Gay Today: Viewpoint

Legalize Marijuana

By David Williams
Editor, The Letter

As a former and still occasional devotee of the weed, I've often wondered what all the fuss over marijuana is about. No alcoholic drink has ever equaled the pleasurable feelings I've attained after taking a few tokes of reefer. If something this good is banned, I figure there must be some political, corporate, or church lady reason behind this all-American delight.

A protester speaks out for the legalization of Marijuana at the Heart of Beast May Day Festival

Besides its mellowing effects, marijuana has many therapeutic qualities. I've seen more than one man with AIDS light up a fat one and immediately feel a soothing of pain. My late lover was one of them. His doctor tacitly approved, though I'm still amused at the way s/he danced coyly around the issue (I'm sure s/he worried about losing his/her license to practice).

I've personally benefited in several ways. One time it helped me work back to a buried childhood memory. More often it's helped my creativity (all joking aside). Occasionally it's given me a heightened spirituality reaching into ecstasy. Some of my most spiritual moments have occurred while I was on a mellow high, listening to sitar music, and making love.

For the first 150 years of our history, Americans could light up a joint at will and fear no penalty or prison time. It took the Great Depression to turn what was once an enjoyable, everyday experience into a furtive sin. St. Paul knew all about that process.

Our current anti-marijuana laws are tainted with racism. Up until the 30s, marijuana was used almost exclusively by African-Americans. Louis Armstrong and numerous early jazz men were avid smokers. But as the depression deepened, lawmakers across the country feared unrest among that population. Believing the myth of "reefer madness," they eventually banned its use in all 48 states.

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Vaporizers for Medical Marijuana

Related Sites:
The Letter

National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws

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Now, of course, the anti-marijuana laws mesh nicely with the stranglehold the giant pharmaceutical companies have on this country. Attempt to legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes, as nine states have done, and you'll get the weight of the entire Supreme Court down on you. Corporate money talks loudest.

The fight for legalization needs to continue. Elimination of those antiquated laws is long past due. There are too many medical, artistic, social, and religious benefits from that simple, miracle plant to keep it squelched. I fully support efforts to legalize marijuana and encourage activists to continue their efforts through education and lobbying. I also support continuation of laws that penalize those who abuse the drug to the point of endangering others, such as while driving.

Openly-gay Rep. Barney Frank speaks at a convention of NORML, a group pushing the legalization of marijuana

Until that sunny day of legalization dawns, I'm not going to worry a whole hell of a lot if you decide to light one up. I'll worry only if you make it the main focus of your life. Whether you're suffering from pain, or seeking enlightenment, or just wanting to get high and act stupid, I can't think of anything better. I say, if it was good enough for Satchmo, it's good enough for the rest of us. Just don't bogart it. Is it 4:20 yet?

David Williams, Editor of The Letter is speaking for himself and not his newspaper