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April 20 (4/20) is the annual counterculture holiday “National Weed Day,” which is expected to spark celebrations at locations around the country, including the University of Colorado-Boulder where attendance is expected to reach more than 10,000. The marijuana legalization debate and cannabis use in general have been gaining closer public attention over the past year. Former Presidential candidate Ron Paul supported the decriminalization of marijuana, Michael Phelps was caught smoking a bong, Barack Obama fielded a question about marijuana legalization at the first White House town hall meeting, and the former Miss New Jersey recently stepped forward to voice her support for legalizing medical marijuana. People on both sides of the debate tend to be very passionate about their cause.
On one side of the debate are people who say that marijuana should be decriminalized and/or legalized for the reasons summarized in this one-minute video:
On the other side of the debate are people who believe that marijuana should remain a criminal offense because of the dangers of drug use, the potential for addiction, the research suggesting that marijuana might be a gateway drug to more potent and dangerous drugs, the concern that today’s marijuana is far more potent than what people were using back in the 1960s, and the belief that personal freedoms must sometimes be sacrificed for the greater common good.
What do the spiritual Teachings have to say about all this? First, I don’t think the spiritual Teachings would support our personal use of marijuana for recreational purposes because studies show how easy it is to lose our balance when it comes to marijuana. Researchers estimate that approximately 10% of individuals who try marijuana become daily users. So for every 10 people who try marijuana, one of them will decide to smoke it every day. Just like alcohol, marijuana can quickly become something to reach for when stressed, sad, angry, or experiencing any other negative emotion.
Now, whether or not the government legalizes marijuana is a markedly different question. The spiritual Teachings do not tell us that the best way to handle intoxicants is for leaders to simply make them illegal and take the choice away from the people. On the contrary, the Teachings urge us to think. To learn. To use our minds and make choices. To wake up and evolve. Our growth can be stunted when the laws simply coddle us.
Based on this analysis, it might be wiser for the government to legalize marijuana and then invest the billions of drug war dollars into our educational system, so that everyone can learn advanced critical thinking skills needed to make adult, mature decisions about marijuana and everything else in our lives. Then we could more freely think, reflect, and evolve toward our highest potential.
Comments
What teachings?
Science and religion don't mix. What do "the teachings" say about infertility trials? Should I even be alive?
the teachings from the good book.....i think Brody might have started celebrating early
Excellent article. Very balanced and honest. I have found the plant to open my mind to new ways of thinking and greater religious and philosophical understandings which lead me to be a kinder, gentler, more forgiving, more Christ-like follower of the teachings, rather than the dogma.
Religion is an inward journey, not an outward conflict. Different things help different people. Where there is no harm there should be no foul.
Peace and Love
to brody: Read the little link that says "Bio" and you'll see what she means when she references "The Teachings".
One of the teachings on that wheel mentions to keep and preserve one's body as a temple, and let nothing corrupt that temple. At the time, I'm sure opium was the biggest deal at the time - perhaps marijuana (especially the medical sort) ain't nothing compared to opium, but the addiction defense is what I want to know.
they say Marijuana is addicting, but it's only as addicting as American fast food - and far less addicting than the great American Cigarette. those who claim Marijuana is addicting and should be legal, should then automatically be on the same seat to ILLEGALIZE Cigarettes - by all means they kill more people than Marijuana.
Every single tie made to Marijuana being bad can be linked directly to Tobacco - they are very similar, the only difference is that Tobacco doesn't leave a lasting high, so you need to smoke more of it to get (or keep) that buzz - 1 Marijuana joint is more than enough to keep one going for an hour or so - and sometimes the day. Most smoke a pack (20) cigarettes, a day. Note that these people aren't up for all 24 hours of that day, so for the 16 waking hours, that's over one an hour... far MORE toxins than the 4 or 5 joints one might smoke.
I personally do not smoke either - I have tried the less legal sort, and Have found little to be impressed with. I wouldn't do it again, as I work two jobs and found the experience similar to drinking alcohol. A bit tipsy, a bit dizzy, and a bit giggly, but nothing crazy.
