When Laws Are Based Upon Lies

Last November, Oregonians voted to legalize cannabis. Our medical law has been in place since 1998, and we finally took that last step to live in truth about a plant that has been demonized and lied about for far too long. Voters in Oregon looked at the facts, ignored the propaganda, and voted to bring sense back to this issue. And now our Governor is asking for changes that apparently are prohibited in this new law. The writers had the sense to think ahead.

Cannabis activists are well aware of how propaganda can shape the public’s viewpoint, so the authors of the measure put some safeguards in the new law to prevent legislators from dismantling it to the point that it’s no longer recognizable to the voters who voted for it. Because if past if prologue, that’s exactly what’s about to happen in Oregon. A listening tour is occurring, whatever that is, that’s supposed to get input from local areas for when they craft the final rules. I hope they remember to follow the law when they do this, and not be swayed by those in the state who want to re-litigate the vote. Legalization passed. Get over it.

It always strikes me as odd that people get so upset when they’ve been lied to about something, but where cannabis is concerned, not so much. They’re willing to believe lies instead of taking a moment to look at the research. Even Sanjay Gupta has done two documentaries on cannabis and not only changed his mind about the safety and efficacy of the plant, but has also come out publicly with an apology for his past views on it. He’s a brain surgeon for pity’s sake. If that man can have a change of heart, surely the rest of the population can give this a more critical view than we have in the past.

I know from personal experience that cannabis is safe to use. It put me into clinical remission with my RA, something the drugs never did. My life is so different now, actually better than before I became ill. At 57, even with all the damage from it, I’m healthier living with RA now than I was prior to the onset of my illness. I walk eight miles almost every day, sometimes it’s six miles, and occasionally two, depending upon how my knee is doing, but more often than not, it’s the full eight. Using cannabis hasn’t exactly made me lazy, in fact, it’s done the opposite. I have my life back. And that wouldn’t have happened without becoming a cannabis patient nearly five years ago. So let go of the argument that cannabis makes a person lazy, stupid, grow man boobs, and all the rest of the nonsense that gets thrown out there. It’s insulting. To everyone.

The fact is, there’s not much that cannabis can’t treat. This CBD only legislation that we’re seeing now in states isn’t enough. Live in truth. All of it. Not just what you deem palatable. We need the whole plant, not what Big Pharma will ultimately do to this plant when they get their hands on it. I can do more for myself in my kitchen than any pharmaceutical company can do for me. And so can anyone else. And it’s time we all valued our health enough to do just that.

Whether you smoke, vape, make and use tincture, capsules, oil, or ingest cannabis in raw form, cannabis will improve your health. We all have an endocannabinoid system in our bodies with receptors throughout that are just waiting to interact with the cannabinoids in cannabis, ready to bring health and stasis to our bodies. Cannabinoids already naturally occur in breast milk, and aid in protecting the baby during infancy. In fact, they are required for proper development.

The science is there, folks. We just need to see it with a fresh, undoctrinated perspective. And when we do, don’t be surprised if the next feeling we have is anger. Because people have suffered and died for this lie, lives ruined from unnecessary, lengthy and cruel incarcerations. A lie designed only to increase profits for a chosen few at the expense of the rest of us. Can you imagine the relief parents feel when they see their child who once, prior to using cannabis tincture, suffered from endless seizures suddenly no longer have them? Can you imagine watching your child with autism who experiences bouts of violent rage become calm? Can you imagine how Brave Mykayla’s parents felt, watching their precious child become so ill with cancer, and then go into remission almost immediately after using cannabis oil? She’s alive today, thriving, healthy. The American Academy of Pediatrics just requested that the Feds reschedule cannabis so that research can continue without federal interference. Even they comprehend the facts. Yet in spite of some intelligent thought out there in the medical community, we have a Governor, a doctor no less, who continues to express concern for the safety of children as a basis for modifying the new voter approved law. The legislature had its chance before this to legalize, but they chose not to do that. Maybe the Governor should sit down with Brave Mykayla and her family and have a conversation about her journey back to health. Get some facts before irritating the very voters that re-elected him to a fourth term. Stop assuming we’re the stereotypic stoners who only live to get high when we’re nothing of the sort. We’re educated, intelligent, pro-active, and unwilling to live this lie anymore.

I encourage our Governor to support rather than hinder the new legalization law, irrespective of his personal opinions on the subject. He’s a doctor, so theoretically he should be willing to look at facts surrounding our health. We won’t get there if he supports those who want to find ways to circumvent the new law, in effect, preventing it’s proper implementation. We voted yes. Now implement the law, without judgment, without manipulation, without circumvention. Otherwise, our vote means nothing. And given that legalization received more votes than the Governor did, you’d think he’d want to respect that.