Why can't people think for themselves?

Ok, this is about freedom and personal rights of individuals. As an American citizen you are gauranteed the right to life, liberty, and the persuit of happiness. Why does this not apply to a simple plant, given as a gift from God to man? Why do I have to hide my pot smoking when you can go to the bar and get drunk? Alcohol is more dangerous than marijuana by far, yet it socially acceptable. Companies throw parties with fully stocked bars, But God forbide you fail a drug test because you wanted to smoke a joint to unwind after a stressful day. In the U.S. every year more than 800,000 people are arrested on misdemeanor marijuana charges, these people are otherwise outstanding hard working members of the american work force; and thats only the fraction of people that got caught.


Its your duty as a free citizen to do something about this injustice because if nobody stands up, nothing gets done. Hemp could save the world with eco-friendly fuel, so pull your head out of your *** and decide.

Why can%26#039;t people think for themselves?
Hemp and marijuana aren%26#039;t entirely the same thing -- there%26#039;s one vital difference -- and that difference is what renders hemp legal and marijuana not.





There are negative effects of marijuana -- personally, I%26#039;m completely opposed to it%26#039;s use except for in medically appropriate cases. If you need to unwind -- go to the gym, take a walk, meditate, learn to play an instrument, talk to a friend. . . do something other than burn your brain-cells (but, I%26#039;m not really all that fond of alcohol, either).
Reply:Yea if you need weed to %26quot;unwind%26quot; after a hard day, you have something to be checked into. B8k3p is 100% right, go to the gym or something. Smoking shouldn%26#039;t be a means of stress relief.
Reply:Sounds to me like you%26#039;ve already been on the stuff too long. But if you insist on frying your brain, CA has a very liberal medical marijuana law. All you have to do is give a doctor about $250 (last I heard) and get a prescription. They even sell it to 13 year old kids.
Reply:99% of all progress is directly attributable to only 1% of humanity.
Reply:In American the government is:





jailing parents for refusing to vaccinate their children.





outlawing cough syrup for kids because of less than 2 deaths a year (out of 24 MILLION kids under 6) based on THAT they also need to outlaw swingsets, jungle gyms, cars, school buses, schools, houses, bathtubs and walking. Because more kids die from those things annually than cough syrup.





continuing prohibition on prostitution AND any drug. It did not work with alcohol, and has never worked on the other things, but it has made the government TRILLIONS and larger than ever.





You are not going to convince the sheep in this country to undo what has been done. Too many want the government to be our mommies and daddies and way too many rely on the government for their money.





Here is what you can do.





Vote out the incumbents


Quit smoking and start campaigning


And work hard and be successful THEN try to legalize it.





But good luck, Congress recently passed a law that if you dissent against the government in anyway, you are to be labeled a terrorist and your rights can be stripped. So off to Guantanamo!





We have not been a free country since prohibition was enacted way back when. Gave up our freedoms in the name of safety and security.





baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Reply:My theory is that weed as an experimental drug leads people to become non-conformist bleeding heart liberals.





This does not go over well with the rulers of america that need us submissive, working hard as slaves...
Reply:Your opinion presuppose that everybody has to agree with you on marijuana law. If you have a problem with it, get your representatives to change it. It is a law that is passed by the democratic process and just because you don%26#039;t like it doesn%26#039;t mean it is not the law.





Life, liberty and pursuit of happiness has nothing to do with drug law. The society still has an interest in regulating certain conducts. Should alcohol be outlawed? That%26#039;s an entire different debate. Just because alcohol is legal for adult doesn%26#039;t automatically mean it should be legal to smoke pot. It is not all or nothing. Also, light alcohol consumption does not post adverse effect on your health and is non-addictive. The same may not be true for pot.





My advice: Move to the Netherlands.
Reply:That%26#039;s your perspective. Many others who are more sovereign than you feel otherwise.


Theres lots of information on this issue I%26#039;ve read myself. I personally have noticed that hemp users certainly aren%26#039;t the biggest, baddest people on the block ...but I%26#039;ve also noticed that frequently, there is strange behavior by many of these folks. Certainly you can lose control of a car, or cause an accident, a fire etc. cuz your stoned. You aren%26#039;t powered by all you cylinders. You ain%26#039;t straight up!





I gave up trying to change the world some time ago. Much of what goes on with humanity is at the best questionable to my way of thinking. Humorously I say to my friends as we discuss issues that are not making sense to us per human behavior ...I%26#039;m embarrassed to be human!


Keep that in mind before you get too wild and crazy of a world that doesn%26#039;t want you or anyone else smoking weed.


Go down to Jamaica man, see how life feels down there to you. You might get a different incite.
Reply:I suppose it could be argued that adding another drug along side alcohol just doubles the existing problem of alcohol abuse.


It%26#039;s like many vices - most of them are relatively harmless in moderation, the problem is when someone gets physically or psychologically addicted to them, or indulges to excess.
Reply:the way i see it, most folks can%26#039;t make beer or harder alcoholic beverages, where pretty much anyone can grow a plant. now, uncle sam gets his fair share of the alcohol $$, how much would he get from someone tokin home grown? nada. and there you have the difference. why one is acceptable and the other is not.





least ways thats my opinion..:D





i agree about the hemp products, i%26#039;ve seen lovely purse and clothing made from hemp.. kind of expensive but pretty %26amp; DURABLE !! i%26#039;ve even seen hemp paper...wonder how many tree%26#039;s we%26#039;d save if we used hemp for paper instead...hmmm
Reply:Most people don%26#039;t care because in the end, pot is YOUR special interest, not theirs.





For example...





I don%26#039;t have a yacht, so even if there was some obvious policy injustice involving yacht owners, I wouldn%26#039;t be particularly motivated to write my congressman to do anything about it. Fortunately for yacht owners, they tend to be successful, well-to-do and politically-connected. They can lobby their congressman and solve their own policy problems.





Perhaps if pot smokers were successful, well-to-do and politically-connected, then maybe things would be different. ;) That might be a better goal for yourself than hoping something good will come from berating everyone else for not fighting for YOU.
Reply:I don%26#039;t need pot. So, what I hear you saying is that I need to fight for YOUR right to smoke pot.





But, since I don%26#039;t need it, I don%26#039;t feel like I need to fight for YOUR right to it.





Why not settle for another plant God gave to man... sweet basil. I grew some of that 2 summers ago. It was so fragrant... and the aroma was so soothing. My rabbits loved nibbling on the leaves I pruned. It tasted great in cooking... and before the first deep freeze of winter, I pulled all the plants up and we made pesto with it. It was AWESOME!





And, even better, sweet basil is perfectly legal.





**EDIT**


Sweetie, I%26#039;ve got 3 relatives who are financial burdens to the family because of their need for pot. They can%26#039;t figure out why they%26#039;re so unmotivated, but they still want that pot. I don%26#039;t need to read government reports on pot, skewed or not. I have first-hand knowledge of its brain-deadening effects.


Like I said, I neither desire it nor need it. So, I really don%26#039;t pay it any mind at all.
Reply:I agree, and to think people are being jailed for years behind it when so many lives are taken from cigs and alcohol every year. That%26#039;s totally ridiculous.



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