Smoking cannabis IS the most popular way to release the desired effects of the plant. However, consuming the leaves through eating them (prepared of course! how about a brownie??) completely sidesteps the issue of smoking them, nullifying the argument about SMOKING it.
Which leads to the issue of consumption. At what point do we say to a responsibly informed adult, that knows the risks, your right to life liberty and the pursuit of happiness (pursuit, not guarantee)has been revoked on this issue. Caffeine is a mind altering drug as well, with beneficial and negative side effects also, yet its use is left to the individual. Though quite harmful, it regularly given to children.
No one should have the right to dictate what decisions I can and cannot make about my body.
i can only echo the sentiments of the comments shared by jordan, listed above.
the laws against the use of this drug are completely unreasonable and to use a mantra of our current president, "now is the moment, now is the time" to put an end to the silly, unwarrented restrictions of its' use!!
Many of the concerns listed above are indeed not only out of date, but flat out illogical. The claim that marijuana is addictive is actually fairly ludicrous. Marijuana is less physically addictive than CAFFEINE. That means coffe is more of a long-term addiction concern, than is marijuana.
Also, the gateway drug theory has been soundly rejected by almost all known studies, as almost everyone who has ever used hard drugs has also used cigarettes, or eaten brocolli, or had mother's milk. So by the definition used by the DEA or ONDCP, wouldn't mother's milk then be a "gateway drug?"
As for the concerns about 'stronger' marijuana today than before, what's the difference between 'strong marijuana' and whisky vs beer? People drink 'stronger' alcohol all the time, they just moderate their level of intake, just like people do when they smoke stronger marijuana. It doesn't make you "more addicted" to a non-addictive substance, it doesn't turn your liver inside out, you just SMOKE LESS, because you need less to get the same level of intoxication. so you in fact do LESS of the drug. Make sense?
The fact that nearly 750,000 people had their lives turned upside down by our laws of prohibition, is FAR more detrimental than it's use is. 750,000 people a year would NOT lose their homes, jobs, families etc simply through 'mariujuana addiction.' So the law is FAR worse for society than would be marijuana's legalization.
No, it's NOT harmless, but neither it is the demon weed it's been made out to be for FOUR DECADES.
Let people make their own choices, and let them deal with the consequences of their actions. It proved better than alcohol's Prohibition did in the 20's, and it will prove a better path today as well.
Interesting how you tie in current events with spirituality and the teachings. It is all applicable. Why wouldn't it be, I guess. It's all about life.
btw, I am all for legalization. I haven't heard any good reasons to keep it illegal.
I feel this was a good article, but do the teachings consider if a person suffers from depression? It would be great if everyone could just be happy all naturally but that is not the case for millions of Americans, can we trade in our antidepressants for cannabis? I would like to have that option, instead of only being allowed to use prescription drugs that make me a zombie with no feelings what so ever!
yes yes smoke weed every day beya
happy 420.
Hi Christian! Yes, you make a good distinction. I only commented on their perspective on marijuana for recreational use rather than for treating a physical or mental health condition -- or, as Rev. Chet Wise brought up, to facilitate spiritual enlightenment. Thank you for this clarification!
there is so much research showing that marijuana isn't as bad as everybody thinks. Take a better look at that research and then make your decision.
The MERP Model for Re-Legalization will destroy the Mexican Drug Cartels and much, much more. Please visit and post the following link far and wide. This subweb is both for understanding MERP and implementing MERP. We need everyones help on this. Get on the mailing list now! Let's Re-Legalize Marijuana in 2009 World Wide.
MERP Headquarters
Go to NewAgeCitizen and then click on "MERP Headquarters"
"the research suggesting that marijuana might be a gateway drug to more potent and dangerous drugs" I love the big ol' Might in this part of the article. I believe that's one of the logical fallacy's, isn't it? If you're going to say that, then why don't we look at all of the people who shoot up heroin and look at their milk consumption? Maybe there's a correlation between milk and heroin use?
smoke it smoke it! today is weed day so smoke it now like me ya ya ya its the best lord im going to hell
Hey' i just came throuqh to say happy 4/20. who isn't celebrating it toniqht? i think it should be legalized & many other people i chill with havfe twice the hope for it. Barack Obama, we're patiently waitinq! (=
its non addictive what do they mean the potential for addiction.
ya ya what NeshThaBeast said im loven it
the way i see it is, smoking tobacco kills too many people. how many people die from lung cancer when they smoke weed? none thats how many so if weed was legalized then hypothetically the number of deaths from lung cancer would decrease because most people are afraid that if they smoke weed they will go to jail!
