Are We Hurting Our Own Cause?

I'm talking about legalization.

My husband and I were discussing it earlier today, and he said something about how great it would be if Texas changed their laws just like 14 other U.S. States already have. While that would be awesome, the goal in my mind is for the medicinal and recreational use of marijuana to be legal in all of the United States.

He worries that if it is legalized across the U.S., that corporations will take over. Pharmaceutical companies could put their TONS of money into research and development, create new medications yielding some of the most beneficial effects of marijuana, and make it really expensive for medical consumers. I'm not going to say it isn't a possibility - it is, especially if it's only legal for medicinal use. Alternately, cigarette companies could manufacture marijuana cigarettes and make a killing. After all, how easy would it be to buy a pack of pre-rolled joints? 

Even if pharmaceutical companies developed some magic pill, I could still grow in my own house - right? And if cigarette companies made pre-rolled joints, I think I would still prefer to hit a bong. I think many other smokers would want the same. But that's just my hope, I guess. 

The reason that all of this concerns him is that if it's legalized in Texas, we are planning to open a dispensary. That, of course, means we'd be making some money... So his fear of big corporations taking over is his reason for wanting legalization to be limited... because if they take over, we won't make the money we would probably make if they don't want anything to do with it.

I was shocked to find that he held these views, and it opened my eyes to the fact that there are likely tons of people who use, produce and sell marijuana and related products that are against legalization. Breeders, growers, dealers, grow shop owners, head shop owners, all kinds of people stand to lose a lot of money if corporations want to delve into this. So now, I wonder if we're hurting our own cause for fear of losing out on monetary gain.

But what about this: we live in America, land of the free. This is a totally non-harmful, even helpful substance, and if we get caught with it - our lives can quickly be ruined. There is no relevant reason for marijuana to be illegal, and yet it is. If it were legal, our country would be in a much better situation right now. I would be in a much better situation right now.

I think we're making great progress, though. Hopefully I'm right!

Family and Marijuana

*I am not high right now*

So, I recently came out of the stoner closet. Well, I guess a lot of people already knew, my sisters and my close friends have known since the beginning (almost two years ago). I came out to my dad though. He actually didn't seem to be bothered by it, he agrees that it's not dangerous and that its much safer than things like alcohol and tobacco. After telling him, I felt really good. Weight off my shoulders...

He told my mom, which I don't mind at all because I was honestly a bit scared to talk to her about it. So, now she knows - and I don't really know how she feels about it. My dad acted like she didn't say much, but I feel like she's mad at me. She doesn't seem as interested in talking to me as she usually does, phone conversations are short and right to the point. I know it shouldn't really matter that much, after all - I'm 24 years old, married, and I live half an hour away from her... But she's my mom. No matter what, I hate disappointing her. It feels like I'm 15 again, and not in a good way.

Did you come out of the stoner closet? If so, what happened?