It’s probably automatic for someone to view this site and conclude that everyone affiliated with it is a cannabis consumer. But, I’m not one that can be categorized as a ‘herb’-ivore. I’m more of a meat and potatoes man. Heheh.
Back when I was in school, I can recall being in History class and asking the teacher why we needed to learn it. Her main argument was that we needed to know what happened in the past so that we wouldn’t repeat the same or similar mistakes. Well, now I have a new question involving history… Why are the same or similar mistakes being made in the governing of our nation? Looking at the past will allow me to share the origins of this question.
In the early years of establishing our country, we were at war with England. The earliest Americans (not sure if they were technically “Americans” yet) revolted against the tyranny and oppression inflicted upon them by England’s monarch and Parliament (equal to our Congress). The Boston Tea Party rings a bell for most. The basic point is that our country was founded because of a government stripping the citizens of basic and God given rights. And now, we’re on a downhill path heading straight back to where our founding fathers started.
The relative “learn from your mistakes” moment in history is the Civil War. Southern states wished to secede because they believed the U.S. government was violating their rights. Looking at these two moments, it’s apparent that knowledge of history plays little to no part in politics. In one instance, our “founding fathers” (the government) waged war against an oppressor; and, less than seventy years later, waged war against those who felt oppressed. Is this just a one time or rare occurrence? I’m afraid not. Let’s travel back again.
What’s significant about the years from 1920 to 1933? I’ll give you a hint. Young adults weren’t so excited about turning twenty-one during that period of our history. That’s right… Prohibition! I think the prohibition period gives us some insight to the turnings of the governmental mind. One possibility is that, at times, politicians really don’t know what they’re doing. It’s legal… No, it’s not… It’s legal. Heheh. That reminds me of a particular politician, but I’ll stay on point. I think, in most cases, the government knows exactly what it’s doing. Thus, the precise insight the prohibition period teaches us is that our governing officials and organizations are influenced more by power and profitability than FREEDOM.
I’d like to look at history one more time, about a specific subject that will bring us back to present day. The History of Marijuana. In the early 1600’s, the first law concerning marijuana was enacted. “Wow, man… Has pot been illegal for that long?” No, the first law actually ordered the growth of Indian hemp. Granted, it had many uses back then that have since been replaced by a “profitable” equivalent. Nevertheless, it wasn’t illegal in any sense of the word. It wasn’t actually until about one hundred thirty years after the 1776 Declaration of Independence that recreational use of marijuana (by which I mean tokin’) became questionable.
My research reveals that by 1937 marijuana was illegal in over twenty states. Since then, laws concerning use and punishment for its use, have been created. Those legal string were loosened in the Vietnam Era because… Well, to put it simply, there was more money to be made selling drugs in a foreign country than there was busting ‘reefer rollers’. The Reagan Administration put ‘bowl burners’ back into hiding where they stayed until medical marijuana raised hopes for total legalization.
To review the last two historic topics, the government gave the rum back to the ‘rummies’ because… Ummm… Yeah, no real answer for that. Yet, science finds a medicinal purpose for marijuana and the government only loosens the law to accommodate that purpose. Why? W…e…ll. I can only offer the answers that we find in history. There are two reasons: the government makes, not spends, more MONEY fighting drug use than it could by allowing it; and, the government retains more POWER and control by keeping it illegal.
To wrap this up, I have a little assignment for you. There are only three words in this entire post that are typed in all-caps… Of the three, if you had to pick only one that you could have for the rest of your life; pass on to your children; who could pass to their children; so on and so forth, which would you choose? Share your answers with me by commenting to a post with this same title at my site: http://fixus.canyouhearusmrpresident.com/
Thanx!
