Hey there Steemians!
I am writing this post from Corvallis Oregon, where weed has been legal since the voters of the state voted to allow the people to have access to Medical Marijuana initially, and eventually allowed people to have access to recreational marijuana.
In the time before legalization we, as a state, arrested one person every hour for simple possession, stuffing our courts and jails with people who were of little if any harm to our state, or the citizens who live here.
Those people were then subject to expensive court processes also subject to loss of licenses, employment and alienation for the act of consuming an herb, which has no addictive chemicals, and which has killed absolutely no one in the history of it's consumption.
Which begs the question, why is weed illegal?
One answer is that the fiber from cannabis in the late twenties was on track to displace timber as the primary paper product in this country, causing the timber industry to put into government massive amounts of money and creating a prohibition of marijuana under Harry Anslinger, a man who carried out a fear campaign couched in the racism which was prevalent in the usa at that time in the 1930's.
Another reason weed is illegal is because our system of legislation in the usa, allows for corporations to buy and sell legislators in the house and senate, which has brought huge investments from the alcohol industry, and big pharma to keep weed out of the hands of the public.
You see, when people smoke weed they don't want to buy as much beer, they are less reliant on big pharma for stress management, and end up using cannabis for many ailments and discomforts which people would otherwise buy pharmaceuticals to address.
Now with cannabis becoming more socially acceptable, with more studies finding there are huge benefits to people who use cannabis extracts, with the fear mongering and lies being exposed as pure propaganda, people across the country are finding that cannabis is a real benefit in their lives, and of almost no detriment, the calls for full legalization are growing, and the industry is thriving.
I know marijuana isn't for everyone, and I realize that many people will find their lives are enhanced more by the likes of alcohol and big pharma, but for me, I will live by the words of Bob Marley when he said
“Herb is the healing of a nation, alcohol is the destruction.”
I agree with alot of what you say here. But i think the “timber industry” obstacle you bring up is more historical than it is current. In terms of why it isn’t legal today, i think some of it has to do with special interests/lobbyists, like you said. But also i think its at least partially just a matter of the Government’s (particularly federal) inability to keep up with cultural change. On many many issues, especially ones heavily catergorized as “social issues”, it generally takes legislators/government about a decade, give or take a couple years, to catch up with public opinion/consensus.
I agree with the historical aspect, as far as timber isn't lobbying to the extent that big pharma and booze corporations are.
Have your seen “Hemp For Victory”?
A film produced by the US Govt. and released in 1942, encouraging American farmers to grow Hemp in order to support the Navy. It’s about 16 minutes : https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=W0xHCkOnn-A
This is a classic.
Also The Emperor Wears No Clothes.
Met some farmers who did that! Amazing that nature tried to escape and still is in the area.
Nice one. Republican solution to thousands dying from prescription opiate addiction - Tighten the laws on MJ. Because it's a gateway drug? Like alcohol and tobacco. I did the research myself where I could find the figures and it showed me that alcohol is a factor in over 50% of drug related deaths. Yet no single illegal drug is a factor in as many drug deaths.
If you talk with law enforcement, they will tell you alcohol is involved in a lot of their contacts.
People who drink and drive have taken my friends.
It's really sad.
They say we are full steam ahead for full legalization in Michigan, I will keep my fingers crossed and my bowl packed.
Following you!
I am from Portland Oregon and would love to meet up with you and blaze it! Oregon is on fire!
I will be right over!
Sweet let's match! I've got a discord channel too. https://discord.gg/U386JDN
I think it's only illegal to fit the agenda of Big Pharma
I agree that it serves their interests to keep the people off of weed.
It is true that the alcohol industry is spending a lot of money on keeping weed illegal.
That's why we need police to go check on medical patients. They are the biggest reason the state loses taxes. War on sick people! Registration for a plant and police checks? Huge fees?
And booze is thriving and exporting heavily! All the distilleries are at full production. Lots of ethanol extraction!
Vermont just legalized cannabis :) Now us poor folk on the east coast have a starting point from which to work. Here in NY, I'm still about a 4 hour drive away, but it will make for a nice weekend getaway without having to worry about being put in a cage or shook down for my money because I want to use a plant. As other above have stated, if not for the scumbag lobbyists for big pharma and alcohol, there would be no cannabis prohibition. But, at this point, the writing is on the wall. Hell, even my best performing stocks over the past 2 years have all been cannabis-related stocks. Things never change (but sometimes they do ;)
Following you. Maybe the Green Union flag can raise there. Keep the medicine in the hands of patients following you!
Change things there are sick people that need help. You can change the world.
I've helped for years. It is possible!
Followed back brother/sister. Just listening to media monarchy this afternoon about a young British boy who was having some 30 seizures a day and whose life was under threat. His family couldn't procure cannabis oil in the stupid fucking UK, they had to uproot their whole damn life to get to Holland just so their little boy didn't have to suffer. Needless to say, they are making regular trips to Amsterdam now...surprise, surprise, seizure count WAY down, and the seizures are less intense and the boy is better able to cope with life. A child. This is how we are going to allow the powers-that-shouldn't-be control us? Hell no. Good work @ganjafarmer, do your thing, spread the word and the love :)
Medical Refugees trying to get children proper medicine. I see tons of them here in Oregon. But the fees? It's a huge expense.