A new article is out from National Geographic, "The
Science behind Marijuana." You can find it at your local magazine store.
Here is a link to the partial article:
It starts out with the statement, "There’s nothing new
about cannabis, of course. It’s been around humankind pretty much forever."
It should have been a question instead of a statement
because then it goes into new research about the medical uses for Marijuana.
The point the author was making though was a good one,
"In Siberia charred seeds have been found inside burial mounds dating back
to 3000 B.C. The Chinese were using cannabis as a medicine thousands of years
ago."
It wasn't till recent times when fear set in about this so-called
gateway drug,"a dangerous substance with no valid medical purpose and a
high potential for abuse, in the same category as heroin. In America most
people expanding knowledge about cannabis were by definition criminals."
It is a great article about the medicinal uses for marijuana.
Who wouldn't want to help a little kid who has continuous seizures?
I think marijuana use is a double edged sword. While it is great
for medical use, I wouldn't want my kids using it for recreational enjoyment.
Why should we dull our brains any further than we already have? I am for
juicing it, using it for medicine but not for dulling our brains for a temporary
high.
I'm not even for drinking alcoholic beverages for its effects.
Cigarettes too can create a euphoric high from its nicotine,
"Tobacco is
smoked for a euphoric high that relaxes the individual and provides a calming,
social atmosphere. However, studies in the mid to late 20th century showed that
tobacco causes lung cancer and many other types of respiratory diseases such as
emphysema. Nicotine is also an addictive substance that is the subject of
controversy."
When it comes to doing drugs of any kind, I am a fogey and proud of it. If I can't feel great from eating healthy foods, then I want no artificially
created one boosting me up. I value my mind and body too much.
In my book (Don't Get Me Started) I write, "The latest news is that the state of Washington has now
legalized and is selling marijuana. Many people are now buying weed and forking
over their twenty dollar bills to Washington State approved dealers. Sad news
for the hungry pot eaters, the state has recently run out of edibles. As I
write this report, there is a popular demand for cookie laced weed and other
edible products.
Washington State has high hopes for their citizens, not in making
their citizens smarter, but in filling up their revenue repositories. The sin
tax rate for marijuana in Washington is 44%. Maybe if the popularity of
marijuana diminishes they might legalize opium, LSD and other hallucinogenic
drugs along with their high sin taxes.
We might think that freedom to grow marijuana has finally come to
the individual backyard farmer; however, growing marijuana is restricted. In
Colorado, you can grow up to six plants if you meet certain conditions. But in
Washington, growing even one plant without a license is considered
“manufacture” and subject to harsh penalties. Likewise, giving some of what you
buy to a friend is considered illegal “distribution.” Restrictions make sense
when there are those growing their weed in order to bypass the sin tax.
Legalizing marijuana makes a great profit to those who want to make money from
our addictions and our habitual practice of smoking the green stuff.
A HAPPY CUSTOMER
“Hi, I’m from your state revenue department. Would you like to help
us in our quest to get out of financial debt by giving us the gift of
$50?”
“Hell no, if you can’t manage the revenue that you already get by
high taxation then what makes you think my donation will help?”
“You make a good point. Why don’t you smoke a jay with me and we
will talk some more.”
“That is some good stuff,” said the citizen. “Where did you get
it?”
“It is not the weed that you would normally buy from foreign
dealers. Their weed is loaded with pesticides and other junk that is bad for
us. Our state approved weed has been tested for purity. Would you like to buy
some?”
“You bet I would. I’ll take $100 worth.”
“Thanks! Forty-five dollars of this sale will go to pay sin taxes.
We also get revenue by selling licenses to sellers and growers. Would you like
to see our paraphernalia catalog and buy something else? Thank you for your
support.”
The citizen took another puff and held his breath. Finally, he
exhaled and said, “Now that’s the kind of taxation I can live with.”
(I must say, that book is not a popular book. I lay it out
the way it is. Truth hits like a hammer and most people enjoy ignorance more
than the truth.)
To conclude, read the article from National Geographic. It is an eye opener. Just don't get high afterwards.
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