MARIJUANA, MONEY AND MEDICINE

Money doesn't grow on trees; it grows on marijuana bushes.  --A marijuana cultivator

Marijuana is not a drug. It's like blue jeans -- just a part of life. --Teenage drug user

In almost 39 years of ministry I've had the opportunity to talk with some one million youth and their parents about the dangers of drug use, including marijuana. I've also seen the fight to legalize marijuana ebb and flow with the emergence of new generations of youth and young adults. Prodrug groups like NORML (National Organization for the Reformation Of Marijuana Laws) and Yes We Cannabis continue to do battle against parents and other concerned adults in their efforts to wear out civilized society and chemicalize our sons and daughters and grandsons and granddaughters.

MARIJUANA ISN'T HARMFUL

This was the first tactic the prodrug proponents used to deceive parents and youth. Of course, this tactic failed miserably, because we have known for a long time that marijuana is, indeed, a harmful drug. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the active ingredient in pot that results in its psychoactive and hallucenogenic properties. THC damages chromosomes, alters the female menstrual cycle and adversely affects the reproduction system. Male users produce a greater number of abnormally-shaped sperm and a lower sperm count. THC also damages the respiratory system, including the lungs. The immune system is also affected by pot use.

The above are just a few of THC's physical adverse effects on the body.

MARIJUANA IS MEDICINAL

The latest tactic used by the chemical gurus, paid pipers and mind merchants is promoting the idea that marijuana is a good medicine. No one wants to see a family member suffer chronic pain, and if a medicine can be found that alleviates pain and suffering, then this medicine should be rigorously tested, approved by the FDA and then prescribed safely and in a controlled manner -- just like all the rest of America's approved and available medications. So far, the FDA has concluded that marijuana isn't a beneficial medicine and is, indeed, a dangerous drug.

So why do so many marijuana users swear that the drug heals them of their ailments and painful symptoms?

If you ever used marijuana, you know the answer to the above question. Like any drug, marijuana numbs pain. But the real reason marijuana users say it helps with their pain is that the drug gets them high -- to the point that you don't care if you have that pain. Of course, once the high is gone, you have to toke a joint or two again...and again...and again.

TWO REASONS WHY ATTEMPTS ARE BEING MADE TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA

The number one reason is, of course, money, Like the quote above from the marijuana cultivator declares, money doesn't grow on trees; it grows on marijuana bushes. The second reason is, of course, marijuana users want their THC. They want their high. And they don't care that legalization will put all of America's gullible youth at risk.

A lot of youth are going to follow the chemical crowd when it says that marijuana is both legal and harmless. In fact, over one million American families will be hit by some type of drug problem for the first time this year. Marijuana use by kids will be one of  those drugs that slams into the family living room like a runaway vehicle.

DON'T THROW IN THE TOWEL

Kern County and the city of Bakersfield (California) are faced with a marijuana dilemma. In the coming months voters will probably be asked to approve or continue to ban marijuana collectives, which sell marijuana to medicinal marijuana users. Our Kern County Supervisors banned such "pharmacies" a month ago, and now the paid pipers, chemical gurus and mind merchants have succeeded in temporarily overriding the ordinance by collecting enough voter signatures to squash the ordinance for now.Our Board of Supervisors now face the decision to either repeal the ban entirely or take it to a special or general election in 2012.

I believe there are enough sane people in this county to keep marijuana collectives shut down for good. The attorney for the promarijuana people said that, if the ban was upheld, 300 people would lose their jobs. Do we really care that 300 "drug dealers" will lose their jobs? I hope not.

For these 300 drug dealers to lose their jobs and join the legal economy by getting ligitimate jobs is a good and moral thing for our county. As for the marijuana users who consider pot a medicine, there are other legal and sanctioned medicines they can use instead -- even though they swear these other drugs don't help. The truth is, they simply want their THC.

In the coming months, remember to keep your Kern County Supervisors in prayer as the medicinal marijuana controversy comes to a head and we either throw in the towel or fight this drug battle to its end.