Pubdate: Thu, 23 Jul 2015
Source: Reno News & Review (NV)
Copyright: 2015, Chico Community Publishing, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.newsreview.com/issues/reno/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2524
Author: J.R. Reynolds

HIGH ON CANNABIS

I happened to tune into Sam Shad's interview with Sen. Tick Segerblom 
on the subject of marijuana, specifically medical marijuana, and why 
it has taken years to get to where we are today.

Ironically, Nevadans voted in two elections to legalize and provide 
distribution centers to make medical marijuana available to those who 
may be helped by this herbal medication. I must admit, I was shocked, 
and perhaps even mildly amused to learn that distribution stores are 
ready to do business. Wow! About time-after two years!

OK, so the process was tedious and slow. But still, they are not 
ready to open their doors. So what's the problem?

And this is really comical-they don't have access to any product.

The senator stated that with all the red tape and hoops the 
businesses had to go through to obtain licenses and so forth, they 
forgot about growing their product, and it seems they are still 
sitting on their hands.

But I must say, I'm not surprised. the insanity against this plant 
continues. It still seems to be a futile effort to get a large 
portion of our population to understand the usefulness of the hemp 
plant. Huge business interests continue to sell their anti-propaganda 
to the ignorant and the uninformed. To the senator's credit, he was 
very clear about the dangers of, say, alcohol as opposed to 
marijuana. Alcohol poisoning, impaired driving, etc. all contribute 
to huge societal problems, where marijuana is a relatively safe drug. 
Law enforcement concerns are understandable, but at the risk of 
repeating myself, irresponsible behavior behind the wheel of a 
vehicle is just that-irresponsible behavior of the individual-and 
should be punishable by law. But that has nothing to do with 
marijuana. If a person is acting a fool while driving, whether stoned 
or drunk, or completely sober for that matter, we all want that 
individual off our streets and highways.

Just consider for a moment that second hand smoke kills thousands of 
people per year, and to date, marijuana overdose caused exactly zero! 
None, nada, zero, period!

And yet it remains a Schedule 1 drug. It reminds me of a line from 
that goofy 1936 movie, Reefer Madness-"a powerful narcotic in which 
lurks murder, insanity, death." Really? Some people apparently still 
harbor these beliefs.

Grow up! This plant should be emancipated and put to good use. 
Besides the medical efficacy, the hemp plant has myriad uses. Let us 
stop living in the dark age of ignorance and accept that we now live 
in the 21st century. Let's help our planet and begin to use this 
green plant to provide all the things which benefit mankind instead 
of destroying our planet in the name of greed.

J.R. Reynolds

Reno
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