me some happiness, which is my constitutional right to pursue.
I am alert and healthy thanks to some modicum of common sense which directs me to a good diet and exercise of mind and body. I am a college graduate, I have always been gainfully employed in responsible, management positions, I have raised two good daughters who are now good mothers, and I believe I've been a good friend and neighbor, in spite of the mind altering and coroding substances I have "abused" all these years.I am fed up with the bull shit "Police Industrial Complex" that thrives on the misery of others. It's way past time we put those mother fuckers out of business. This is not a moral issue or even a public health issue... it is a civil rights issue and one we should all be raising hell about. Period.
Here, here!!! When was the last time you heard of a "high" driver killing someone or anyone smoking pot till it killed them? Doesn't happen, yet DUI manslaughters and cirrohsis of the liver abound.
Fuckin' alchohol companies and thier piece of shit lobbyists. That's who stands formidably in the way. They know that once it's legal that most people will drink less because as we all know, if you got some doobage...you only need a couple of drinks if any.
At the end of a long, grueling day nothing takes the edge of like a fresh bowl. Take that Zoloft! Great post.
The noble experiment of prohibition from 1919-1933 turned 10s of millions of Americans into criminals. Made the piddling big city gangs into a powerful economic force, political and judicial corruption became rife. Nothing noble about that. It all began with temperance movements knowing what is good for us.
The marijuana laws do the same thing, only the gangs that control it are more vicious and are threatening to turn Mexico into a failed state.
The medical marijuana movement is a first step and it is a big step. All the States are watching the 16 States that allow it.
PS Lynchburg, Tennessee, where Jack Daniels is "crafted" is in a dry county?
I'm all for the legalization of marijuana. It's harmless and has medicinal value...and not just for people with terminal illness. Absolutely absurd that it has yet to be legalized here, and in so many other countries. Less harmful than alcohol, in many ways.
I don't feel the same way about cocaine and heroin. The "you can kill yourself, as long as it's in the comfort of your own home" argument just doesn't do it for me. While marijuana can be psychologically comforting, it's non addictive. Heroin, on the other hand, is addictive immediately. I've seen too many people die from addiction to think that it should be legal.
With you on the Mary Jane, privacy of one's home...except for crack, heroin and meth. The last three simply cause far too many problems for the rest of us, especially on a crime level.
I'm a huge proponent of the legalization of marijuana. One...why is alcohol legal and MJ not since alcohol has been shown to be addictive and MJ has not....second...handled in the right business sense, it could within a few years wipe out our deficit. Perhaps you and I could sign up to be the Marijuana As Sensible Business Czars.
Jeeez.. I take the dog for a hike and missed all the fun. I stand by the argument that all drugs should be legal for the reasons Holte spelled out concerning the drug cartels etc. Plus, there's little doubt that it is far cheaper to treat addicts than criminals. In other parts of the world heroin is used as a medicinal narcotic where we use morphine. Heroin gives you painless sweet dreams whereas morphine simply gives another kind of pain. Read Tom Robbins' new book, Villa Incognito.
I do think pot needs legalization, whats the big deal? I know plenty of people who have criminal records just from pot smoking...it's crazy. By the way, pass the bowl, Mr. C!
My parents took me to a legalise cannabis march in Bristol in the late seventies. I never wondered why I got funny looks until I realised I'd been wearing the leaf-badge on my school uniform for the best part of a week.
That the (local here, at least) police are turning a blind eye to 'reasonable' amounts of pot probably gives as good an indication as any that it's time to be more lenient.
Great Post and I am with you 100%!!! Especially that there are medical benefits from it. It really helps a lot of chronic pain sufferers and nausea and helps the eyes!
I guess I would tend to agree with the other commentors who feel that coke, heroin, meth etc just cause too much damage.
But inconsistencies always bug me - why some drugs or addictive substances are legal and some are not. It is not always clear where the line is, should and why.
Thanks Mo... My logic has always been that it's far less stressfull on society to treat addicts than criminals. Addicts are primarily non-violent except in the pursuit of their fix if they can't get it. If pot and coke were legalized nearly one half of the incarcerated criminal population would not be there.
The last living legacy of the Nixon era. Smoke what you will when you will and eat healthy munchies.
ReplyDeleteHere, here!!! When was the last time you heard of a "high" driver killing someone or anyone smoking pot till it killed them? Doesn't happen, yet DUI manslaughters and cirrohsis of the liver abound.
