The following is a KSCO commentary. Here is Kay Zwerling:
Because the legislation of medical marijuana is currently in the news, here are my thoughts on the subject recorded a number of years ago.
As a pedestrian observer of the human condition, and of the attitudes of society toward the two most widely used recreational substances, alcohol and marijuana, otherwise known as pot, one wonders why alcohol is universally accepted, condoned, and promoted, while marijuana or pot is maligned and in some places forbidden. The U.S. Government has declared pot to be illegal, so, many caught with its possession or use are fined, stigmatized, languishing in prison, and otherwise made miserable. There is documented medical proof that pot can relieve the pain of terminally-ill patients and afford their last days a measure of mellow peace. Despite this positive use of the substance, the Federal Government continues to declare it illegal even though some states do allow its use for medical purposes. Alcohol, on the other hand, gets a free ride, despite the fact that its legal use has caused and continues to cause enormous human misery with the breakup of families, neglect of children, loss of jobs, accidents and killings by drunken drivers, and the overall drain on society. One could argue that while both substances are considered bad, alcohol causes more grief in the world than pot does.
During a trip to Jamaica many years ago, our tour guide pointed out the abundant marijuana bushes grown wild alongside the roads, and he attributed the longevity and good health of most Jamaicans to their daily drinking of a tea made from the marijuana leaves. So, one could wonder, if alcohol with nothing good to justify its use is federally legal, shouldn’t pot with some significant proven use, likewise be legal? Or, put another way, if pot is illegal, surely shouldn’t alcohol also be illegal? Hmmmmm.
For KSCO, this is Kay Zwerling.
© copyright 2010
