Rick Raw: Marijuana Conundrum–Proven Medical Benefits, Yet Still Schedule 1 Drug?

By Rick Grant Commentary rickgrant01@comcast.net

Okay, relax and burn one. Let’s have a rational discussion about marijuana (excuse me while I imagine I’m inhaling). Let’s talk about marijuana’s proven medical benefits; its euphoric high; and its magical effect of increasing appetite–all positive effects of smoking pot. Why then is marijuana still a Schedule 1 drug, lumped in with cocaine, heroin, and meth-amphetamine?

Because our government wags are idiots and afraid that if everyone smoked pot, Americans would be less grumpy, suffer less pain from various maladies of old age, and generally be better off than the millions of chronic alcoholics.

Reagan’s "War on Drugs" still reverberates with conservatives on the Hill. The old farts still see recreational use of drugs as an evil scourge on our society. Yet, they gulp down tons of whiskey at the Beltway watering holes. Yeah, across the board hypocrisy runs deep with the swine on the Hill.

Over 30 million Americans regularly smoke marijuana. Some states have reduced the charges for a small amount of pot to a minor misdemeamor. And in California, legal marijuana shops are tolerated, although state legislators are pushing for more enforcement of the rules. They want to shut down the pot shops.

The truth is, in certain areas of California, anyone can get a prescription for legally grown medical marijuana as a pain reliever, sleep aid, and a wonder drug for terminally ill cancer patients that make their last days more comfortable.

For cancer patients the use of a vaporizer is the most efficient way of taking the drug. Marijuana is heated until it gives off a vapor and fills a plastic bag. It’s less irritating to the throat and a much more effective delivery system.

Today’s carefully cultivated marijuana is not your grandfather’s pot. It’s much stronger than back in the hippie era of sex, drugs, and rock’n’roll. Today, the THC (the pyschedelic drug in marijuana) is up around 20%. However, as one big time grower said, "it’s impossible to OD on pot, I know because I tried to get to that point."

NORML (National Organization to Repeal Marijuana Laws) has worked for years to lobby lawmakers about the benefits of marijuana both for medical uses and recreational use. Still, the DEA stands firm that marijuana is a "dangerous" drug. Nonsense!

Progress to legalization is slow, but more and more people are getting involved to change the mainstream’s perception of this benign drug. Conservative opposition to legalization is steadfast in their claim that marijuana is a so called "gateway drug," leading to so called hard drugs.

To really change the status of marijuana and all illegal drugs for that matter is complete legalization, which, like the end of prohibition, would take it out of the hands of the Mexican and Columbian cartels and other criminal enterprises. Taxing pot and other drugs would wipe out the national debt pronto.

Over the years, marijuana has proven to be less harmful than drinking alcohol, which, in large amounts at once or moderate amounts over time, can kill you. No one has ever died from smoking pot. But, I realize that my viewpoint is not shared by the mainstream. Still, legalization is the only way to control illicit drugs.

Indeed, marijuana should never be listed as a Schedule 1 drug. But, the zealous anti-drug lobby still rides the white horse of all drugs are bad. By now, I naively thought pot would be legal. But our self-righteous hypocritical lawmakers are out there preaching the gospel according to Reagan’s war on drugs, which, in the end, was an abysmal failure.

So why do people take drugs and drink? They like to get high and relax after a stressful day.

People will drink and use drugs, including marijuana, no matter what lawmakers say. Prohibition taught us that you can’t legislate vices. People are going to indulge no matter who tells them they can’t.

The DEA will never stop the flood of drugs into America, so make it legal and reap the tax benefits. Sure, the DEA makes large seizures and shows off the haul, but it’s only a fraction of what’s flowing into the country.

Yes, I smoke cigars and drink wine. Recently, the tax on tobacco went sky high. But I still get my cigars and begrudgingly pay the damn tax and nobody is going to tell me not to do it. Well, the tax does support health care for children, which is a good thing.

No, I don’t smoke pot anymore because it effects my short term memory, which is already slowed down by old age. But I just remember being high on pot, and I get a cheap thrill and hungry for pizza. Just the thought of smoking a joint is enough to get me high.

So pot smokers unite. Join groups like NORML and pressure our lawmakers to get off their high horse and legalize marijuana. Somewhere this second, someone is lighting up a joint or a bong and saying "fuck you," DEA.