Pubdate: Thu, 23 Sep 2004 Source: Prince George Free Press (CN BC) Copyright: 2004 BC Newspaper Group Contact: http://www.pgfreepress.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2135 Author: Benn Byers Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmjcn.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal - Canada) REMEMBER MEDICINAL PROPERTIES OF MARIJUANA Editor: I write to acknowledge the slant that mainstream media is putting on stories pertaining to the Da Kine cafe and cannabis use in general. It is easy to understand as I only see one stream in the media these days. This cafe was opened by people that want to change the format in which people acquire cannabis. One thing that is never brought into the cannabis argument is that the plant in its natural qualities appears to grow wild in many places on this earth. Many of our laws and social acceptances are built on a foundation that implies a creator. We do not have the right to oppress others because "all men are created equal." All of nature is created equal indeed, though it is harvested in a purely elitist fashion. Millions of trees fall each year so that our "lifestyle" can continue. A lifestyle that involves an allowance for suffering caused by poverty. Many people live a hurried and stressful life because they were born into the elements of society that are not provided for. These people develop stress related diseases and these proliferate further when they are accompanied by a feeling of hopelessness. When these people become sick or depressed (there should be a difference by now) they are prescribed cocktails of narcotics. One for feelings of hopelessness another for the appetite and then a few more to take care of the symptoms caused by the former. There is a pill that is prescribed to copious amounts of women in this country under the guise of an anti-depressant. I have known a few of these women and I know that intense self reflection upon their life situation is what they need and not pills full of horrible side effects. Perhaps someone to ask them isolated questions relating to their psyche and then help in putting the answers in the right place. The sad part of my answer to the situation is that it makes no difference to our economy. In fact rather, it would require our economy to search elsewhere for income because without the ability to prescribe drugs that only pass regulation in the name of the financial race, our country and ones like it would not be making nearly enough money. Now if cannabis were legal for people suffering from pain and misalocated life energy they would soon see that expensive prescriptions are not always necessary. Plants, however, when legalized will remain a natural resource that can not be confined to crown land and fallen en masse to line the pockets of the upper class. When condemning Da Kine, remember that you are condemning real people to purchase a natural painkiller from people that also have other handy substances readily available. An interesting tid-bit about these substances: Heroin, once in the human body, rapidly converts itself into morphine. Coincidence I suppose... Benn Byers - --- MAP posted-by: Derek