Wishing You A Happy Fourth Of July

This Fourth of July 2015 is indeed a ‘Fourth’ that

celebrates freedom in Oregon. Why? Last 

November “Oregon voters…overwhelmingly 

approved a measure to legalize recreational 

marijuana.”  The details of this new freedom are 

in the previous link to oregonlive.com. 

Marijuana became illegal in the U.S. in the first 

part of the 20th century as detailed in the 

Wikipedia entry here.  Ironically it was 

characterized by lawmakers as a poison.  Today 

it is recognized as a valuable medicinal asset as 

the video explains as well as being a much 

appreciated recreational intoxicant.

Like many public initiatives the road to 

criminalizing the marijuana user and the plant 

itself was accomplished with falsehood and 

deceit.  Using the time honored social means of 

"racism, fear, protection of corporate profits, 

yellow journalism, ignorant, incompetent, and/or 

corrupt legislators, personal career 

advancement and greed" as Drug WarRant.com reports.

Like so many policies and laws enacted during 

that time period marijuana laws had their feet 

planted firmly in good old American racist 

principles.  

Harry J. Anslinger is the poster child for the 

criminalization of marijuana and its users. He is 

credited with approaching the American people 

with fear driven information such as the following sentiments:  

1. “There are 100,000 total marijuana

smokers in the US, and most are Negroes

Hispanics, Filipinos, and entertainers. Their 

Satanic music, jazz, and swing, result from 

marijuana use. This marijuana causes white 

women to seek sexual relations with Negroes, 

entertainers, and any others.” 2.“Reefer makes 

darkies think they’re as good as white men.” 3. 

“Marihuana leads to pacifism and communist 

brainwashing” 4. “You smoke a joint and you’re 

likely to kill your brother.” 5. “Marijuana is the 

most violence-causing drug in the history of 

mankind.”

To help fan the anti-marijuana hysteria into a full 

blown inferno the film “Reefer Madness”  was 

produced in 1938. Today in the second decade 

of the 21^st century the film is viewed as a joke 

and often people will get  together for a party 

while getting stoned and watching the film. 

Today the film is seen for what it is, government 

sanctioned lies and social propaganda.  As such 

it is more like a Marx Brothers comedy than a 

film with seriously needed information.

Oregon is famous for its high quality marijuana according to the THEWEEDBLOG.  But it has rivals or superiors, some say, in Colorado, Washington and California.  Today the liberty to grow has produced a new generation of avid horticulturists and entrepreneurs who are continually breeding better and varied strains of marijuana.  Along with the beautiful plant itself and the pure joy of savoring its ability to turn the mood soft and happy there are a variety of edible marijuana products and some relatively new ones like ‘dabs’. Dabs are easy to fall in love with but they do make you cough lol.  The dab consists of the concentrated essence of the plant and is sometimes close to 100%THC.  A little dab will do you for the entire day.  Two will make you sit down and fall into a daydream and more may become unpleasant as the following article in Leafly warns. 

What all this means is that the Fourth of July in 

Oregon this year will offer some expanded 

areas of personal choice to anyone over the age of 21 within its borders.  People from outside the state are welcome to enjoy the herb and its associated products as long as they are within the borders of the state and of legal age. 

Perhaps this will open up a new tourism industry where people can come for the scenery and the herb. It seems like a perfect match. 

 Be here for the Fourth.