MARIJUANA A POISON, SHOULD NOT BE LEGALIZED

Born Under A Bad Sign

(U-WIRE) SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Sometime in the near future, the U.S. Supreme
Court will bring down the judgment on the movement to make medical
marijuana legal, which is the first step toward legalizing what has been an
illegal drug.

Proponents of legalization will contend that cannabis, marijuana, hemp,
weed or whatnot could stop the drug war that's not working, reduce gang
violence and problems with certain third-world countries that produce the
raw materials for drugs and turn a shrub plant's fiber into every possible
product possible.

Yes, the war on drugs has turned into a fruitless, unsuccessful campaign.

And while it sounds like hemp, cannabis, marijuana, or whatever is better
than other drugs used in the medical field, it contains some ironically
harmful side effects.

In short, it would be a mistake to legalize cannabis -- in any fashion.

One has to admire the spin done by those seeking to make marijuana legal.

According to those in favor of legalization, marijuana is an innocent
substance that is nowhere near as damaging as alcohol or other drugs, and
it offers benefits to those suffering cancer.

However, spin can't hide the truth.

According to an American Cancer Society article, marijuana impairs the
immune system, enhances tumor growth and causes bronchitis and lung cancer,
thanks to it containing four times the amount of the carcinogenic substance
known as tar, which is also used in cigarettes.

So, in order to reduce the stresses of cancer, using this drug should
relieve pain while killing the patient with some other form of cancer.

So why not just legalize marijuana and drop the b.s. cover of it being the
miracle drug to cure everything from glaucoma to hemorrhoids?

Again, it wouldn't be a wise idea.

Marijuana, once legalized, will not be sold by Mom-and-Pop outfits out of
Santa Cruz and Chico. Instead certain corporations will take over this new
green machine.

Who are they? The same people who've been rolling smokes by the billions
for years, the tobacco industry.

Who else can produce a cheap (and addictive) regular supply of smokes and
turn major profits?

Who else has learned how to market products which attract those too young
to use their product in order to replace the dying user population, as well
as make a stinky odor-stick look cool?

Answer: Big Tobacco.

Sounds revolting, doesn't it? And face it, it would be likely for Joe Camel
to come out of retirement to promote his new product, all while the new
industry says it's not being marketed toward kids.

Some will argue that marijuana can be cultivated in the home, negating
those sinister fat cats, but hey, beer can be brewed at home and yet people
still buy cans, cases and kegs at the store. The masses don't have the
time, patience or care to give to a plant, and I've known plenty of stoners
who have failed in cultivating their own crop.

On that note, the marijuana industry's public relations will be
strengthened by the billions of dollars of revenue flowing in, and positive
spin and "scientific studies" will continue to promote the product, as well
as squelch any reports citing harmful effects in the human body or in society.

Already, a search on the Google search engine shows links under the
American Cancer Society's article defending marijuana and denouncing these
scientific claims, coming back with arguments that aren't sound.

One such Web site puts up a defense stating that everything in the world
causes cancer, which may have been a defense the tobacco companies may had
considered.

With marijuana legalized, use of the drug would not decrease, but rather,
it would increase and the number of problems associated with it and alcohol
abuse -- unwanted or problematic pregnancies, suicide, homicide, domestic
violence -- would also rise.

You see, humans are a species of addicts. This nation alone has gambling
addicts, alcoholics and people who can't stop eating, just to name a few
groups. Almost each of these groups has a support group or therapy for
those to cope with their addiction.

The problem? All of these groups are either too expensive or have minuscule
financial backing and support. And don't think the new cannabis industry
will shell out bucks for 12-step programs designed to curb its "overzealous
customers."

After all, the gambling industry doesn't give much support to Gamblers
Anonymous either, aside from a tiny sticker on the side of an ATM machine,
and cigarette packages and alcoholic beverages have the Surgeon General's
warning in small type.

Also, 12-step programs aren't always effective. Yes, there are many people
who do kick their habits and hold their own, but there are many who can't
discipline themselves from the urge.

It's just not right to legalize this poison. We already have alcohol and
tobacco to worry about. This society needs not another poison on the market
shelves where consumers can mindlessly waste their lives.

As I end this column, I have a feeling that I'm in the minority opinion.

Maybe I'm being overzealous. Maybe I'm missing the boat. Maybe I'm with the
same cast-offs who crusade against abortion or eating meat.

But I just can't get what I've seen out of my mind. All of the addictions
to sins in a household from hell.

I can just picture a kid, living in a house where Mom's stoned so she can
reduce the pain from Dad's rage when he's roaring drunk and pissed from
blowing all his money on bad bets.

I can see this kid's 14-year-old sister already stealing tokes from Mom's
stash of marijuana cigarettes and speed. She hasn't been to school for
about a month, but nobody notices.

The power is off because no one has had the brains to pay the bill for
three months, and the kitchen stinks of smoke and rotting food, and most of
it is already unhealthy to eat.

And this house isn't the only one of its kind in the neighborhood.

Come to think of it, it's the house of some members of my family. And
worse, I've already seen this home in real life. I stayed in those homes a
few times.

I don't think anyone else has to.