Mood:
a-okTopic: Facing the Future
Over a month has passed now since I found out one of my children was arrested. A mother's shock and disappointment possessed me, and my thoughts turned to the worst... possible imprisonment for this young man, who has so much to live for, so much talent and a greater understanding of what life is all about... more than most, anyway. I could not bear the thought of him living as an inmate.
His crime was a federal offense, and yet something that many people have been getting away with for years. His crime should not have been a crime at all. Over the last decade several states in this great nation of ours have been passing laws to legalize marijuana for medical purposes. Even though many states have passed this, the federal law still dominates over the states.
My view is that our government is unwilling to bend because if pot is legalized, even just for medical purposes, they cannot profit from it. The way I see it, pharmaceutical companies have more control over what goes on than we want to believe. Just take a look around at how many people you know have medical prescriptions from their traditional doctors.
Cannabis is an herb, a God-given plant put upon this earth to help heal us, like so many other plants. It has done more good for people than harm, as long as it is not abused. Abuse anything and you have problems.
There are many more benefits to wisely using this plant than negatives. It has brought relief to suffering chemo patients, increased appetite in AIDS patients, and soothed those who are unable to get a good night's sleep. It is the most effective alternative to Viagra that nature has ever provided... and without the side effects. Yet you only hear about its negatives because that is what the authorities want to do... program you into believing it is a dangerous substance.
It seems to me more people are killed because of drunk drivers, and more lives destroyed by abuse of alcohol and hard drugs such as meth, than from occasional use of Cannabis. Alcohol and cigarette commercials were banned from TV advertising years ago. But why are pharmaceutical companies allowed to bombard prime time with their solicitations of dangerous prescription drugs? Why doesn't the media report the many deaths from abuse and misuse of these substances that have side effects that are often worse than the original condition for which they are made?
My son broke the law. Period. As the justice system stands now, he must pay for his crime. He recognizes this fact and he is facing it with a positive attitude. He has cooperated with authorities and, because of circumstances not entirely his fault, he will probably face a lighter sentence than being stuffed into another crowded correctional institution. This has given him a new perspective on life, and how precious freedom is. At 26 he has his whole life ahead of him, and enough lessons learned in the past 8 years to fill a lifetime.
Until the public wakes up, until the laws are changed, how many more lives will be affected? How many more mothers will mourn when they get that devastating phone call that breaks your heart? Check it out. Laws won't change until greed and control end.
