marijuana activism,medical marijuana,marijuana legalization
LEGALIZE- NOT MEDICINE-IZE
26/01/11 08:58
I live in Maryland. Been here most of my life.
Just day before yesterday we were fortunate enough to have none other than Montel Williams give an impassioned endorsement of marijuana to our legislature. Maryland’s medical marijuana bill did not pass last year, and so the bill’s sponsors are once again doing all they can to enlighten the rest of the folks down in Annapolis as to the benefits of medical marijuana.
I’ve never seen anyone give such an empowered, sincere speech in Maryland for marijuana. If I were to meet Montel I would have to thanks him from the bottom of my heart. Yes, he’s from Maryland. Yes, he uses marijuana daily for his ongoing struggle with multiple sclerosis, and yes: he is an excellent ambassador: credible and very well spoken.
I have a huge issue, though: Maryland’s medical marijuana bill SUCKS. Yet, most people will applaud it and endorse it and be very happy if it passes.
But the bill is wrought with issues. First, growers will need to post a $100,000 bond to be legitimate growers. Big money for most Maryland residents. You know who can afford this? The good ol’ boys. The same farmers who have been profiting from the sale of corn and other Maryland crops. To my point: what do these farmers know about growing marijuana? Seems to me there must be PLENTY of people on unemployment in Maryland who DO know about growing marijuana, perhaps even gardeners, who would greatly benefit from the opportunity to grow weed and get off of assistance.
Another HUGE issue: Maryland does NOT want dispensaries specifically for marijuana distribution. Instead, they want existing pharmacies to handle filling doctor’s prescriptions. THIS ALONE drives me insane: WTF?
The medical community as a whole represents that marijuana is not effective, evil, etc. etc. The thought is that MEDICAL marijuana is just a bullshit excuse to get high. With that attitude, do you think they really know about weed?
I sat with a room full of longtime stoners yesterday and went on this very rant. Here they were thinking what a great thing to have medical marijuana in Maryland. When I explained that there are different types of weed for different ailments their faces went blank. Here they are, smokers for a minimum of 35 years each, and they had no clue about the differences between indicas and sativas. None. So I ask you: how are corn farmers and most doctors and pharmacy techs (and the Maryland legislature) going to know?
I explained that someone with insomnia would not want to smoke a sativa, how a depressed or lethargic person would not want an indica. Hmmmmm, they said: they did not know that. So you tell me: if Maryland goes the route where a doctor writes a script and I go to the pharmacy, how will I be able to get a strain appropriate for MY condition, whatever that may be. NOT ALL MARIJUANA IS THE SAME!
Legalizing medical marijuana is DANGEROUS. It is taking the plant from illegal status to stupid status. It gives any choice I might have and gives it to a for-profit drugstore of drug company. No longer will we have any say. and you think it’ll open the door for future full legalization? HELL NO! Not once the faRmers and drug store chains get their greedy paws in the mix. Nope. We’ll NEVER see the weed free with this bill.
Folks- STAY THE COURSE! Just because a medical marijuana law may be passed it does not mean it’s time to celebrate. Maryland’s medical marijuana bill will set us back decades, it will create huge roadblocks for future legalization, and it will negate relief for many patients when they can’t get the correct marijuana strain for their particular ailment. Maryland’s medical marijuana law will result in marijuana looking ineffective and like a farce.
Better would be the ability to go in to a place where people know marijuana, where I can explain what I need, and where I have CHOICE! The last thing I personally want is a big fatty that locks me into the sofa. What I want is something to uplift me and give me some energy. I have a terrible lower back issue. Getting up and moving does wonders. When this law passes and I get “legal” I will fill my prescription at a PHARMACY, have no choice, end up with an indica, and feel even worse because I spent hours on the sofa and not stretching my muscles through activity. Why? Because indicas are a much more productive plant than sativas.
I do not want this particular bill passed. NO NO NO!
I do not believe that by passing such legislature we are creating the next step to full legalization. I CALL BULLSHIT ON THAT NOTION.
I DO believe that the bill in Maryland is designed to help wealthy, well connected farmers grow a new and lucrative crop. The bill’s introduction comes from farm country. Them good ol’ boyz are watching out for one another. Good for them- bad for all of US/!
So, I thank Montel for his sincerity and his offer to help. But please: BE PATIENT AND WAIT FOR THE RIGHT MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL IN MARYLAND.
