Recent events clearly showing an archaic, nay obsolete frame of mind behooves upon us to revisit and re-engineer this column.
It makes one wonder; what were they thinking, well that is if they were thinking at all.
And these are the recent events that prompted this revisit…
Excerpts from the May 23, 2019 issue of Philstar.com and the Inquirer Northern Luzon, May 29, 2019 issue:
PDEA seeks to ban Shanti Dope song for allegedly promoting marijuana
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has sought to ban a song by young Filipino rapper Shanti Dope.
PDEA director general Aaron Aquino released a statement on Thursday claiming that the lyrics of Shanti Dope’s new song, “Amatz,” promotes the use of marijuana.
“It appears that the singer was referring to the high effect of marijuana, being in its natural/organic state and not altered by any chemical compound,” Aquino said in the statement.
PDEA burns P5.6M marijuana in Kalinga
Marijuana plants and seedlings worth P5.6 million were burned in 10 separate marijuana plantations in Kalinga province in a three-day operation, authorities said.
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Cordillera said the operation at Butbut Proper, Tinglayan town yielded 28,300 fully grown cannabis plants and 1,000 seedlings.
On the burning, what a waste. Just think of all the Cannabis oil extract that can be used, and may I say as based on confirmed international medical research, for the treatment and cure of previously incurable and very- expensive-to-try-to-cure diseases i.e. cancer, Alzheimer’s, autism and epilepsy.
No, this is not just about the legalization of “medical marijuana”. This is about the legalization of both “medical” and “recreational marijuana.” Yup, you got it right. I am for the legalization of marijuana for recreational and medical purposes or simply put, people should have the right if they choose to get “high” or get cured without fear of being arrested.
Am I offending your sensibilities? If so, then you are a hypocrite. Everyday millions of people get drunk or smoke cigarettes legally, how come you’re not offended or angry? It is a fact that alcohol and cigarettes can kill you. Millions of people have already died from drinking alcohol and smoking tobacco while it is also a fact that nobody died from smoking marijuana.
Here are some straight hard facts to ponder upon:
According to www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/:
Cigarette smoking is responsible for more than 480,000 deaths per year in the United States, including nearly 42,000 deaths resulting from second-hand smoke exposure. This is about one in five deaths annually, or 1,300 deaths every day. On average, smokers die 10 years earlier than non-smokers.
And www.herb.co says:
How many people have died overdosing on marijuana? The short answer is Zero.
Unsurprisingly to marijuana lovers around the world, there has yet to be a single reported death linked to cannabis overdose. In fact, you would have to consume 20,000 to 40,000 times your average dose for marijuana to kill you. That would be about 1,500 pounds of marijuana in 15 minutes.
That’s not to say that taking 40,000 hits is the sole way to risk death while under the influence of marijuana. Smoking 800 joints in one sitting would put you at risk of dying from carbon monoxide poisoning. But that isn’t exactly the plant’s fault, is it?
Yes, marijuana is a plant, it’s not a drug which makes one wonder who was that idiot who classified it as a dangerous drug! As a plant, marijuana is no different from your alogbate or talong. You can eat them but you just can’t smoke alogbate although some people have been smoking talong but that’s an entirely different story.
According to www.njweedman.com:
“Marijuana refers to dried flowers and leaves of some strains of the cannabis hemp plant, which contains various quantities of the non-narcotic chemical THC (tetrahydrocannibinol) in various quantities. When smoked or eaten, it produces the feeling of being “high,” which lasts a few hours. Different strains of this herb produce their own sensual effects, ranging from sedative to stimulant.
“Marijuana is not addictive. Most users are moderate consumers who only smoke it socially occasionally to relax. We now know that 10% of our population have ‘addiction personalities’, and they are no more nor less likely to abuse cannabis than anything else. On a relative scale, marijuana is less habit-forming than either sugar or chocolate. Sociologists report a general pattern of marijuana usage that peaks in the early adult years, followed by a period of levelling off, and finally a gradual reduction in use.
“Marijuana does not cause violence. The only crime most marijuana users commit is using marijuana. The US Shafer Commission report was the most comprehensive study ever undertaken on the subject. It found that marijuana smokers ‘tend to be under represented’ in violence and in crime, especially when compared to users of alcohol, amphetamines and barbiturates. ‘The simple fact is that marijuana does not change your basic personality.’ The American federal government reports that over 70 million Americans have smoked it … probably including some of the nicest people you know.”
I sincerely hope that these facts presented will give you a better understanding of marijuana other than the false myth created by totally ignorant and stupid politicians. So now if you’ll excuse me while I put on some Pink Floyd, light up a joint and get high. (brotherlouie16@gmail.com/PN)