ReplyDeleteFuckin' alchohol companies and thier piece of shit lobbyists. That's who stands formidably in the way. They know that once it's legal that most people will drink less because as we all know, if you got some doobage...you only need a couple of drinks if any.
At the end of a long, grueling day nothing takes the edge of like a fresh bowl. Take that Zoloft! Great post.
I guess I would say that pot should probably be legal, in small quantities. Maybe encourage growing it at home?
ReplyDeleteI have to say that I would not at all agree that hard drugs like heroin, crack, or meth should be legalized.
As someone who never did any illegal drugs, it's difficult to see it from both sides, but I really don't see much of an issue with pot.
The noble experiment of prohibition from 1919-1933 turned 10s of millions of Americans into criminals. Made the piddling big city gangs into a powerful economic force, political and judicial corruption became rife. Nothing noble about that. It all began with temperance movements knowing what is good for us.
ReplyDeleteThe marijuana laws do the same thing, only the gangs that control it are more vicious and are threatening to turn Mexico into a failed state.
The medical marijuana movement is a first step and it is a big step. All the States are watching the 16 States that allow it.
PS Lynchburg, Tennessee, where Jack Daniels is "crafted" is in a dry county?
I'm all for the legalization of marijuana. It's harmless and has medicinal value...and not just for people with terminal illness. Absolutely absurd that it has yet to be legalized here, and in so many other countries. Less harmful than alcohol, in many ways.
ReplyDeleteI don't feel the same way about cocaine and heroin. The "you can kill yourself, as long as it's in the comfort of your own home" argument just doesn't do it for me. While marijuana can be psychologically comforting, it's non addictive. Heroin, on the other hand, is addictive immediately. I've seen too many people die from addiction to think that it should be legal.
With you on the Mary Jane, privacy of one's home...except for crack, heroin and meth. The last three simply cause far too many problems for the rest of us, especially on a crime level.
ReplyDeleteI'm a huge proponent of the legalization of marijuana. One...why is alcohol legal and MJ not since alcohol has been shown to be addictive and MJ has not....second...handled in the right business sense, it could within a few years wipe out our deficit. Perhaps you and I could sign up to be the Marijuana As Sensible Business Czars.
ReplyDeleteHigh time.
ReplyDeleteJeeez.. I take the dog for a hike and missed all the fun.
ReplyDeleteI stand by the argument that all drugs should be legal for the reasons Holte spelled out concerning the drug cartels etc. Plus, there's little doubt that it is far cheaper to treat addicts than criminals.
In other parts of the world heroin is used as a medicinal narcotic where we use morphine. Heroin gives you painless sweet dreams whereas morphine simply gives another kind of pain.
Read Tom Robbins' new book, Villa Incognito.
I do think pot needs legalization, whats the big deal? I know plenty of people who have criminal records just from pot smoking...it's crazy. By the way, pass the bowl, Mr. C!
ReplyDeleteUh... that would be Mr. Bogart.
ReplyDeleteMy parents took me to a legalise cannabis march in Bristol in the late seventies. I never wondered why I got funny looks until I realised I'd been wearing the leaf-badge on my school uniform for the best part of a week.
ReplyDeleteThat the (local here, at least) police are turning a blind eye to 'reasonable' amounts of pot probably gives as good an indication as any that it's time to be more lenient.
I'm with you, Mr. C....... roll another one, just like the other one. :)
ReplyDeleteOH HELL YEAH! I'm with U!
ReplyDeleteNow...don't bogart that joint my friend....pass it over to ME.
Great Post and I am with you 100%!!! Especially that there are medical benefits from it. It really helps a lot of chronic pain sufferers and nausea and helps the eyes!
ReplyDeleteSee.. the power of marijuana to bring people together. Welcome Darsden, thanks for stopping by.
ReplyDeleteI guess I would tend to agree with the other commentors who feel that coke, heroin, meth etc just cause too much damage.
ReplyDeleteBut inconsistencies always bug me - why some drugs or addictive substances are legal and some are not. It is not always clear where the line is, should and why.
Thanks Mo... My logic has always been that it's far less stressfull on society to treat addicts than criminals. Addicts are primarily non-violent except in the pursuit of their fix if they can't get it. If pot and coke were legalized nearly one half of the incarcerated criminal population would not be there.
ReplyDelete