June 3, 2016
For many years I have believed that cannabis is more ideally suited to tropical island culture — where all you need to do is catch a fish each day and gather some bananas and coconuts. I never saw how IT fit into an industrialized/technological society…
…but I have a funny feeling that California will be legalizing marijuana this coming November 7th, and, with the legalization of wacky tabacky we will most certainly be presented a double-edged sword: with both benefits and negative repercussions for Californians (and anyone currently involved in the businesses of growing and selling).
I have already gone on record in The Doctor\’s Inn — suggesting that California shouldn\’t legalize dope, because 1-out-of-every-8-Americans is a Californian, and, the social cost of having myriad stoners around might be too much for our economy to bear (what with increased car accidents, job-related accidents, and those stupid acts that seem easier to perform under the influence). But after hearing what legalization has done for the economies of Colorado, Washington, Alaska and Oregon — I\’m thinking that legalizing weed will bump California\’s GNP back up to #5 (from #8) in the world: not to forget that US is #1 or #2…
I often tell my students that we are fortunate here in California — because everyone wants to live in the Golden State — where dreams can be realized on our beaches, in our forests, and, high atop our mountains (besides, it\’s still the home of Hollywierd and everyone wants to be a star). Even as we approach a population of 50 million, there is plenty of room for more (look at what Japan does with their 50 million). Yep, grass should keep our economy buzzing along (as long as US doesn\’t look for a bailout).
We\’ve also got a leg up on the matter of commercializing Mary Jane! With our own Humboldt County perfecting the art of ganja cultivation for many years now (with the same fervor we employ to our wines), our State products should be top sellers when they hit the streets and earn top honors in international smoke-out competitions.
This of course will cause the cartels to begin doing business in less violent fashion (elsewhere I have pondered the senseless deaths of over 30,000 Mexican civilians). And while this tragedy was/is horrific — I\’m pretty sure that capitalism will merely push on and we will see the more positive sides of the Latin, Central and South American products and enjoy cool weed advertising along the lines of Corona and Dos Equis.
Which now has me realizing the impact legalization will have on advertising agencies and Hollywierd! Folks like myself could easily hawk pot (since everyone has traditionally believed [and many still believe]) that I am buzzed all-the-time (like my Farmer Giles namesake). Plenty of Johnny Fever types could land jobs promoting the stuff.
Yep, legalizing it should make for high, but prosperous times!