Today's Headlines on MSNBC:
High expectations? States eye marijuana reform
and this quote by the - head of the West Texas High Intensity Drug-Trafficking Area office in El Paso, Texas.:
There's no upside to it (marijuana) in any manner other than for those people who want to smoke pot... There's nothing for society in it, there's nothing good for the country in it, there's nothing for the good of the economy in it. Travis Kuykendall.
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It's statements like this that concern me. I'd love to see any practical data to support this kind of statement. I've actually researched cannabis for 35 years. Some may say "wasted research", other's may wonder how could someone spend 35 years of their life researching something like "marijuana"?
I must admit... it's frustrating, not because it's a waste of time, it's not - as can be seen now that over a dozen states have legalized/legitimized it to some extent... but still frustrating because the propaganda that made it a serious criminal offense in the first place was very well orchestrated - well done. What began as "Reefer Madness" took on a self-fulfilling prophesy of it's own. Yet millions of people use it regularly, otherwise law-abiding people... the underground culture of "pot-heads".
Fact is... most "pot-heads" prefer peace to violence... so unlike the alcoholics of the alcohol prohibition era, "pot-heads" sit quietly in the "closet" and get stoned - often with others in quiet "speak-easy" type social settings.
The statement by Mr. Travis Kuykendall, is ludicrous... unless used to describe tobacco, which it's only scientifically use is as a third rate pesticide. All tobacco does is kills 100's of thousands people. It's a legally available means to commit a slow, often painful type of suicide... a pretty sure cause of death if smokers wait awhile... they delude themselves often over the years that smoking tobacco is a relaxing, pleasurable activity and habit. As a smoker for over 35 years, having quit for as 3 years now and then, I can attest to the fact it SUCKS! I'd much rather play it safe and smoke a little pot everyday, not a pack or two of cigarettes. Now I buy Bugler's tobacco, and roll my own since the taxes doubled on cigarettes - an effort by the government to encourage us to quit. Yeah... sure thing... I'll do that!!!!!!!!
While I roll another cigarette... my topic for tonight:
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This post as well as my next one, is about my 1st experiences with tobacco at 12 and alcohol at 16. Can't know me without knowing this.
It begins first around 1966, I was 12 or thereabouts. I lived in a typical post-war middle-class family home, with my sister, two brothers (who came along ten year later, so to speak), my mom and dad. I was the oldest.
At 12 I sneaked out a pack of my father's Pall Mall's, went behind the garage to smoke... I vaguely recall having a friend with me, but so vague I think it was just a magical friend, lol. I certainly didn't know how to smoke the friggin' things... I'd watched my father and saw smoke coming out. I have no idea what I thought he was doing... but he seemed into it.
I blew into the cigarette when I lit it, behind the garage. I didn't realize until over 40 years later that's the way you really should smoke tobacco. But I was caught... not too bright... my father caught me. To teach me a lesson he tried to get me to smoke a pack... early 60's now - remember, and I still remember, in the entryway to our house, my father thinking I was kidding when I blew into the cigarette, he told me to inhale.
Next time... Alcohol at 16. A real eye-opener... if I could open them.
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