The Skunk Factor: The role of weed in America's decline

World Net Daily ^ | August 29, 2022 | Scott Lively

[fwdude]

Shortly before my first run for governor of Massachusetts, in 2014, the Bay State became one of the first to legalize "medical" marijuana and would soon legalize recreational use. I was one of five candidates in the race that included uber-RINO Charlie Baker, ultra-corrupt Democrat Attorney General Martha Coakley, and three Independents: progressive darling Evan Falchuk (launching a new Socialist Party), businessman Jeff McCormick and yours truly. My reason for running was two-fold: to have a platform to shine the light of the Gospel in the darkest arena of human affairs – politics – and to break out of the "Saul Alinsky box" the leftist media and LGBT-fascists had put me in in furtherance of their strategy to bankrupt and humiliate me with litigation and drive me from the state.

(snip)

But the most consequential issue of that period was actually the legalization/normalization of marijuana, and I was the only candidate to take a strong stand against it. It featured most prominently in the first debate, held in filled-to-capacity Symphony Hall in Springfield. I got the best laugh of the event when the question came around to me, saying "I've probably smoked more pot than anyone else in this room. I smoked mountains of it." After the laughter subsided, I followed up by saying, "I am therefore the most qualified person here to address the subject," proceeding to make the case that the "medical" aspect of the legalization (while legitimate in a limited way) was mostly just a pretext for decriminalizing recreational use, and that would have serious negative social consequences.

[fwdude]

Flame suit donned.

[Taxman]

Ping

[rktman]

You posted while I was typing. LOL! IF the mods are watching, they can take mine down.

[Cletus.D.Yokel]

Anyone who once indulged in the weed culture and came out will just nod their heads.

[Antoninus]

He's right. We are in the process of becoming mid-19th century China.

"And let's not forget the ulterior motives of politicians and businesses who are looking to reap the benefits of legalization. Do they really care about the health and safety of the people they supposedly serve? Or are they simply looking for a way to make society more docile, stupid and ultimately easier to rule, while raking in big money? On this question, history is instructive: A Disgraceful Little War -- The Opium War and Commissioner Lin"

[rktman]

My comments from my duplicate:

Well, since it was legalized in NevaDUH, for home use of course at the time, we’ve seen it used nearly everywhere. You can’t drive down the interstate without smelling it so you know someone is DUI. And, we know a few daily users. They seem a bit slow on the uptake sometimes when speaking to them. Now, by the end of the year, IIRC, there will be legal lounges to partake and socialize. Oddly enough, seems like a lot of the homeless, uh, sorry, “unhoused” can afford it. Maybe they call on their cell phones(?) and have it delivered. But, we know a bunch of boozers as well so.......... Pick your poison. We do neither. And we quit smoking cigs four(me) and eight(mrs rktman) years ago so we’re must be pretty boring. LOL! 😂👍 We’re okay with that.

[riri]

e's right. We are in the process of becoming mid-19th century China.

Same bloodlines bringing it in. They know exactly what they are doing.

[Jim W N]

Despite the corrupted conventional wisdom of popular culture MJ causes psychosis. It messes up your nervous system and your mind.

It’s not a question of if but HOW MUCH”. It harms some more than others depending on the person’s makeup, but it harms everyone who takes it.

MJ is definitely part of Satan’s plan to “weaken the nations” (Is. 14:12).

[EQAndyBuzz]

For years, politicians have been complaining that weed is a gateway drug. Now they are encouraging its use.

Morons, all of them.

[fwdude]

...since it was legalized in NevaDUH, for home use of course at the time, we’ve seen it used nearly everywhere.

The "home use" requirements are crafted with a wink and a nod. No one expects this to be the case.

[BipolarBob]

I want my opium dens opened and I want them NOW.

[the OlLine Rebel]

Indeed I knew it, and immediately the push was on to excuse using MJ “recreationally”.

Meanwhile we pop up all these special-named “medical dispensaries”. What a bunch of BS. Excuse my language. I have to explain it to my mother never mind if our son brought it up. What is that? I’ll tell you when you’re older.

Additionally now every shop including legitimate pharmacies and stores and ads on TV promote some MJ product.

It has come full circle. MJ is the new snake oil that cures everything and does nothing harmful. And it doesn’t need FDA control. Just like 100-plus years ago.

It’s all moronic.

[fwdude]

I always bring up the point that many “liberaltarian” “conservatives” make regarding legalizing and taxing.

They never realize that what was once flatly prohibited by perhaps three or four pages of legal code now becomes a volume of regulations drafted to address the externalities caused by weed’s proliferation in society. It WILL spread by osmosis to the youngest members of society, who will find they now have much more ready access to it then when total prohibition was the law.

If, as a libertarian, you hate a lot of laws, don’t legalize pot.

[GSWarrior]

I smoke a little every day (45+ years) but stay away from the potent strains.

Happy retired and set for the future.

[fwdude]

It’s amazing what can get you a “prescription” for “medical pot.”

Having trouble sleeping? No problem.

[ansel12]

For years I said the left wanted the people stupid and focused on their pot and genitalia rather than being engaged Americans.

People didn’t know what I meant 40 and 50 years ago but I think it is easier to understand now.

[Antoninus]

Same bloodlines bringing it in. They know exactly what they are doing.

Not exactly. The ones bringing it into 19th century China were the British. The modern Chinese simply know their history, and realize that the best way to destroy your enemies is to convince them to destroy themselves.

[gundog]

At a local park. the homeless are just the most obvious violators of the prohibition on public use. People drive in on their lunch hour, or after work, and fire up in their cars. Students from the local community college, too. I was talking to an off-duty cop that was fishing there, one day, and he gave me a head’s up that the people I was talking to were smoking weed in their car. (They lived in it.) I laughed and said he should watch the cars that drive in. People would sit tor ten minutes, and then the smoke would start rolling out their windows.

[GSWarrior]

Libertarians are generally opposed to legalized, government-run, government supported marijuana operations.

Here in the Bay Area, where there are too many pot clubs, owners of struggling clubs can apply for financial relief. Terrible policy.

In the tiny town in Colorado where I grew up, tax revenue from recreational pot has resulted in new sewer system, senior shuttles, street improvements, beautification projects, and was partially responsible for a spiffy new state of the art k-12 school.

[Chode]

You know, back in outer space, we used to drink – a lot

We used to smoke all kinds of kick-ass drugs

And we used to show blatant disrespect for any authority figure

Little did we know, we were undermining our entire value system... GWAR