Originally posted at Writeindependent.org on October 20, 2011
Marijuana – pot – Citizens Briefing Book
Before Obama made the transition to the White House, he sent an email to all the people who had signed up at his website called Change.gov to gather ideas from his constituents. I received an email like this through my Master Gardener contacts, and when I visited the Citizen’s Briefing Book, I too felt like Obama was actually going to “listen” to what the people had to say.
Unfortunately, the conversation on Citizen’s Briefing Book was dominated by people who wanted pot legalized. Not exactly the kind of thing that is rattling around in my brain, but okay: if you want to suggest it at writeindependent’s solution page, go right ahead.
People who smoke pot probably think that pot will save the world. I don’t think so. In fact, I doubt very much if selling/taxing or smoking pot is going to solve the job problem, the energy crisis, or reduce pollution over the long term. It might cause people to laugh a little more, drive slowly, eat more, or become lethargic! That’s been my experience with pot smokers, anyway. Live and let live, I say.
What I am afraid of, however, is that the people who smoke pot are a more prolix group of folks than, say, parents, about writing down their ideas for change. I want more people to care enough about what’s going on in other areas besides just the drug scene. If you care passionately about food, or water, or jobs, or taxes, or civil rights, don’t just sit there: write!