It helps with stress and glaucoma and cancer weed is a universal plant that is good for the human body and soul.
im out.
Happy 420 cheech the ganja
well when the artical sais it is more potent and dangerous because it is more potent than what was smoke in the 60's. well back then then THC scale of marijuana was around a 7.4 and now it is about a 9.2. and that is in the sativa strain. so if its more potent that means that we have toinhale less smoke to get the high. and when we smoke it our body realeases Cannabinoids that block recaptors in our brain. so this helps us with our chronic pains. and THC the active chemical in marijuana attacks cancer cells. there for slowing or potentialy stopping the process. and also weight for weight a marijuana plant produces 4times as much raw fiber as a tree to the equivilent size. and that a marijuana plant would make a much more efficient biofuel than corn. also we can make materials such as rope, shirts, ect and make hemp bread and hemp chapstick. it is a wonderful plant that to this day is still illegal because in the 1930's when utah was the first to outlaw it all the other states jumped in with Utah, THERE REASON:was that they thought marijuana brought out the devil and would posess people. But they were dumbasses back then.
My name is Dalton Mroczek and im 15 years old.
i was arrested for possesion of less than a gram of marijuana. and these are some of the many facts i know about this wonderful plant.
most people dont take me serious because im 15 years old but i have and IQ of 138.
HAPPY NATIONAL WEED DAY!!!!
yea yea...toke it up...shi thats wat ima bouta do..=]
honestly in my opinionn they should relegalize i cause one its not bad its relaxinng.two wont b as muchh deaddd fromm smokking weed lik there is frm smokkin ciggaretes and ppl tht hav a cancerr .they wnt be tht manny juvinile kids with badd records for carryinng darnn weed in the car .lik me mann its a darrrn plant hummann nature soo why is it illeagl we cant stopp it frmm growninn at all its suppose to b here for a reason and tht reason is to smokke it upp. we aint as stupid as they were back in the dayy trust me lot of kidss knooo how too pull of a higgh.
ohh and anotherr it would reallly stoppp drugg smuggling and ppl dying fromm ganng banggerss cause theyyy wouldnt b sellinn as muchh cause it should b llegal.soo yeahhh makke it happen
happppy weedd dayy
smokkin ma blunnt laterrr..prupp && cali dro && reggieeeeee:) tootles
drugs kill at any dose over the recomended. asprin will kill you tylenol can kill you windex can kill you alcohal kills you to many vitamins kill you, marijuana simply buzzez you no matter the dose no 1 will ever overdose from weed.
woooooooo:)
So, doesn't anyone have anything to say about why it should remain illegal???
Marijuana prohibition has finally come down to the choice of enforcement to the greater evil against compassion to our people and good. We as Christians should demand compassion.
If cannabis remains illegal, then the government should once again make alcohol illegal, and most definitely tobacco illegal. Alcohol is the leading killer for teens (which sparks another debate, lower the drinking age!!!) and tobacco is the #2 killer in the world, killing more than 5 million people every year. Both of those drugs are also incredibly addicting. Alcohol can easily kill you if you consume too much. You can smoke as much marijuana as you want, you will never OD. As for the argument about carcinogens, two simple answers. One, tobacco has more carcinogens than marijuana, yet it is sold to billions every day. Two, use a vaporizer!!!! Problem solved. My main point is, LEAGALIZE IT!! And stop putting millions of people in jail, and having us pay billions to fund your stupid little war as well as pay for these people's captivities.
