1. What do you think of the
link between Vitamin D deficiency and autism, and does it take some of the fuel out of the fire of the Anti-Vax crowd?
2. Apparently four states(California, New Jersey, New York, and I believe Nevada) will
allow voters to decide this November whether or not to legalize Marijuana(for the public, not just "patients") possession up to one ounce and cultivation up to twenty five square feet(I've seen individual plants that took up more space than that). What is the opinion of the Rogues on the decriminalization of marijuana for the general public? Many of my fellow proponents point out all of the possible benefits of legalization, but I have yet to see a single one take a skeptical view and objectively consider the possible negative effects. I know inhaling smoke is never a good idea, but there are plenty of other ways of introducing THC into the bloodstream(vaporizers, foods, drinks, pills, topical solutions).
We also like to point out that tobacco, alcohol, and even Rx drugs kill people everyday while "not a single person has ever died from marijuana", but this argument has never held up for me. I'm sure marijuana has contributed to many DUI's that were fatal, in addition to many accidental deaths where people were way too high for their own tolerance level and the situation got out of hand(but couldn't that happen with almost any drug?). Wouldn't that show up on toxicology reports though? Why don't we those see numbers in the media or by by the anti-pot movement?
We claim that legal pot would reduce the number of criminals and drug dealers, but wouldn't most of those people just switch to a different drug such as coke or heroin? That is, if they weren't already dealing in those. It seems to me that dealing illegal drugs is done primarily because it is an easy way to make allot of money without allot of work. These people aren't going to open up dispensaries because of a deep commitment to marijuana. It is easier to just find more crack-heads and junkies.
There are many other arguments that are full of holes, but there are also a few that I have been unable to find flaws in. For example, taxation of marijuana sales would be an enormous boost to local economies. Also, regulation by the FDA would put in place strict standards to ensure the safety and quality of the end product. And what about all the jobs that would be created by the dispensaries and growing and storage facilities?
Perhaps it is a false analogy on my part, but this "legalization of marijuana" issue seems to be escalating more and more, perhaps to the point of resembling the prohibition of alcohol. It seems that many people, such as myself, have made the decision that this drug is going to be a part of our lives regardless of whether or not anyone else likes it. I believe that the group of people who support marijuana use is large enough and becoming vocal enough that our voice is finally being heard through the wonderful thing we know as voting.
The point of that rant is that I assume that you all have used marijuana at some point in life and whether or not you support it's legalization, I'd like to hear someone from an objectively skeptical point of view talk about it. Like in most situations, the only people I hear talking about the issue are the ones personally vested in one side or another.
3. And just as a side question, do you think that
Oaksterdam University takes anything away from the public's common idealization of the label "University"?
Granted, it is not an accredited school and really seems to serve no purpose for anyone not interested in some aspect of the cannibis movement, but doesn't using that term imply something that is not true?
Sorry for the weed heavy nature of this post. It's just been on my mind lately. I haven't used marijuana in almost two months now and I promise I am not high(because of a possible upcoming job change and inevitably possible drug screen). I miss getting a little high before bed. It is the only thing I have found that allows my mind to stop turning the wheels and puts me to sleep quickly. Prescription sleep aids have always made me feel like a zombie the next day, and alcohol is just not in my wheelhouse. It tastes like crap, makes me feel like crap, and alcohol abuse killed my father when I was ten.
Always glad to go out on a happy note.
OK, OK, here's a silly joke.
-A sandwich walks into a bar and orders fish and chips. The bartender looks at it and says, "We don't serve food here..."-
I know, it's foodism, but I like it anyway.
