OK, I'll be quite honest about this. I've been around pot since 1968. I've seen the occasional wacko, but it's about that same 1.4% of all people. I've met more assholes than 1.4% of the people I've known.
A great many of the truly awesome people I've known will pass a joint with you gladly. Among their ranks are talented, kind, multifaceted, very together folks. In fact, that's the predominate demographic.
On the other hand, alcohol leaves a swath of devastation. My mom was one, died young. I dropped a friend off at an AA meeting this a.m., and there were cars and truck parked there for blocks, beyond the full lot.
The highway carnage from alcohol is staggering. In the '70s Car & Driver magazine compared three groups of drivers who drank liquor, smoked pot, and a control group that did neither--the pot smokers won the driving test suite, even over the control group. True.
I've read several reports in the past couple of years that discuss findings that pot reduces cancer risk, especially lung cancer. It also alleviates a number of other illnesses, including MS. Tobacco is Mr. Lung Cancer.
Let's look at the real science. And let's consider the empirical evidence of people like myself, who have been around this stuff for decades. Out of all the mood-altering substances out there, this one is, from my many years of observation, the most benign in its damage to people and society. The worst effects produced by pot are long prison terms, asset forfeiture, and various employment limitations.
Those are the facts as I see them, from experience. I believe pot should be restricted from minors, just as booze is. But it's not anything like what liquor and cigs are in terms of damage to us all. Not even close.
Calling it as I see it. I'm not chronic, but I know fine, successful, psychologically healthy, sweet-hearted people who are.
So I see this report as more propaganda from the people who are more interested in what other people do than in running their own lives well.
The constituencies that love this kind of horse hocky are law enforcement types who love to play with their guns, flashing lights, and other toys and enjoy having a victim to hate; the politicians who ride demagoguery to power; and of course the pharmaceutical and alcohol companies. Forty years of observation tells me that a small number of people are wacked anyway. Correlation, not causation.
Just my honest observation. Kids, obey your parents. When you're of age, your life is your own, but remember to honor your folks. If they oppose it at that time, stay under their radar, out of respect.
There's no reason whatsoever to have this stuff illegal when alcohol and cigarettes can be bought on nearly every street corner, coast to coast, in any quantity desired. Don't think young people don't see the hypocrisy. Danger is, they may thing the same hyperbole applies to cocaine, heroin, and gold spray paint.
Legalize.
