Pubdate: Sun, 29 May 2011
Source: Albany Democrat-Herald (OR)
Copyright: 2011 Lee Enterprises
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/HPOp5PfB
Website: http://www.democratherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/7
Author: Gordon L. Shadle

FREEDOM TO GET STONED

All of the recent fuss over marijuana makes me wonder - why the charade?

Why do some charlatans argue that toasting up a bowl of Grape Skunk 
heals everything from hangnails to anxiety attacks?

Why has the glossary been euphemized? How did we get from "stoner" to 
"cardholder", "dealer" to "caregiver", and "dope" to "medicine"? 
Since when did a "party" become a "gathering of patients"?

And why does a disagreement with a marijuana user often result in the 
use of caricature? Reluctant about decriminalization and 
legalization? Clearly you're a Reefer Madness scold. Such juvenile 
stereotyping is exhausting.

The winking and elbow nudging happening amongst the cannabis crowd 
means they've lost sight of the most honest argument in their arsenal 
- - If an adult wants to get stoned, it's none of my damned business. 
But instead of leading with a moral argument - the right of every 
adult to live life in any peaceful way they choose - we get gassy 
harangues about alleviating chronic pain.

If increased personal liberty is the ultimate destination of this 
crowd, they sure have picked a weird way to get there.

Gordon L. Shadle

Albany (May 23)
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom