I'm not an expert in that. I've only smoked it a few times in my life. Since it just made me feel tired and stupid, I didn't understand that attraction to it. I don't know that I have ever responded to any kind of medical emergency as a paramedic that was related to pot, but marijuana wasn't a big problem in the Rio Grande Valley. Alcohol seemed to be the biggest problems, followed by heavier narcotics. As I said in an earlier post, I could support a bill to remove all of our laws governing the marijuana plant. I don't think it's a huge problem, and I'm thinking it is only going to become a bigger problem once we hand the rights to it over to Big Marijuana, which is likely to be in the hands of the same people we formerly knew as Big Tobacco. The Big Marijuana companies will get rich peddling pot to people and, just as most of us had ready access to cigarettes as kids, they will have no problem getting it. That's pretty much the case right now, however; the biggest difference will be that the profits will rise, and the states will get in on the deal with high and steadily rising taxes. Laws will be passed prohibiting people from growing their own, largely because the state is not going to want to lose out on the tax revenue, although another reason will be given for public consumption. At some point in the future, once the states have milked the legal marijuana industry for everything they can get, I envision that we'll be putting huge amounts of money into a campaign to fight Big Marijuana, in the courts and through advertising. A deal with be struck, and Big Marijuana will agree to pay off the states, and there will be an assortment of new laws put in place that serve only to provide employment opportunities to the regulators, the police, and the lawyers. So no, I would favor simply removing all of the laws regarding the plant, but I did not favor the referendum to legalize it, as we just passed here in Maine, contrary to my vote. Actually, I think they are calling for a recount on that one because the vote was very close. My objection is as I outline above, although it is sold as a legalization bill, in reality it simply creates a big business around the plant, adds to our bureaucracy, and creates another tax stream.
I think that what you have written is exactly correct, @Ken Anderson . Just removing all of the laws around it would solve a lot of the problems, and making it legal to sell but not to grow doesn't make any sense to me at all. I think that there is a lot of interest in growing marijuana for medical purposes, and it does seem to have some promise in that capacity. From what I have read about using medical marijuana, it is not necessary to use a strain that promotes getting high, and it is much better to use fresh picked leaves put into a green smoothie drink than it is to smoke it. Making it unlawful for people to grow their own would only harm the people who want to grow it for medical purposes, since everyone else could just buy the packaged kind if all they wanted to do was smoke it and get high.
Hi @Gary Ridenour I know there are some that this has happened to, one I know personally, is the x husband of my best friend from highschool. We were talking the other day, and her daughter saw a picture of her dad and didn't know who he was. She is about 35 I think, and she hadn't seen him in many years. He was one of the best looking, smartest guys when we were all young. He was cool too because he smoked pot. It did lead to bigger and better drugs. Then there is my Uncle who died recently, and he smoked pot for a lot of years. He developed cancer at around 60 years old, and found his pot-smoking really helped with the cancer. He lived into his 90s. He was a NP at the Veterans Hospital in Roseburg Oregon all his life. He wanted to be in the military (it's veterans day so I mention this) but he couldn't pass the eye-exam. He never drove a car either, he was very light complected and my mom said he was almost albino. Anyway, two examples, one from each side of the fence. I honestly don't know about it being legalized. I do get concerned about young people getting their hands on it much easier. I know how many bad decisions I made when I was young. I feel lucky I didn't care for it myself. I liked drinking, but luckily gave that up in my 20s.
My SIL is a very "straight" person. She doesn't smoke, cuss, drink or gamble. To a degree, my wife (her sister), is somewhat like her, but definitely not like her. Thank God! In fact, my SIL is one of the "straightest" people I've ever known! Probably one the reasons her brother and I don't get along with her that much.
It's hard being around someone that is straight-laced if they have a "holy than thou" attitude. I've met straight, but also the other type I'm a firm believer that no human is perfect, not an excuse for bad behaviour by the way, but that we all fall short of perfection. Sometimes I forget that, and think why do they act that way, then I remember I need to look in the mirror. Dang mirrors anyway
Thank God she isn't the "holy than thou" type or I'd never be able to talk to her! Actually, her former husband (she's a widow now) was a Minister for some years.
I am happy for you, I think there is something wonderful about humble, straight people I have some that really have helped me grow through the years
what's funny or maybe hypocritical is ive known non smokers get on their soap box's and preach the evils of smoking cigarettes then step down and light up a joint
Yeah, I've prolly heard that too I am not sure which is work, I can't stand the smell of any kind of smoke though. Probably because I had asthma real bad as a kid, and my family smoked.