Pubdate: Tue, 07 Jan 2014 Source: Houston Chronicle (TX) Copyright: 2014 Glen Risley Contact: http://www.chron.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/198 Author: Glen Risley POT BENEFITS Regarding "Legalization of marijuana won't bring out our best" (Page B7, Saturday), New York Times columnist David Brooks is wise to point out the evidence for careful consideration of legalizing marijuana. However, since the current generation has turned over so much of its daily responsibilities to the nanny state, personal intelligence is no longer the requirement for our collective happiness that it once was. I say, embrace pot. Consider the music of the likes of Louie Armstrong, John Lennon and Jimmie Hendrix. Marijuana gave us the timeless music of the Haight-Ashbury '60's. Compare Bob Marley's political crooning with any of the drivel that followed and weed becomes the elixir for a new era of cultural evolution based on melody. Today's music ignores any tradition conducive to deep intellectual thought. Willie Nelson still lives in a creative world of cowboy adventure long removed from the reality of daily life. He and his artistic kin burn the petty art that inhabits the airways today every time they light up. Glen Risley, Houston - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D