pernicious adj : archaic : WICKED syn BANEFUL. DELETERIOUS, DETRIMENTAL

weed n 1 : a plant of no value and usu. of rank growth; esp : one that tends to overgrow or choke out more desirable plants 2 : MARIJUANA syn GANJA, CHEEBA, DOOBAGE, SMOKE, BUDS, HERB, MARY JANE

"Wouldn’t you rather shoot a game of pool with a guy smoking a joint than a guy drinking whiskey and beer? Someone smoking a joint doesn’t all of a sudden rear back and stab his partner in the eye socket with the cue stick, okay?" — Dennis Miller, from The Rants (p. 35)

(In the "War on Drugs,") "Every seed planted is another fuckin’ soldier." — B-Real, from "Make a Move" on Cypress Hill III

Even though its cultivation, sale, and possession has been strictly prohibited for nearly a century in "the land of the free," people continue to acquire and use marijuana regularly. It is estimated that about 20% of our population (in the 18-35 demographic) could be classified as frequent users of marijuana, another 30% are considered occasional users (at least once per year), and public opinion polls have clearly shown that over 85% of all Americans would approve of a resolution which allowed marijuana to be made available by prescription for seriously ill patients. Marijuana can be purchased nearly anywhere — however restrictive and repressive the environment, it can be cultivated simply by tossing a few seeds on a pile of cow manure, and its use has repeatedly been proven to have numerous medical benefits with few discernable ill effects — why then, does it remain illegal?

One theory is that pharmaceutical stocks would plummet once it was found that an herb anyone could grow in their backyard could be used instead of many of their overpriced (and often toxic) products. Another theory is that the timber industry would be decimated once it was found that the renewable biomass which is hemp could be substituted for wood pulp in the manufacture of paper. Hemp can also be used to produce a number of plastics, which could hurt the profits of the petrochemical companies. But, most importantly, the recreational use of marijuana can subvert society by turning legions of obedient and productive drones into freethinking and lackadaisical individuals. The politicians (and the corporate power elites whom they serve) worship power and money. Whenever something — even an innocent plant — shows any potential for threatening either their Authority or their profit margins, it is viciously and relentlessly attacked — hence, our seemingly illogical "War on Drugs."

The government is controlled by corporate interests. How else could one justify the Draconian penalties (asset forfeiture, loss of one’s children, loss of employment, and prison) imposed for the possession of this forbidden plant’s dried foliage? How else could one witness the demonization and systematic persecution (through "Partnership for a Drug Free Amerika" propaganda, D.A.R.E. and L.E.A.F. programs which attempt to scare impressionable children into snitching on their own parents, and the encouragement of mandatory piss tests for entry-level minimum-wage employees — although, strangely enough, the politicians and police who regulate and enforce these sanctimonious witch hunts are exempt from any such testing, and would not hesitate to attack anyone who suggested that they also be subject to such indignities) of the harmless burnout (as well as the casual user)? Will people become hopelessly addicted to marijuana? No. Will pot smokers be driven to crime as a means of supporting a habit? No. Will people die or get sick from an overdose of marijuana? No. Will a person under the influence of marijuana become violently aggressive? No. Will marijuana make one more inclined to drive recklessly? No. It has even been determined that marijuana users do not show a higher propensity for absenteeism, theft, or job-related accidents (as has been claimed by the companies which produce and market urinanalysis kits). So, even though public opinion clearly supports decriminalization, people continue to be attacked and kidnaped by government sponsored goon squads for the seemingly victimless crime of self-medication. If you possess contraband vegetative matter, you could conceivably be dragged from your home (or vehicle) by whatever force necessary, thrown into a dank cell, and indelibly branded as an incorrigible misfit (felon) who will henceforth be blacklisted (as well as red flagged and possibly even supervised or surveilled) by the court system and barred from engaging in most forms of employment that would provide one with a living wage. Basically, if you have made the choice to smoke a little weed in the privacy of your own home, the people running this country want to kill you! (An exaggeration? Consider the horrendously unsafe conditions non-violent offenders are now subject to in our enlightened nation's correctional facilities; and consider also the financial and psychological devastation directly linked to the stigma of a felony conviction.) If you smoke weed, the power elites have only two places in society for you — the workhouse or skid row — and the "machinery of justice" will grind you down, rendering you into a valueless and potentially harmful waste product which needs to be prevented from contaminating the mainstream.

Okay, now that my ranting is finished, let’s address why an essay on the decriminalization of marijuana should be included at this Warrior website:

1.) The laws, as they now stand, are grossly unjust and totally inappropriate for a society which allegedly places high value on personal freedom, and supposedly guarantees both the freedom from religious persecution (as well as a limited legal exemption for herbal sacraments) and the right to the "pursuit of happiness."

2.) People who are deathly ill are being denied a beneficial herb which has repeatedly been proven in unbiased scientific studies to significantly reduce their suffering. This is sadistic and evil.

3.) Marijuana has been recommended for relief from the following maladies (amongst others): nausea, lack of appetite, glaucoma, insomnia, muscular tension, constipation, menstrual cramps, migraine headaches, stress, depression, and asthma (however, contrary to what some of Jack Herer’s disciples would have us believe, it is not a panacea — a few ailments which marijuana can aggravate follows: stomach ulcers, respiratory infections, diarrhea, hypertension, and anxiety attacks). It is ethically reprehensible that the legitimate medicinal use of marijuana has been outlawed.

4.) Many folks on the Warrior Path (including soldiers, policemen, martial artists, emergency services personnel, bikers, and even gang members) use marijuana to calm their nerves and relax after another stressful day. Unlike alcohol, street drugs, or inhalants, marijuana cannot inadvertently kill you, scramble your brains, or make you flip out and start hurting innocent bystanders, nor, like commercial tobacco products (which are contaminated with pesticides, highly toxic "flavouring agents," and even trace amounts of radiation), will it induce fatal ailments like lung cancer or emphysema.   Its continued prohibition is wrong on so many different levels.

5.) When a Warrior sees injustice, it is his responsibility to speak the truth and call people’s attention to it in hopes of creating a change for the better, regardless of what others may think and how they might react. To ignore injustice is cowardly, and apathy only contributes to the problem.