DiamondGirl said:

OOps, sorry...

virginie74 said:

Full of contradiction, hey ? I'd better read than quote from now...

Luv ya all.

virginie74 said:

^^^^^
Exhibit A






.
[Edited 11/20/05 14:46pm]

virginie74 said:

[Edited 11/20/05 14:47pm]

DiamondGirl said:

Hey Miss fence rider!! What side are you on anyway???

Terilicious said:

The "dont post when it's still obviously in your system" side

DiamondGirl said:

Oliver said:

So is oleander. Or mistletoe berries. Have some.

Jazz, blues, pop, rock, etc. musicians have long been associated with the "underside" of working-class society: gamblers, hookers, hustlers, junkies...
As we know, weed "reefer" has been lumped in with heroin and other actually dangerous drugs. If I read correctly, Prince had an issue with his mother (who was a musician herself at one point) because she didn't want him to become a member of this underside. I believe, demonizing weed has been a way for Prince to profess (to his internal ~mother~) that he's above all this...

Cannabis is easily demonized because 1. it's illegal (the arguments for this being the case are extremely circular -- the issue, I believe, is that recreational cannabis use threatens the profitability of other commodities the corporate powers have more control over... i.e. you can't just grow, pick off, dry and smoke Prozac© or alcoholic beverages...), and 2. because it’s so totally misunderstood and nonunderstood. There are really no proven health maladies associated with its use WHATSOEVER, no chemical addictions resulting in death by over dose, etc. but it MUST be ~BAD~ cuz... it's illegal... and musicians tend to be associated with it.... blah, blah, blah

It's unfortunate, IMHO, that Prince chooses to participates in this misinformation/scapegoating bullshit cliché when it comes to the stuff. Especially because of the many important positive uses of both medical cannabis use and hemp in general.

I used to smoke it every now and then in the late 1980s and early 1990s. I haven't touched it since 1994. I swear, I think somebody put some crack in it that night. I took two hits off a joint around 8 p.m. one evening and was extremely paranoid of everything. I was high until 8 p.m. the next night. I haven't touched it since.

Oliver said:

Makes sense to me!



Don't tell everyone else who is NOT black that God is Black because it may freak them out..
[Edited 11/20/05 21:45pm]

ludika said:

2 issues that i'd like to pick up on in this reasoning of ganja:

1) it's possible harmfulness
2) it's place within Rastafari

Firstly, the Bible totally condemns alcohol and the use of strong drink. Read Numbers 6:6 which includes the Vow of the Nazirite, and explains why Rastafari also wear the locks, like Jesus in his 1st dispensation.

The system as we know it is of and about death, and not life. All the political leaders, (the majority) benefit from the concept of death...in the policies, in the way they treat the masses. This includes the acceptance of alcohol as the legal mind-alterer.

We Rastafari are the only group in the world not afforded our right to practice our religion/culture. Why? Because there is a part of TRUTH which we are aware of, in our own unique way, which the powers that be do not want the nations of the earth to know. GANJA is deeply embedded in this truth.

There is also a saying that the wicked hate ganja and fear it. But the humble, who open their hearts, not only 2 the herb itself, but to the TRUTH that we Rastafari live, will OVERstand why it is illegal.

a) a block between ppl and GOD/JAH, as revealed in the holy texts.
b) end 2 wars over fuel
c) sustainable development of houses, in a cheaper way
d) cars can be built and run from the stuff
e) many diseases will cease. remember, it used 2 b sold in pharmacies

All of this is said in the spirit of LOVE...and not to condemn any1's perspectives.

Oliver said:

WOW Oliver, I have always been really interested in the Rastafari beliefs....is there a good website you could recommend other than the mainstream ones that is.....

I've always been pro-decriminalization, but I gotta say: there can be side-effects.
I smoked on and off for about 10 years (never a heavy "chuffer", as we call it, but at one point I got smashed about once a week or so). I'm pretty convinced it affected me psychologically: mild depression over a long period of time. I'm not saying the weed's to BLAME for my mental state - but i'm pretty convinved it had a negative influence (not usually at the time I was actually high, but overall and over time). I know others who have had bad experiences, severe paranoid episodes, and someone who was institutionalized. I also had friends who smoked daily and couldn't really get on top of their lives, till they stopped.
Now, b4 y'all jump, I've also got many more friends who've smoked casually or even daily for long periods of time with only positive effects. All I'm saying, is that it can have negative impact. I think it depends partly on lifestyle, attitude and the mental state of the person to begin with: maybe in Jamaica, noone goes psycho from a spliff, but we don't all live in the Carribean!!!

Zelaira said:

Actually, I love the smell of the weed. I do happen to think it's kinda sexy.

DiamondGirl said:

Stoned people are fun, and a joy to watch Ghostbusters with.