Aww shucks, I can only smoke on weekends >.<
legalize it, tax it, economic problem solved
Ok, beer is legal and it causes thousands of auto acc.that kill!,cigs.are legal and they are very very addictive and cause cancer! But weed don't make you drive reckless and is not additive. I have smoked weed for 39 years. I don't drink and its really nice to smoke and relax. hell yea legalize it! it would help the economy.and now is the time to speak up for your rights!!!
Simply put, as a parent, I think the criminal justice system of the USA poses a greater threat to my children the marijuana ever will. People can learn, grow and eventually deal with habits and even addictions. People can never outgrow a criminal record. Legalize it, regulate it and stop black market criminals from selling drugs to our children.
we are not criminals!stop the pain pay your mind with that thought. legalize it!
Cannabis is simply misclassified, and it was done for political reasons. When kids see TV News backdrops with cocaine, syringes, pills, and the ever prominent pot leaf, we are telling them these are all the same: "BAD DRUGS!" The real "gateway" is a personality trait that leads kids to first test their parents, then maybe try alcohol or tobacco (we tell them the are OK, even though we know better), and some will experiment with cannabis. They discover that cannabis is not really that dangerous therefore the same must be true for the drugs classifed the same, so they try hard drugs and suffer the consequences. Put cannabis where it belongs: It is safe in the hands of law abiding, tax-paying adults who uses it to relax in their own home. Or, just leave it alone...I use it for medical reasons and it is more effective, more convenient to acquire, and less expensive than government-approved pharmaceuticals. I am in my fifties, and my peers who choose to use cannabis do not smoke tobacco, drink alcohol, or abuse prescription drugs. If God put it here it should be fair game for those who use it intelligently. I oppose those drugs that are synthesized, concentrated, altered, or derived from natural botanicals but I fully support the freedom to partake in unadulterated gifts from the creator and doing so responsibly.
Happiness is an individual thing, and it is not your place to specify what other people need or do not need to be happy. Speak for yourself, please.
I have to agree with most of your comments: Let Adults over 21--with no criminal records and no children living at home--gorw their own for their own use. I'll gladly pay a huge tax to enjoy the process of gardening my beautiful roses and at the same time eliminating border smuggling and trafficking. I don't want to make any money, just relax with my friends and be treated respectfully for what I am: A civilized professional who does not associate with "drug dealers."
Just a comment about "back in the day". We use to have access to Columbian weed(mmm... that was good),Thia stick(nummy),hash and honey oil among others. So the potency argument is meaningless.
I strongly believe that marijauna should be legalized, for the simple fact that, perscprition drugs have more of a negative side effect than weed, sometimes even more harmful than the illness than they are supposed to cure. side affects of weed... hungry, happy, sleepy...and happy belated 4/20!
Check out this article, which says, "As a result of the raising tide violence along the [U.S. - Mexican] border, [Ron] Paul said the public and Congress are beginning to 'wake up' and take notice of the relationship between border violence and marijuana."
thehill.com/leading-the-news/pot-legalization-favored-by-some-to-stem-violence-2009-04-19.html
Correction:
Barack Obama didn't "field" a question about marijuana legalization -- he snickered at it, scoffed at it, and then flat out said no, he didn't think legalizing either marijuana or hemp as cash crops would be the right thing for the [nosediving, bankrupt] economy.
Meanwhile, 6 legal medical marijuana clinics have been busted by the Federal Government DEA under his watch.
BTW, according to a new documentary that reveals the hordes of kids hooked on the LEGAL DRUG Oxycontin, it's now considered the gateway drug to Heroin (because it's a lot cheaper to buy than the pill and has the same high).
Congratulations, I see the government is really winning this War on [Some] Drugs [and all Plants] thing.
P.S. Listen to Ron Paul's sage words about decriminalizing marijuana. He's right (as usual).
Did we not learn anything from alcohol prohibition?
Marijuana prohibition has been an indisputable failure. Legalize it and take the money out of the black market. Marijuana is less dangerous than either alcohol or tobacco yet both of those substances are legal (and should be). Every year our prison system releases violent offenders to make room for non-violent pot smokers. That is just plain insanity. Think of how better society would be served if our law enforcement efforts were directed more towards dealing with violent individuals. We would also save millions of dollars on prosecution costs and jail expenses.
