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The fact that we even have to have this discussion is absurd. First of all, The State has absolutely NO right to control a natural plant. Adding to that is the fact that alcohol, an extremely dangerous drug, is LEGAL, while safe and beneficial marijuana is not, makes the discussion even more absurd. But one aspect of the debate that has not been brought up in the discussion is the government's motivations for keeping this helpful herb illegal and controlled. Read "The Emperor wears No Clothes," and other books that re-count the history of cannabis prohibition for some of those reasons. But an obvious force behind illegalization is the pharmaceutical companies who pander their dangerous synthetic drugs incessantly on TV. How much would their profits fall if, for example, it was discovered that marijuana is far more effective than Viagra or Cialis?
Another point: Marijuana has been a recognized medicine for eons. I was reading a 600 year old pharmaceutical guidebook in Venice,Italy, and found a drawing and description of Cannabis as a very effective medicine for many ailments. In addition, on a tour of the Smithsonian Institution's Museum of Science and Industry in 1980, we saw an exhibition of an old-time U.S. pharmacy. On the shelf with other medicinal herbs was a large jar of "Cannabis Sativa." So, Cannabis was respected as a venerable and safe medicine long before our government started a vicious propaganda campaign to darken its reputation, and to convince the majority of people (who apparently don't apply critical thinking skills) to believe that marijuana was an evil weed.
Also, as a nation we have caused ourselves much economic harm by the war on marijuana, in the costs of enforcement, incarceration, and the excessive costs of pharmaceutical drugs that don't even work as well as marijuana.
Add to all this insanity the fact that we are cutting down trees to make paper when cannabis is a much safer and more renewal resource for that purpose. But our government has frightened the masses so much about "the evil weed" that large-scale cannabis farming is not an option.

posted 4 years, 9 months ago
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