AND ULTIMATELY- FREE THE WEED!
Just day before yesterday we were fortunate enough to have none other than Montel Williams give an impassioned endorsement of marijuana to our legislature. Maryland’s medical marijuana bill did not pass last year, and so the bill’s sponsors are once again doing all they can to enlighten the rest of the folks down in Annapolis as to the benefits of medical marijuana.
I’ve never seen anyone give such an empowered, sincere speech in Maryland for marijuana. If I were to meet Montel I would have to thanks him from the bottom of my heart. Yes, he’s from Maryland. Yes, he uses marijuana daily for his ongoing struggle with multiple sclerosis, and yes: he is an excellent ambassador: credible and very well spoken.
I have a huge issue, though: Maryland’s medical marijuana bill SUCKS. Yet, most people will applaud it and endorse it and be very happy if it passes.
But the bill is wrought with issues. First, growers will need to post a $100,000 bond to be legitimate growers. Big money for most Maryland residents. You know who can afford this? The good ol’ boys. The same farmers who have been profiting from the sale of corn and other Maryland crops. To my point: what do these farmers know about growing marijuana? Seems to me there must be PLENTY of people on unemployment in Maryland who DO know about growing marijuana, perhaps even gardeners, who would greatly benefit from the opportunity to grow weed and get off of assistance.
Another HUGE issue: Maryland does NOT want dispensaries specifically for marijuana distribution. Instead, they want existing pharmacies to handle filling doctor’s prescriptions. THIS ALONE drives me insane: WTF?
The medical community as a whole represents that marijuana is not effective, evil, etc. etc. The thought is that MEDICAL marijuana is just a bullshit excuse to get high. With that attitude, do you think they really know about weed?
I sat with a room full of longtime stoners yesterday and went on this very rant. Here they were thinking what a great thing to have medical marijuana in Maryland. When I explained that there are different types of weed for different ailments their faces went blank. Here they are, smokers for a minimum of 35 years each, and they had no clue about the differences between indicas and sativas. None. So I ask you: how are corn farmers and most doctors and pharmacy techs (and the Maryland legislature) going to know?
I explained that someone with insomnia would not want to smoke a sativa, how a depressed or lethargic person would not want an indica. Hmmmmm, they said: they did not know that. So you tell me: if Maryland goes the route where a doctor writes a script and I go to the pharmacy, how will I be able to get a strain appropriate for MY condition, whatever that may be. NOT ALL MARIJUANA IS THE SAME!
Legalizing medical marijuana is DANGEROUS. It is taking the plant from illegal status to stupid status. It gives any choice I might have and gives it to a for-profit drugstore of drug company. No longer will we have any say. and you think it’ll open the door for future full legalization? HELL NO! Not once the faRmers and drug store chains get their greedy paws in the mix. Nope. We’ll NEVER see the weed free with this bill.
Folks- STAY THE COURSE! Just because a medical marijuana law may be passed it does not mean it’s time to celebrate. Maryland’s medical marijuana bill will set us back decades, it will create huge roadblocks for future legalization, and it will negate relief for many patients when they can’t get the correct marijuana strain for their particular ailment. Maryland’s medical marijuana law will result in marijuana looking ineffective and like a farce.
Better would be the ability to go in to a place where people know marijuana, where I can explain what I need, and where I have CHOICE! The last thing I personally want is a big fatty that locks me into the sofa. What I want is something to uplift me and give me some energy. I have a terrible lower back issue. Getting up and moving does wonders. When this law passes and I get “legal” I will fill my prescription at a PHARMACY, have no choice, end up with an indica, and feel even worse because I spent hours on the sofa and not stretching my muscles through activity. Why? Because indicas are a much more productive plant than sativas.
I do not want this particular bill passed. NO NO NO!
I do not believe that by passing such legislature we are creating the next step to full legalization. I CALL BULLSHIT ON THAT NOTION.
I DO believe that the bill in Maryland is designed to help wealthy, well connected farmers grow a new and lucrative crop. The bill’s introduction comes from farm country. Them good ol’ boyz are watching out for one another. Good for them- bad for all of US/!
So, I thank Montel for his sincerity and his offer to help. But please: BE PATIENT AND WAIT FOR THE RIGHT MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL IN MARYLAND.
AND ULTIMATELY- FREE THE WEED!