There is also substantial evidence indicating marijuana has numerous medical uses as well.
This is a plant, legalize it and regulate it. We need to look at this issue using nothing more than basic common sense. Isn't it time to drop the "Reefer Madness" stupidity?
At the huge 4/20 event in Boulder, CO, "No tickets were issued for marijuana possession"
www.dailycamera.com/news/2009/apr/20/420-cu-colorado-boulder-marijuana-pot-smoke-out/
Thanks to AmericanBuddhist.net for bringing this to my attention!
I have been a smoker for almost five years now, and i dont see any different effects that marijuana gives me as far as physical downslides that cigarettes give me. it is healthier than drinking not to mention i have driven and smoked since i got my license, not once have i ever been to "high" that it would impair my judgment, and furthermore it does not leave you with the feelings that alcohol or any other drug leave in the mourning. you go to bed. and with that i want to touch on the gateway drug part, i have never gotten an urge to do anything but smoke weed when i smoke it, now when im drunk.....well thats another story. i would rather see weed legal over letting alcohol be legal, and one more pro over alcohol..............NO ADDICTS. enough said
I am a recreational pot smoker and I do not find anything wrong with it. I do not "over do" it, and I do not believe that smoking pot everyday is in any way healthy. Yes, smoking marijuana can lead to mental illness, yes it is bad for your lungs, and yes it can lead to health problems. However, I believe that it should be legalized. I believe this for the following reasons:
1. Smoking marijuana can NEVER lead to overdose. A person would have to smoke 1500 lbs. of marijuana all in 15 minutes to overdose, or eat 250,000 pot brownies, which would probably lead to obesity quicker than an overdose. While pot is IMPOSSIBLE to overdose on, tylenol, aspirin, and even cough drops can cause negative health effects if too much is consumed...but they are all legal.
2. Legalization would lead to less gang violence because the most commonly dealt drug is marijuana, and therefore that means that more marijuana drug deals can go bad. If it were legal, it could be bought in federal, regualted stores. It would be cheaper, due to it being mass produced, and gangs could not compete.
3. It could be a multi-billion dollar a year industry, which would not completely end the economic crisis, but it would be helpful.
4. With marijuana being legal, the research for medical marijuana use could be more extensive and could help the hundreds of thousands suffering from glaucoma and nausea from chemotherapy.
4. If alcohol and cigarettes are legal so should marijuana. It is not as harmful as either and is a personal choice that will harm no one if laws are placed around its use and it is regulated by the government.
i'm a junior in highschool doing a "contraversial topics" speech for my public speeking class. since embarking on this journey for information i have been TRULLY ewnlightened. now i've smoked since seventh grade, i'm still smart, i still have fun and i'm not compelled to do other dangerous drugs. i fear what meth, heroine and crack can do to people. But from everything i have studied... marijuana is god. it can solve all problems, make you feel good when you are scared. give you hope for a brighter future. and yet our government spews it's propaganda all day every day. if you asked me right now i could spew out maybe twenty somethign different reasons how marijuana or hemp is amazing, only about one way it is dangerous. Government action has only caused problems, and arent we the ones who decide what laws there are? are we not the ones who have a say in our government? why is our voice unheard? why are our cries for peace and love cast aside? let the government be greedy with it. they could make 16.2 trillion just in what they save from prison costs alone. the country it's self could stgand to make in excess of 33 billion a year on this plant. so let's take a moment to go over that last part...... our national debt is how much? and how much can we save a year? hmmmm weird how weed solves another problem!
legalize it its alot better than cigarettes and alot better than alcohol
The reason they say it's illegal is because it 'is a gateway drug'. Okay, well is marijuana a gateway drug BECAUSE IT'S ILLEGAL!!! If you are already doing something illegal, aren't you more inclined to try additional illegal drugs? If the government would correctly classify marijuana with alcohol and cigarettes then eventually, it wouldn't be the gateway drug they claim it is. It is pathetic that tax money is wasted trying to 'catch' pot heads! Come on, people that smoke weed are so much less likely to commit other crimes! It's an anit-depressant! Who wants to cause trouble when their stoned?
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