Homelessness and Legalization - An Observation

Just wrapped up an overdue visit and am sitting at the airport. It has been years since I been back home. I spent six days driving all over this state and two things have really struck me. The marijuana shops and the ranks of the homeless.

Now mind you, this old boy isn’t a prude and did a bit of experimenting as a young man. But I could smell this stuff everywhere. It was unavoidable, there are quite literally pot shops on every block and the aroma is just overwhelming and this doesn’t smell like the giggle stuff we had back in the 70’s. Marijuana was not legal last time I was home and this was quite the stark difference from my last visit.

I grew up in this state and we had a few homeless back in my day. This week I was accosted at every highway exit. These folks were quite bold and would approach our car at the exits. Holding a sign is one thing, but these folks were dangerously bold.

Now I don’t know if the two are related or not. But as I said, I did a bit of experimenting as a young man. One thing I do clearly remember is that being high was the antithesis of ambition and my home state was a lively and vigorous place prior to legalization…… I had a gut feel for the legalization issue before, however I didn’t have strong feelings until now and have just been convinced that legalized drugs are the foundation for decay in our cities and neighborhoods. Such a sad thing to see.

 

I always told my kids that if you find yourself getting high all of the time, you probably aren't doing much else. I believe that there was a study done, I can't remember where I saw it, that concluded that getting high replaced other "rewards" we think of like getting a paycheck. I don't believe that there is anything inherently wrong with cannabis but like alcohol, too much isn't a great life choice. One difference is that cannabis isn't physically addictive. Even if you get high every day, you could easily choose to quit without the physical effects of quitting things like alcohol, cigarettes, amphetamines, cocaine, or any number of other drugs.

I have never heard of a connection between homelessness and legal cannabis. On the contrary, some of the revenue that the states that have legalized cannabis has generated through taxes has been used to combat homelessness. I have seen zero difference in my state after several years of legal cannabis. You really wouldn't know anything was different from before legalization. The extra millions in tax revenues has funded several projects including homelessness.

One other benefit. My state doesn't spend as much time incarcerating people for petty cannabis possession and thus saves a ton of money by not housing people at tax payer expense.

 

MD, I’ve noticed the same things in OK the last couple of years. I travel through and work there often. I doubt this marijuana law will have a positive effect.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6913861/

 

Au contraire @JoeNation . . . marijuana is indeed addictive, although not as much so as other substances. The below linked articles all support that fact.

• https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0740547289900056
• https://www.healthline.com/health-news/marijuana-addiction-rare-but-real-072014
• https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/marijuana/marijuana-addictive
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6223748/

Perhaps more importantly, not only do they contradict the notion that pot isn't addictive, but they support claims that, in some cases, it leads to the abuse of substances of greater potency.

 

Once again, Progressive Liberalism's unproven claim of harmlessness leads us down the garden path . . .

 

Cherry pick much?

 

Generalize much? Overlook facts much?

 

Well…. Really this has been at the core of most of my messages here. But saying that runs the risk of being the old guy that resists change. And that isn’t what I am about at all really……. I truly believe that for all the bluster that goes on between the left and right, that either side truly believes they have this country’s best interests at heart. What we have lost in all the bluster is the ability to compromise. Now we are in the midst of a radical swing left and we find it to be less than ideal. In fact, we are trodding dangerous waters here…… Tome for my last connecting flight. Airports are no fun.

 

I don’t believe we are in the midst of a leftward swing, as a whole, in this country. The country is still very conservative. Left-wing radicals have taken over certain aspects of society (some parts of politics, some parts of education, some parts of media, etc.), but the majority of the country rejects the looney Left. In fact, the more the whacko liberals show their true colors, the more the populace rejects them. We are seeing an enormous rejection of the liberal ideology. Look at the fight against Critical Race Theory. Look at the fight against abortion. Look at states who have passed constitutional carry laws. Look at the rejection of biden’s immigration policies. The majority of people in this country simply DO NOT want this lunacy to continue. I am confident that the country will re-align to a more reasoned, conservative stance in November. People are sick of liberals like biden, Pelosi, AOC, the squad and all those other mentally-challenged losers.

 

What is more radical than a losing candidate trying to overturn an election?

But please, describe everyone else as radical if it makes you feel better about yourselves.

 

Oh, so now it's overturning an election instead of insurrection? I'm sure that will change back again.

Have mood swings much?

 

Overturning an election by fomenting an insurrection. It was implied. Sorry you couldn't follow. I'll dumb it down next time. Me no be mean.

 

Following you is no problem . . . I've grown used to you leaving things out .

 

You seem to believe that if you say the last dumb thing in a post, you win. That seems kind of....desperate.

 

I don't think there's anything radical about a candidate pursuing election integrity. It's the American way. HOWEVER, it's certainly radical for a losing candidate to spy on a duly-elected President of the United States. Insurrectionist, even.

 

It was a coup in search of a legal justification.

 

Funny, I don't think we take turns saying things in the same post . . . threads maybe, but not posts.

As for saying the last dumb thing in threads, my observation is that's what you're best at . . . once you've done that, we never see you in those threads again. I'm not saying you didn't know . . . just that you knew you were out of ammo.

 

Are you talking about Hillary's spying? Yes, she certainly attempted a coup and was trying to justify it legally. It didn't work out for her, though.