I read a story from The Vancouver Sun this morning about a few issues smokers and non-smokers have with the current state of the law on medical marijuana use, and when and where one may smoke up.

Actually I got it from High Times, but they took it from TVS so I thought they deserve a link.

Basically, the anti people restrictions on where someone may smoke marijuana, and the pro folk see this as another barrier between them and their rights.

Seriously?

You Get What You Ask For

In almost any given article asking for the legalization of marijuana, another drug is often pulled into the picture; alcohol.

We always tell of how dangerous alcohol is in comparison to marijuana. We feel that we should have the same rights over our own bodies as those who like to get drunk.

And we should.

But have we forgotten about the restrictions on drinking alcohol? We can’t have open containers in public (at least here in the U.S.), we can’t drive while drunk and we can’t show up to work in an incapacitated state.

So when we are told that we can’t smoke a joint in a public park (one of the examples in the above article), we bitch and complain about it? Does that make sense?

Don’t Be A Dick

In thinking about alcohol and the right to do to your own body as you see fit, let’s talk about one major difference. Alcohol doesn’t have a negative impact on the people around you; unless you jump into a car, but that’s a different problem.

Smoking does. I’ve smoked cigarettes like a chimney since I was 15 (about one half of my life). I know they smell and taste like crap. I like the right I have to smoke as I see fit, but I respect my fellow man too much to smoke in his face simply because I want to.

So what’s the difference with marijuana? Just because you like it, doesn’t mean everyone else does. I love the idea of getting high and spending a few hours at a park to enjoy God’s creations. So, do it before you go.

I can’t think of a justifiable reason to impose my smoking on the other people who would also like to enjoy the same park.

Plenty Of Time

To the dismay and disbelief of the anti-marijuana crowd, most of the people who use for medicinal purposes are genuinely in pain. I can appreciate that.

For 2 year prior and leading up to my mother’s death from cancer, I was there every day. I know first hand the impact that this shit disease has on people. And don’t get me started on the “treatments.”

She felt horrible all day, every day.

That being said, the effects of even decent weed can last from 2 to 4 hours, and more with the good stuff. So I ask, if you are in that much pain what the hell are you doing in public that lasts so long to require another toke?

I know. I know. Things happen and you have to accommodate life sometimes. But I don’t know of a dispensary that doesn’t offer some sort of consumable THC product.

If yours doesn’t, there are just under a hogillion (fake, exaggerated measurement of amount for drama purposes) websites that will show you just how to make the brownies or pills or any number of other treats at your own home.

Either way, you don’t have to smoke it.

Hypocrisy

At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter how you cut it. Gripes like this are hypocritical. We complain all too often of the freedom-preventing laws imposed by people who disagree with us.

We hate that we aren’t allowed to do something simply because someone else doesn’t want to, regardless of the lack of impact it has on others. We want freedom over our own bodies.

So why would we in turn impose our beliefs on those around us?

Instead, continue the fight for freedom and liberties, but respect your fellow bipeds.

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