Drunk people just piss me off, and it's not much fun to be drunk myself. I rarely drink anymore, but I'll still smoke up from time to time.

NoTime2Hate said:

Maybe he watched Reefer Madness and took it seriously.

Oliver said:

-----
You can't be serious with your last statement. The world would be much screwed up then it already is if Potheads were running things. (LOL)

That being said people have right not to do drugs just like you have right to do him. To each his own. Besides maybe P had a bad experience with weed when he was growing up.

Terra, I wouldn't BRAG that I SMOKE POT. Being a POTHEAD ISN"T A TURN ON.... There is NOTHING WRONG with Going out and Having some Drinks with Friends after Work or at a Party or at a CLUB. What is WRONG with CHAMPAGNE? How much is your DRUG HABIT? COUGH..COUGH....

DiamondGirl said:

laurarichardson said:

Well, if you understand Rastafarian beliefs, they don't advocate using pot for recreational purposes. They believe it is a holy herb that helps alter the consciousness, bringing you closer to God. In other words, they believe it should be used for prayer and meditation, not to have a good time.

I think what Oliver is trying to say is that if more people used ganja for spiritual pursuits, then their minds would be open to God more, thus leading to an enlightment on this planet.

Oliver said:

just a correction...

synthetic drugs >>>> dangerous. Opium, Heroin, Cocaine >>> Come From Plants.
Ganja >> SAFE plant


LEGALIZE DA GANJA!

JediMaster said:

-----
I understand Rastafarian beliefs. I just do not agree with them. Drugs and alcohol are just a crutch for people who can't deal with life. When you come off your high your issues and problems are still here.

In addtion, I think P has some mental or emotional problems and I don't think weed is the answer to those types of problems.

Zelaira said:

Gee...a joint costs me 4 or 5 bucks, but a mickey of hard liquor costs 14 dollars.

laurarichardson said:

You could say the same about a person's job, or TV, or music, or a hobby, or extreme sports, or even religion. It all depends on the person. Some people use drugs and alcohol as an escape, but most don't.

wasitgood4u said:

None scientifically proven.

Where is it one is supposed to be in life, really? What really constitutes "getting on top of life?" As opposed to what? And what's the difference really? We all end up dead in the end.

It's simple. If you don't like weed then don't use it. Just don't perpetuate this unfortunate BS.

laurarichardson said:

Let me dissect the above perspective, with all due respect.

Firstly, I&I Rastafari do not have beliefs...to believe is to have room 4 doubt. We know what we know, in the same sense that a Christian knows their GOD.

Writing from Africa, as a lecturer w/ a Masters degree in English lit, I disagree w/ your link between ganja & its abuse as a crutch. Ganja, like any substance, may be abused.

This is why I&I say it must be used, properly, and the best ppl 2 administer it are we Rastafari and those with humble hearts.

Ganja is NOT 2 smoked by all. I agree. I maintain, though, that there is a truth which we Rastafari are aware of, that is linked 2 ganja whether you smoke it or not, that the system does not want the masses to be aware of.

PLEASE remember, before all these modern colonial laws came in2 effect, ganja was used 4 thousands of years in Africa and all over the world. It was part of LIFE. It's just that the powers that be want you 2 drink alcohol and smoke cigarettes and use other drugs until you die. Remember, heroin was pumped in2 the black ghettoes of the US for a purpose.

Even if you do not agree with Oliver, the Bible says, and God made herb bearing seed for the service of man, and He saw that it was good. WHY THE f*@+ing hell is ganja excluded?

I've said it before, I'll chant it again:

- new forms of fuel
- the re-introduction of herb in pharmacies as a medicine as it used 2 b
- new material for textiles (clothes,etc)
- building material

Most importantly though, people will acknowledge that part of TRUTH within Rastafari that is daily oppressed.

1love ya'll!

NoTime2Hate said:

Hey, don't b rude! I don't think u need 2 "get somewhere" in life. And mayb it was cool for these ppl 2 b where they were at the time. But where they were was was - unhealthy, in financial strife, unsatisfied with what they were doing, unproductive creatively, disorganized and confused. I don't know if they were "happy" or not, coz how do you judge that? They weren't necessarily miserable, and enjoyed being high, but they also showed signs of latent depression (I'm not a psychologist, so this is just based on my lay onservations). As I said in my original post, I'm not blaming the weed for any of this, other than as a contributing factor - I think it can have negative effects for people who r in a bad place. That doesn't mean it can't b great for others, and has no bearing on it's spiritual use in an integrated culture like the Rastafari.

So please, in future try to read posts carefully and respond to the actual content, and not just some simplistic surface.

wasitgood4u said:

Again I'm going to make the weed=religion analogy. Both can have negative effects on people who are in a bad place. Broad sweeping statements about the effect of either on the human mind cannot be made. Neither is intrinsically good or bad, it's the person and their actions that make it so.