subject: Nj Drug Reform : Another Chris Christie Failure - August 2010 [print this page] Marijuana is a taboo subject that has opinions on both sides running to extremes to justify their points. The truth of the manner is that marijuana is really a simple subject that we as humans complicate the it, beyond belief. We all know by now that marijuana does have many medical properties. For some the difference between having marijuana or not determines whether they are able to walk.The current issue lies with politics and a negative stigma that was portrayed during the Reagen years.
One such disease that marijuana has helped alleviate many painful symptoms is multiple sclerosis, known as MS. Montel Williams was diagnosed with this terrible and debilitating disease and since has become a huge advocate for legalizing marijuana,due to his experiences with the medicine. It could be you, it could be your kids, and it could even be your mom. Innocent people are suffering with unnecessary pain all over this country because of the status or marijuana's legality. Marijuana is also a much safer and gentler alternative to harsher drugs that are basically derivatives of morphine. If a patient can smoke or ingest a couple grams of marijuana, they may not have to take some horrible, addicting, deadly drug like Oxycontin.
The patient needn't fear becoming an addict or overdosing on these dangerous substances that are legal. New Jersey passed a law over a year ago allowing for medical marijuana and yet the patients still have not received medication in any form. The original grow site was to be at Rutgers, which is New Jersey largest University; unfortunately because it is illegal under federal law, Rutgers will not accept the task. Meanwhile, patients are suffering and being arrested for something that has already been legalized for medial value. Medical Marijuana was supposed to be implemented into Jersey months ago and it keeps getting pushed around causing further delay.
Heres a crazy thought, why not let the people grow it. Let the common American man grow marijuana that he can resell and pay taxes on. The economy is in the crapper and lots of people lost jobs. Guess what, the marijuana industry is booming. Let's change that word drug dealer to entrepreneur. I would compare marijuana to alcohol in terms of harm reduction, but I think it's too much of a low blow to the alcohol industry which I also enjoy. Ignorance is the real problem that is holding back marijuana. People who are so set in their ways and think marijuana is so evil while their kids are smoking the stuff in front of there faces. If you say marijuana is a drug, many people who smoke it would take that comment slightly offensively. This is because marijuana is so benign that classifying it along with drugs like cocaine and heroin is disrespectful and harmful to marijuana.
Not only is it harmful to the marijuana, but also to the peaceful guy who is now in a holding cell over a joint. This pot smoker is now classified as a criminal and the guys surrounding him are murderers and rapists. Just like the pot was classified as an illegal drug, this poor guy is classified as a criminal. I love marijuana but a hell of a lot of harm really does come from it. Just a few weeks ago some cops were shot when they discovered around 250 pounds of marijuana. The people in possession of the marijuana went down in a blaze of glory because they knew they were fucked. All this over a green plant that can make you giggle or be paranoid. People literally killing each other because of bloody weed. We all know people who smoke. Most of us have tried it at some point. Its time to legalize marijuana. And the biggest reason it needs to be legal is harm reduction. There are many other benefits ecomically socially but harm reduction is the most important. Say you caught your kid smoking a joint and sent him to rehab because you classified him as an addict. Dr Phil would probably kiss your ass on TV about how good a parent you were. Apparently you didn't realize that he's now in a place with real harmful drug addicts that are dangerous, disease ridden, and know how to access a lot stronger drugs, in a time when he's really fucking depressed angry, and vulnerable. Harm reduction. Stop the War on Hugs.
