"Most of the conversation surrounding the legalization of marijuana centers on the business aspect and the personal freedom aspect. We don’t tend to talk about the ways in which massive pot farms are affecting the environment."
https://www.nbcnews.com/video/is-your-weed-killing-the-environment-1207304259983
EARTH FIRST UNITE! Calling all environmentalist! Stop smoking your weed and save the owls like you did in the “good old days”. Let’s see how environmental you’ll be when it directly effects your life. Put down your pipes and save those owls! Not likely........,
ReplyDeleteTo be fair, many conservatives and ranchers have also sold out to the green rush.
DeleteThe mighty dollar can make a lot of people do things they never thought they would. When we were heading towards legalization, a ton of money was dangled in front of some long time ranching families. Their property was suddenly worth more, than the history of many generations living and working their land. I’m not saying I would do any different, but the money was there’s to take, and almost everyone was scurrying around to gobble it up. Conservatives, liberals, anyone with money, have been buying, and almost everyone has a price. Now the true price of the “green rush” is starting to come out. All of those pollutants are beginning to effect the environment. We’ve heard about the decrepit grows and the permitting and the lack of enforcement of the regulations. Will the same environmental rules be upheld as they were when the logging industry was destroyed? Will there be people who passionately care for the environment, step up again to protect the endangered species if it means going against the peaceful, harmless plant “we all love and need”?
ReplyDeleteNo, they won't. And the few that are speaking up are already seeing that greed rules. The other thing that no one is talking about is how many people who thought they were going to make all this money are getting a reality check. What goes around comes around. Organizations that sued the logging industry will sue this cash cow too. It is just a matter of time. California has to get their tax fix somehow. For a state that goes on and on about environment and overregulation for other businesses, Californians are hypocrites when it comes to the cost of growing wine and weed and the water used. Let's conserve with showers and flushing toilets but any amount of water is okay so people can get drunk and high.Californians are also hypocrites when it comes to the health effects of tobacco and weed smoke. But freak out about perfumes and colognes. Perfumes and colognes dont cause second hand smoke and people are also allergic to weed. It's the intolerance, inconsideration and greed I have a problem with and not everyone is guilty of what we are talking about but those that are will be pissed at the truth. The biggest hypocrites are the local Catholics and Christians smoking it and making money off it while condemning "homosexuals", people who divorce and all the others they consider less perfect and the tithes with weed money.
DeleteHang on. I’ve got a Sunday rant coming on...
ReplyDeletePart 1
Legalization and 215
The vote to legalize weed has had a real backlash for 215 patients. Granted the 215 system is very broke and there are people who have no medical condition at all, strolling into dispensaries and walking out with loads of high grade pot. There are, however, legitimate patients who have found CDB’s or THC to be the ONLY thing that works for pain, nausea, etc. When weed was legalized the game changed. Now everyone with, or needing a 215, must fill out an application and get a physician’s order, sign a medical records release, and then apply through the Public Health Department. There is a non-refundable fee of $100.00 ($50.00 for Medi-Cal) and you have to renew this every year.
This can cause an additional financial hardship.
Part 2
ReplyDeleteMedical weed is not covered by any health plan even when prescribed by a physician. The majority of patients using weed are no longer able to work due to their medical conditions, and are on permanent disability. Now the have the price of the weed (which has increased) plus these additional charges. Physicians are more wary to write a prescription, and for good reason. While weed is legal in the State, it is still a Federal crime and with this new process the DEA will have access to who is prescribing and who is using it. That can potentially be a BIG problem if the DEA decides to investigate. 215’s in the past we’re written prescriptions, just handled locally. Now, not so much.
Part 3
ReplyDeleteSo, what does it matter? Everyone can just buy it, it’s legal now. Well, it does matter because a 215 allows a patient access to different edibles, which may be the only thing that work for them. If someone has cancer, many times an edible is the only way a patient can use weed for pain and nausea. Patients with neuropathic pain, who don’t or can’t smoke weed, use edibles. The list goes on and on.
*Of note, a person who uses weed as medication is not getting high AF, that’s not their goal. In fact, this is a good indicator to help differentiate between a patient and a stoner.
Part 4
ReplyDeleteSo the big kicker for a 215 patient. Legalization has created a huge tax monster. It has been said that the tax on weed locally is heading towards 20%. If you have a new Public Health 215, you get your higher priced weed, tax free. It’s really a no win situation. Even if you pay for the new 215, and you don’t pay the tax, the prices have increased to meet the new glory days of the green rush at the dispensaries as well.
There are a lot of victims of the green rush and everyone has their hands in the “pot”. The land is being polluted, the wildlife is dying, and even the humans are suffering. One question I have is, with all of those toxic substances being used to grow this gold, what is in the actual plant? What makes the plant safe for human consumption when it’s grown in poison?
I’m on a roll tonight.
ReplyDeletePart 5
I needed a break before I wrote about religion.
I personally don’t “practice” a religion. People know where I stand on issues and I’m horrible at double talk and double standards. If that offends you, you’d better stop reading here because you probably won’t like what I have to say. That’s OK though, I won’t judge you either way. Everyone has a choice to live and let live.
I personally believe people should live a truthful and kind life. I do good things because it makes me feel good, not because I need recognition. I give of myself because it gives me pleasure and a purpose. I do them as a humanitarian not because an organization says I must, or for how it will “look” to others. If there is a Heaven, I’m pretty sure I will be there, and that’s cool. If not, I still have the opportunity to do the right thing and get personal gratification. One thing I am certain about, if there is a Heaven, I can honestly say that not every “good Christian” I’ve met along my journey, will be there with me.
The people who go to Church and feel that they are better than others, are bigots. We are all Brothers and Sisters, right? Wasn’t it Jesus that said we should love one another? I’m fairly certain he didn’t mean that you should only love those who agree with you or that meet your social expectations. Many “Christians” take it upon themselves to enforce the good book’s “rules” but mold those “rules” to suit their agenda.
I believe the “good book” says you should treat your body as a holy vessel, never consuming unhealthy food or drink. Do you eat items with sugar, caffeine, etc.? Have you been gluttonous from time to time? Does that fall under a loophole in the rule book? In this day and age, much of our food is grown with chemicals. Oh, how would you like your coffee today? Sure, organic is available, but do you cleanse your vessel, your clothes, your house with 100% organic products? If you truly practice your faith? It’s all or nothing right? You can’t be a “sometimes Christian”. Don’t worry, there is a loophole for everything, so your good Christian standing will remain intact. Christians can justify almost anything. It doesn’t matter what you really think or do as long as you “show” well. You talk the talk but don’t walk the walk. There is a lot of selective Christianity.
Majestic, I have indulged you quite a bit today. The comment section is not personal therapy. There is not going to be a part 6 or part 7. This has now happened more than once. You are someone who comments regularly but of late, these rants and repeated late nights are out of control. If I get anymore late night rants tonight, I will have to block you. Your choice.
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