Lately in our country, there has been a major push to legalize all kinds of formally banned substances and practices, in order to increase government revenue. The latest has been marijuana, with Massachusetts recently allowing heavily regulated businesses to sell over-priced recreational cannabis to consumers.
The stinky weed, can now be lawfully purchased in Massachusetts, although it would still be illegal to bring across state lines under federal law or possess in New York, at least for now. That’s expected to change. But just because something is lawful, does it mean one should smoke it? I say no.
For one, legal pot in Massachusetts is still very expensive for what you get. A joint or maybe two small ones, which is about a gram for $15-20 is pretty expensive. Even in a high-tax state like New York, a pack of 20-good quality regular cigarettes is less then that. Maybe only a few puffs is necessary for a non-user to get it’s mind-bending effects, but it’s still incredibly stinky nasty stuff, that certainly is no more healthy then smoking cigarettes. I know I’m not willing to spend that kind of money to just burn up.
I concede a drag on a regular cigarette or pint of beer once and while, isn’t the greatest expense ever. When the national ban on marijuana comes to an end, maybe prices will fall lower. That will be bad for people who abuse pot and consume large quantities of it, but it also might make it more affordable and in the reach of the rest of us.
Even with cheaper, legal pot, I really doubt I would ever smoke much. I don’t need the high from drugs, I don’t need the cost. But I think it might be fun on a long weekend, camping up in the wilderness, to have a toke or two. It might open my mind up to new experiences, find a new sense of relaxation. I’m certainly not rushing out to buy cannabis products at currentprices but it’s something I’ll continue to monitor as the laws change.
uring the early period of the Cold War, the CIA became convinced that communists had discovered a drug or technique that would allow them to control human minds. In response, the CIA began its own secret program, called MK-ULTRA, to search for a mind control drug that could be weaponized against enemies.
MK-ULTRA, which operated from the 1950s until the early '60s, was created and run by a chemist named Sidney Gottlieb. Journalist Stephen Kinzer, who spent several years investigating the program, calls the operation the "most sustained search in history for techniques of mind control."
MONTPELIER, Vt. — Cannabis plants were found in Statehouse flower beds earlier this week.
he Chief of Capitol Police, Matthew Romei, says the plants were discovered on Monday where a visitor noticed the plants in the flower beds. Romei suspects the plants are either hemp or marijuana. He has no plans to do any further testing. He says around 33 immature plants were discovered, and if more are found they will be removed. Romei says he does not know who is responsible and does not plan to exhaust any resources to take legal action.
Agriculture is big business in Vermont. A growing business, one where they are expanding into new crops, everywhere.
I’m looking forward to cannabis becoming legalized in New York – most likely next year. I think it would be nice to have a safe and legal source for cannabis and smoking a little of it occasionally while camping in the wilderness.
Not a lot but maybe a little, as a special treat relaxed next to the campfire after a long week at work. Like with alcohol, I would never consume it at home but just as special treat when I’m away from it all, relaxed and enjoying a night in the wilderness where the pungent odor won’t bother no one.
The generic drug boom began in the mid-1980s, when pharmaceutical giants such as Pfizer dominated the market. In response to rising costs and complaints over the influence of "big Pharma," Congress unanimously passed the Hatch-Waxman Act in 1984, which created a new regulatory track for generic drugs. As long as generic manufacturers could prove their drugs were bioequivalent to brand-name drugs, meaning they acted similarly in the body, they could get approved. It was a boon for generic drugmakers, and in principle for the American public, allowing market competition to yield less expensive but equivalent drugs. Bottle of Lies Bottle of Lies The Inside Story of the Generic Drug Boom by Katherine Eban Hardcover, 482 pages purchase But according to Eban, parts of the law incentivized speed over quality. Its "first-to-file" rule granted whichever company filed its FDA application first exclusive rights to sell its version of the generic drug for six months, at near brand-level prices, before competitors could enter the market. According to Eban's reporting, this created a Wild West environment, where being first mattered more than getting it right.
A record number of Americans have died from opioid overdoses in recent years. But how did we get here? And is this the first time Americans have faced this crisis? The short answer: no. Three stories of opioids that have plagued Americans for more than 150 years.
