Welcome to a special edition of the weekly links. This is the Marijuana edition.
While I’ve written about the drug/gang war going on in Mexico right now I’ve tried to avoid discussing pot and the legalization of it. I have my reasons, but I’m not going to go into them because they are not important. Let’s just say that if I was going to choose a cause to fight for, or a label to give myself, that “marijuana freedom fighter” would not be it.
However, a quick scour of the internet blogosphere this week has revealed a spate of marijuana related news that I don’t feel like ignoring.
First, Fox News reported that marijuana slowed cancer growth in lab testing. Science Daily has backed up the report. Next a study that showed marijuana, in fact, led to testicular cancer was announced. Proving once again, that we are all going to die of cancer eventually. Really, we are.
The unspoken feeling around the blog world is that with our new president – who admits to using marijuana AND cocaine, among other things, and is not focusing on the drug war so much – will take a sympathetic stance in regards to legalization.
I invite you who believe this to go ahead…start holding your breath.
Seriously, hold it to keep the pot smoke in your mouth. It increases the buzz.
Regardless of my feelings on marijuana, I am someone who believes each person should be free. People should be free to do whatever they want with their lives, including screwing it up and wasting it.
The drug war is essentially the government taking on the role of a parent figure. “Now, don’t do drugs or you’re grounded.” It really feels that way.
Mexico is a vital part of the American drug war on pot, as a large chunk of marijuana enters the states through Mexico. As federal officers on both sides of the border enact policies and send out troops to search for dealers, dealers arm themselves to the teeth to protect their very lucrative investment. The resulting conflicts end in death.
Just this past week 21 people died in a drug raid that yielded large amounts of pot. As far as I am concerned these 21 dead people constitute more death than marijuana has created on its own. Stoners don’t kill people. Stoners watch cartoons, eat delicious pastries and win 8 gold medals at a time. Who cares?
The drug war on pot = a prison population that would be better served by a proper rehab center more than bars and prison rape. The drug war on pot = farmers in 3rd world countries who can not grow the types of crop that would yield the most profit for them. The drug war on pot = violence, death and gang wars.
Recently, 3 former ex-leaders of various Latin American countries came out and agreed with me. The very men who have seen their countries ravaged by the drug war are speaking out against it…will the U.S. listen?
As I said before, I believe every person has the right to screw up their life in whatever way they see fit. What people don’t have the right to do is die unexpectedly in a hail of gun fire between police and street gangs because some people want to get stoned and watch Family Guy when the government says they shouldn’t.
C’mon…just put some blankets under the door so the smell doesn’t bother anybody, and we can all get on with our lives.
Anyways, a few more links regarding Mexico and Marijuana
A graph charting the effects of various drugs.
My home state of Michigan looks at medical marijuana and Massachusettes decriminalizes it.
Marijuana might actually HELP your memory.
Texas beefs up security in the eventuality that the Mexican drug war spills over.
Writings from Torreon 
