Jan 4th 2016, 13:45:15
Kidnapping people and putting them in cages for possession of a plant is about the stupidest thing going these days, but there's big money in it for the government's law enforcement agencies, and that's the fundamental reason it is still illegal in most states.
Now, just imagine the profit that could be made if they made grass clippings illegal. The cops would swarm suburban America and lock up almost every single homeowner until they paid the extortion to get themselves out of jail.
If you really think that it's about people getting high, you're wrong, it's about people getting rich, or having a job that they would otherwise not have.
As far as the rumors about the publisher pushing his agenda on the government, that's a big area to cover.
His war was primarily against Hemp, and not Marijuana per se. He had just bought the logging rights to a huge swath of northwestern timberland and didn't want to have to compete with Hemp for the lucrative paper making industry, since Hemp was much more renewable and eco friendly than using timber to make paper, and all his investments in the timberland logging industry would be diminished.
So, they promulgated the "Reefer Madness" agenda, and blamed Marijuana on getting the black men all riled up to whistle at and maybe molest and rape the white women. Thus establishing that level of fear required for people to make stupid decisions without seriously thinking about it first.
I used to be an anti-marijuana person myself. Then, I got older, and started to have those pains associated with getting older, and they wanted to make me take opioids for it, thus destroying my liver and kidneys in the process, not to mention what they do to your brain.
So, one day, I'm sitting in Rittenhouse Square park and a buddy of mine pulls out a joint and lights it, and convinces me to smoke it with him, and amazingly enough, almost all of those pains that existed in my knees and shoulder just disappeared, and I didn't have the dizzying side effects of the opioids going on. Wow, what an Epiphany.
Legalize it and numerous things will occur for the benefit of most Americans.
1. The statistical crime rate would drop since you are no longer imprisoning people for possession of a plant.
2. The revenue source for crime cartels that grow and distribute the plant will dry up, thus they will not be able to afford weapons and lawyers.
3. The costs for imprisoning largely non-violent criminals will drop precipitously.
4. The widespread use of opioids for the relief of pain will shrink and more people will remain functional members of society because of that.
5. The government would start collecting tax revenue that is now being lost to a criminal cartel based in Mexico thus reducing the need to add more taxation to the already over-taxed population.
6. People would be generally happier when they can wake and bake in the morning, thus brightening every single day from the beginning.
7. Stress levels would be much lower in society since it's very hard to be angry and violent while you're feeling good and having munchies to look forward to.
There are more, but those should be sufficient for most people.
And as far as the violent crimes ascribed to Marijuana use, I put forth the following reasoning.
The only thing in danger from a guy smoking some weed, is a bag of Doritos. The little old lady with her social security check is more likely to be able to overcome the high asshole who would somehow be motivated to rob her so he could buy more weed.
So, who's the victim here? I'll tell you who, the guy smoking the weed. ( and the bag of Doritos).
I don't need anger management, people need to stop pissing me off!