It's been said so often in so many ways that there are a million ways to help in a cause. The Cannabis legalization cause is no different. We have so many spokes in that wheel. We have load-bearing spokes, forward momentum spokes, spokes who's sole purpose is to support and steady the others. We have spokes with the loudest of voices, and we have spokes who attract followers with a mere whisper and a song. We are all in this together ... that I know is true.
When you look at this cause and all of the people in it, we're like a big family. Some of you likely think that's silly, as infighting and arguing is everywhere! Sounds like a typical family gathering in some cultures! In my opinion, the fact that we all really and truly want the same thing, makes us on the same team. Regardless of our moments of friction.
The cause is also getting support from elsewhere. In this case, intentions and reasons may not be so genuine, but regardless the numerous segments we see in television sitcoms is undoubtedly helping to normalize the use of this plant. Normalization is key you know. I mean, when you see someone smoking a cigarette, you don't panic. But when you see someone smoking a cannabis doobie, you may. Though one kills millions yearly; the other has killed no one. Yet it's more normal and socially accepted to smoke that poisonous plant that makes our Governments so many taxes. Normalizing the ingestion of the Cannabis plant means better health for almost everyone. Everyone except those few who are allergic, and except for the bank accounts of Big Tobacco. I personally, don't give any shits about their pockets. They can retrofit. Hemp is only a droplet of water away.
In the end, so much of the bitterness for Pot is the fact that it's smoked. People will accept cigarettes as they almost have a cultural attachment not unlike Alcohol. But smoking anything else must be toxic we assume. Truth is, anthropologically speaking we Homo-Sapiens have been smoking all kinds of plants from the very beginning. Some did indeed prove toxic, others proved medicinal. Without "Mikey-the homo-sapien" we'd have no idea right now which is which. Thanks Mikey!
Don't get me wrong, I get it. I grew up with parents who smoked but quit when I was very young. From then on, we were a smoke-free family and we despised the smell of tobacco smoke! My sisters and I would get so pissed when mom or dad would allow a friend to smoke inside the house. The stench lasted forever! But now that I'm adult, I realize that that old adage "to each their own" is so far-reaching. We as humans cannot mandate personal choice. We can surely mandate who lights up in our homes. But we cannot tell someone else what to do in the privacy of their own home. Well, to a certain extent.
Just the same though, the entertainment business has advisory panels who tell them what they can and cannot show on tv sitcoms. Smoking is not one of them anymore. So how is a television program in the year 2014 supposed to keep up with this growing end to cannabis prohibition? May I introduce to you ... the cannabis edible.
The instigation for this post was the latest episode of "New Girl" with Zooey Deschanel and many other awesomely quirky actors. They decided the other night, to get wild with some Cannabis before attending a gathering together. Smoking is not allowed so they ate pot brownies.
Now ... many of us rave about the cannabis edible. Many of us have a good sized tolerance to the effects of Cannabinoids so we don't fear the edible. But the reactions you see on television are rarely what you will feel yourself. The pot brownie segment on "New Girl" saw those who partook perma-grinned and floating round the party in an ethereal-like trance. It looked wonderful. Wonderfully unrealistic, but great nonetheless. You see, in this episode it was made very clear that the participants had not partaken in the herb in many many years. Therefore, the trip would have likely been a bit more .... stationary, still, comatose, and chill. Yes of course, there's a chance the dosing was correct this time. Perhaps all participants only ate a bit. Not likely but maybe.
What am I getting at? I'm getting at the same core problem I see in so many other things in this world. I see a television program getting laughs, lauds, and viewers because they were so progressive as to include a popular cultural aspect like Cannabis. But like so many other things out there, they fail to truly show you what that experience will be like. Smoking or vaping MaryJane has one affect. Eating her mixed in anything, has a totally different affect. Once again, television is inaccurately INFLUENCING us for personal gain and viewer numbers.
How many of you will eat that brownie expecting that result? And if that brownie was meant for someone like myself who has a high tolerance for cannabinoids, the result could be less than pleasant to say the least. My girlfriend just told me about one such experience where she thought she was being sucked into her couch~and not in the good way!
I may get flack for this post since many Cannabis supporters don't want anything negative spoken about our plant. That to me is silly. Life is about balance. That which cures; can too harm or at least make you feel pretty friggin loopy for longer than you'd like.
In the end, all I'm calling for is education. Yet I see how asinine that is. I mean, our Governments won't even allow our Medical institutions to study the effects of Cannabis. How the heck is the entertainment industry supposed to know the effects?
In life, and in writing I am trying to finish with some form of a solution to the issue at hand. After all, if rants solved problems, we'd be in a better state right now. So I call on my team, my wheel, this movement of like-minded people to educate the masses on all things current and popular. Be the educated voice who advises or explains. Give tips on dosing when you can. Our numbers are growing at such a rate, that I look forward to Cannabinoid advisory panels for Hollywood, Medical Industry, and all other idustries to advise about this new medcine that's been around and used safely since Mikey the homo-sapien sampled it for us.
Thanks Mikey!
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