If the ignorant show off that state in public and nobody steps up to correct the error, these idiots will continue to hide behind “I didn’t know…” And the lack of response/correction adds weight to their false arguments, resulting in the spouters and their readers being lulled into thinking they are accurate.

When we counter these public fantasies in the same place they are spilled, as Jessie and I did in the discussion on the Sentinal’s web site, two things happen. The innocently ignorant, those with open minds and a desire to know and share accurate facts who simply haven’t yet been exposed to those facts, will become educated. And those spouting the idiocy who refuse to take in and apply the facts will lose credibility with the thinkers.

In private, it may be a waste of time and energy to cast your pearls before non-thinking swine. But frustrating as it may be, I will continue to publicly counter ignorance whenever I encounter it. Keep countering that ignorance here, Jess – we love it!

Bill notes: “Are these critically ill people destroying their lungs? Maybe…” Actually, no. Read the report cited in my comments above. It’s been proven that it’s not destroying lungs. “We hypothesized that there would be a positive association between marijuana use and lung cancer, and that the association would be more positive with heavier use,” he said. “What we found instead was no association at all, and even a suggestion of some protective effect.”

You really should read what’s written and not just scan it. The answers are there. More questions though, and comments, are always welcome.

Way back in the 30’s when William Randolph Hearst created FOX News, a few of his rich white friends who ran everything were about to introduce a new fabric (OOOOOOH) called nylon. The problem was that a lot of people were using hemp fabric because, well, it was cheap. Nylon would not be so cheap because the rich white guys needed to be richer so they could look whiter to their equally rich, equally white friends. Hemp had to go.

FOX News used all it’s powers to get a man named Harry Anslinger elected as our white government’s first drug czar. His sole purpose (And this is all on record. Do some research) was to demonize pot, which, at the time, was smoked primarily by Mexican immigrants.

But they could abuse more minorities when it came to pot. An actual quote from Anslinger himself “Marijuana makes the darky think he’s as good as the white man.” It’s on record.

Another comment from a presidential drug czar, this one Ronald Reagen’s while he was ignoring the AIDS crisis:

“Smoking marijuana leads to homosexuality and, of course, to AIDS.”

There was a study in the 30’s and a study in the late 60’s about pot, both requested by the President. Both studies showed that marijuana is really not bad and, in fact, alcohol is worse for you. Both reports were thrown out.

All of this info in on public record, by the way. Look for it.

Want to know why marijuana hasn’t been legalized and taxed and become a possible savior to the economy? Because then the government would have to admit that they’ve been LYING for years, and that’s never going to happen.

In conclusion: If you drink too much alcohol, you get into fights, crash your car, beat up your significant other/child/or stranger, rape your significant other/child/or stranger, spend hours power puking, and the next day you feel like you were run over by a Jack Danial’s flavored bus. Smoke too much weed: you eat a bag of Frito’s and go to bed.

What’s worse for you?

Namaste.

But I also love freedom. People should be able to gather together to indulge in anything – so long as it does not spill out to their neighbors? Are these critically ill people destroying their lungs? Maybe – but its not my business. It’s theirs.

I’d rather have a bunch of marijuana smokers in a building I can avoid than tobacco smokers next to me in a restaurant or outside.

Which is why I avoid places which let people smoke (like bars here in DeKalb County, Georgia).