Legalizing Marijuana, So Politicians Can Spend More Money

by Chuck Ness

Come November, Californians will have the chance to legalize marijuana for the specific purpose of raising revenues via taxes. We all knew that it would be just a matter of time before the same individuals would get enough signatures to put the legalization of marijuana up for a vote by the California citizens. It is a bit ironic when you consider how militant the same individuals wanting marijuana legalized have gone on a witch hunt against tobacco products. 

The attack on the tobacco industry began over 50 years ago when the Surgeon General forced the tobacco company's to label their products with a warning to the user about the health risk of smoking. 60 years later there are some communities right here in California that have gotten so militant in their anti smoking campaigns that they are even considering passing ordinances that would ban smoking in private homes. Which begs the question, "If smoking tobacco is so harmful to society that we need to ban it from being smoked even in the privacy of ones home, then why legalize a drug that scientific studies have proven is 2.5 to 5 times more harmful to the body than tobacco"? 

Besides the 2007 study by the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand, that smoking one marijuana joint is equal to smoking five cigarettes at the same time. there are numerous other medical reasons that should keep such a drug from being legalized. There are over 400 chemicals that have been identified in marijuana. When smoked, it generates over 2,000 chemicals that invade the body through the lungs. These chemicals have an assortment of instantaneous, short-term effects. In addition, the repetitive use of marijuana has been connected to a number of long-term effects. 

As most everyone is aware of, the most important drug that makes marijuana so attractive is THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) This is the drug that gives the euphoric feeling that makes it so popular. When smoked regularly, a large supply of THC accumulates in the fat. This produces a high steady level of THC in the blood system which can cause a certain level of continual sedation. With this sedation, the users brain begins to become numb and the mind can begin to experience side effects of confusion, and paranoia. Once the user stops it can take upwards of 30 to 45 days before the brain can can operate clearly again.  Eventually, for the heavy pot smoker, the 'high' that they receive from the drug will gradually diminish. 

 This is where studies have shown that the user will attempt to either find more potent marijuana to smoke, or just move onto stronger more dangerous drugs like cocaine, or even heroin. This is the reason why marijuana is called a gateway drug. Studies have shown that even the casual users often times will drink alcohol while getting high. So the problems of drinking can be added to the problems of smoking marijuana. 

 Then there's the disturbing trend that shows the age of the average marijuana user has continued to drop in age where children as young as 7 have been reported to be smoking pot. In 2007 360,000 people entering drug treatment programs reported marijuana as their primary drug of abuse, and that they desire help to stop using the drug. In his book "Concepts of Chemical Dependancy", Harold E. Doweiko learned that researchers investigating the effects of marijuana on users have found that anxiety has been reported by as much as 50% to 60% of marijuana smokers and many have stated that such an anxiety attack is why they refuse to smoke it anymore. 

 He also points out that statistics prove that your chances of having an automobile accident while under the influence of marijuana increases by up to 700% . Another problem that many proponents refuse to admit, is that Marijuana has been proved to cause psychosis in some individuals that lasts upwards of 5 to 7 days. This side effect is not some newly discovered problem, fact is that for almost 150 years, medical doctors and psychologists have both pondered the relationship of between smoking marijuana and psychotic reactions that can be life altering if not treated properly. 

 What is most disturbing is the medically proven fact that the use of marijuana by individuals already suffering from psychotic disorders have had their symptoms exacerbated, and has been known to initiate psychosis with individuals predisposed with such disorders. I find it interesting the when liberals step up to prevent any actions that may be harmful to individuals or society, that their two biggest targets are guns and cigarettes. Lately they have even stepped up their attack on sugars, fast food, and freedom of speech, but I digress. America is the only country on the planet that has a constitutional law specifically protecting the citizens right to keep and bear arms. Yet the left has been on the warpath against our constitutional right to own guns for well over a hundred years. 

When it comes to tobacco, the left has attempted to destroy an industry operating well within the limits of the law by since the early 1960's. They have even vowed to continue their assault until the dreaded tobacco plant has been eradicated from the planet. I can only imagine how safe our society would be if the left were to direct such energy towards stopping those who actually commit crimes as they do towards those who are just doing something legal. After all, the left hates guns, but the judges they appoint continually hand out light sentences to those who use them in violent crimes. 

 The left will go after the tobacco industry and tax the product for revenue, but the very icons they worship in Hollywood make moves that still glamorize smoking cigarettes. More times then not when it comes to actual criminal behavior, the left makes excuses for the criminals and will even argue that maybe if the act was not against the law the problem would be solved. Thus is the situation we find ourselves in the war on drugs. Their judges hand out sentences to those breaking the laws, and within a few years the criminal is out on the streets again because to the left, ten years really means one year with probation. So we end up with a revolving door of drug dealers going in and out of prison and there is no deterrent to their behavior. 

When it comes to legalizing bad behavior, we in California have been through this door before. in 1998, many of us warned that if gambling was legalized that there would be millions of citizens who's lives would be destroyed by it. In the 12 years since Californians voted to legalized it, our fears have been justified, because the problem of gambling addiction has escalated to epidemic proportions. We are now seeing addicted gamblers who have lost everything from their jobs, possessions, and even their families as they have become either homeless or wards of the state. 

How long will it be before the legalization of marijuana will cause millions of more Californians to join the fate of the addicted gamblers? We live in a society who's politicians have betrayed their oaths, by trading the health and welfare of the citizens for any means of collecting revenues for their failing tax and spend policies. This time we need to just say NO!