MARIJUANA

It is kind of a gloomy day. Although I had plenty of sleep my body feels like it could take a nap anytime. My spirit is good though. I look out my study window and it is grayish. The road is iced up in front of the house, but I did go out and get the paper and found the main roads in good shape.

One of the amaryllis on my windowsill is fully budded and showing color. It should be in full bloom tomorrow and adding light.

I may be ready to begin commenting on the world again. It occurs to me that one reason why I resist is that the world is so polarized that we can't make a comment without many minds categorizing us with traits we may not have. For instance, I intend to comment on the legalization of marijuana today. If I say I am for it, a list of about ten statements about me go off in peoples minds. If I say I am against it a list of other presumptions jump to them. I am guilty of this myself. The divisiveness, that the polarization causes, keeps us from seeing each other clearly. Some folks believe this is intentional as it keeps us divided and prevents us from coming together and demanding real change.

What I am troubled by is that legalization is not separated from commercialization. I have always been in favor of legalization. I have always been against commercialization.

With the introduction of commercialization comes capitalism big time. How long would it be before companies like Monsanto take over the industry? How would this affect the product? What would the impact be on the population? What would be the effect of advertising?

Although I do not currently partake of marijuana I have had my day as a toker and even today if someone came over with a fat joint I might take a hit. [that is not an invitation] I am happy with my non-usage. And that is an important point. I believe marijuana is no more and perhaps less dangerous than alcohol but we all know people that should not partake. I remember sitting in smokey rooms and the joint is being passed around, some folks just pass it with a touch to their lips or just pass it on with nothing. They know intuitively or by prior experience it is not for them. That needs to be respected.

With commercialization comes capitalism. With capitalism comes greed. With greed comes high powered advertisers trained to convince anybody of anything. Wow, I don't think we want that.

Could we make it legal, but block commercialization. Perhaps we could limit production to a small mom and pop industry. Make all advertising illegal. This needs to be discussed.

Many of us remember the experience as a mind opening one, perhaps even sacred. For every burnout and dead-ender there were many folks that reached new creative potential. However, we can't deny the burnouts and dead-enders.

We need to resist the usual polarization and have a reasonable discussion. Cannot a sane society maximize the positive use of marijuana without the negative? Are we grown up enough to do it? I think we are but there is no reason to rush into it. Tax collection should not be part of the discussions at all; that is the flip side of capitalism.

As usual, if we act like the loving beings we are, we will make the right decision.

Love and Peace, Gregg