Yesterday I had a posting on Facebook. It was a thought that came to me just before leaving for work. I wrote, I wonder about the argument that something is no worse than another IE: smoking marijuana is no worse than drinking alcohol. The thing is shouldn't we be striving for something better,not settling for it isn't any worse. Now I feel a little more elaboration to that statement may be required.
What I am saying is, saying smoking marijuana is no worse than drinking alcohol is like saying breaking your right arm is no worse than breaking your left. They are still both broken. Is it not really a sign of resignation ? An attitude of if one thing is wrong doing another of equal wrong is just fine. Even the sentence doesn't make sense.
To legalize something is to give it approval. All of those that would approve of the use of marijuana use the argument it is no worse than alcohol. Perhaps on some level I can see that logic. Wrong is wrong even when approved by the government. Approval does not always justify an action. My concern is that how many will now try this new "approved intoxicant " than wouldn't have otherwise ? I am only concerned with the recreational use, medicinal use is a different topic altogether. During prohibition a prescription for alcohol could be obtained, but that didn't make it medicine.
No I believe the argument that one is no worse than another is an attempt to justify a wrong. We are all well aware of the problems alcohol causes in society by those who abuse it. We made an attempt to remove it from society and we all know how that worked out. The difference was that alcohol had already been introduced and indeed encouraged in society. The removal of that was seen as an intrusion on mans rights. The government was taking something away. Once legalized and accepted into society, as a whole, there will be no removing it. It is a grave decision to make. It is not a decision to be made just to increase tax revenue. What will be the result in twenty years,thirty years or more ? Is this something you would want your children and grandchildren to engage in ? Do you encourage the use of alcohol to your children ? Are you going to want to buy marijuana for your grandkids ? Be a man, smoke some weed. It sounds ridiculous.
I remain convinced the push for legalization, on a national level, is fueled by only one thing, revenue. Tax and spend. There is also the movement away from traditional morality to the new, everything is alright morality. I'm afraid some of our legislators and apparently a major portion of the electorate are just voting for the, " it's cool man " ticket. A means of showing how progressive they are in their thinking. To put it simply, justification of past errors. Yes, the criminals will always offer it for sale. Yes, there will always be those that purchase and use it. Take that same, what you are saying is harmless substance out of their stores, and what will they begin to push next ? We're gonna have to take it up a notch. Oh, and the argument about it being a " natural " product. Yes it grows in nature, so does hundreds of other intoxicating plants, should they all be legalized and promoted for use ? They're natural. You know, man didn't invent alcohol, just improved the flavor.
But the point of my posting was not really about the legalization of marijuana. The point was the faulty reasoning we are employing these days to justify our actions. It is no worse. That isn't making things better now is it ? It is possible that those things that we compare to are incorrect as well. If no one abused alcohol how many lives would be saved ? There will be those that abuse the recreational use of marijuana and cause societal issues. That can only increase if the product is legalized and its' use encouraged. And you can't tell me it won't be. Peer pressure is a tremendous force. How many years and lives lost before we establish MAM. Mothers against marijuana. It'll happen. Or are we just adding another excuse to the list for when we screw up ? I couldn't help it judge, I was high on marijuana. I need to check in to a rehab center. It is not my fault. Right, another escape from reality and accountability. Yeah, we need that law and a few more bucks ! The government requires more money to fund more social programs. Get it from the potheads, they are cool with that.
What I am saying is, saying smoking marijuana is no worse than drinking alcohol is like saying breaking your right arm is no worse than breaking your left. They are still both broken. Is it not really a sign of resignation ? An attitude of if one thing is wrong doing another of equal wrong is just fine. Even the sentence doesn't make sense.
To legalize something is to give it approval. All of those that would approve of the use of marijuana use the argument it is no worse than alcohol. Perhaps on some level I can see that logic. Wrong is wrong even when approved by the government. Approval does not always justify an action. My concern is that how many will now try this new "approved intoxicant " than wouldn't have otherwise ? I am only concerned with the recreational use, medicinal use is a different topic altogether. During prohibition a prescription for alcohol could be obtained, but that didn't make it medicine.
No I believe the argument that one is no worse than another is an attempt to justify a wrong. We are all well aware of the problems alcohol causes in society by those who abuse it. We made an attempt to remove it from society and we all know how that worked out. The difference was that alcohol had already been introduced and indeed encouraged in society. The removal of that was seen as an intrusion on mans rights. The government was taking something away. Once legalized and accepted into society, as a whole, there will be no removing it. It is a grave decision to make. It is not a decision to be made just to increase tax revenue. What will be the result in twenty years,thirty years or more ? Is this something you would want your children and grandchildren to engage in ? Do you encourage the use of alcohol to your children ? Are you going to want to buy marijuana for your grandkids ? Be a man, smoke some weed. It sounds ridiculous.
I remain convinced the push for legalization, on a national level, is fueled by only one thing, revenue. Tax and spend. There is also the movement away from traditional morality to the new, everything is alright morality. I'm afraid some of our legislators and apparently a major portion of the electorate are just voting for the, " it's cool man " ticket. A means of showing how progressive they are in their thinking. To put it simply, justification of past errors. Yes, the criminals will always offer it for sale. Yes, there will always be those that purchase and use it. Take that same, what you are saying is harmless substance out of their stores, and what will they begin to push next ? We're gonna have to take it up a notch. Oh, and the argument about it being a " natural " product. Yes it grows in nature, so does hundreds of other intoxicating plants, should they all be legalized and promoted for use ? They're natural. You know, man didn't invent alcohol, just improved the flavor.
But the point of my posting was not really about the legalization of marijuana. The point was the faulty reasoning we are employing these days to justify our actions. It is no worse. That isn't making things better now is it ? It is possible that those things that we compare to are incorrect as well. If no one abused alcohol how many lives would be saved ? There will be those that abuse the recreational use of marijuana and cause societal issues. That can only increase if the product is legalized and its' use encouraged. And you can't tell me it won't be. Peer pressure is a tremendous force. How many years and lives lost before we establish MAM. Mothers against marijuana. It'll happen. Or are we just adding another excuse to the list for when we screw up ? I couldn't help it judge, I was high on marijuana. I need to check in to a rehab center. It is not my fault. Right, another escape from reality and accountability. Yeah, we need that law and a few more bucks ! The government requires more money to fund more social programs. Get it from the potheads, they are cool with that.
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