cannabisnews.com: For Potheads, a Cue from My Gourd Garden For Potheads, a Cue from My Gourd Garden Posted by FoM on October 15, 2001 at 08:41:56 PT By John Douglas Source: Grand Rapids Press I think I know how they felt. I can identify with those people of Kent County who had a bumper crop and then had people come in and destroy those crops. I know how they felt because over the last two summers I have become a gardener at one of those public lots that are divided up for folks who don't have space for a garden where they live. I know how you come to feel pride and wonder about how your little seeds grow to produce such abundance. My wife and I are probably proudest of our gourds coming from vines we have watched over for the entire summer. All sizes and shapes have emerged and over the winter they will be prepared to eventually become art projects and, perhaps, even utilitarian devices like dippers.We are also pretty proud of our broomcorn, which will also become something either utilitarian or creative. The beets we planted for red dye also were wonderful.But the point is that it is difficult to endure when someone comes along and destroys your efforts. We lost some gourds to low-life thieves and I know that others in the garden also suffered under the hands of those who like to reap a harvest from someone's else's efforts.Of course, the garden destroyers I was talking about in the beginning of this column are the police. The gardens they are destroying are the bumper crops of marijuana that have been found growing hither and yon over the county. When finding these illegal gardens, the police come along and pull them out by the roots which is certainly the proper thing to do under our laws.But as a gardener I have to feel the pain of those nameless gardeners who work has been destroyed.Now you all know that I have no great love for drug dealers or even recreational drug users, especially in these times when we need all of our resources to fight the fanatics. Druggies and dealers, including potheads and their sleazy dealers, are a constant drain on our community and our nation.Having said that, I find that having a law against growing plants seems a little odd on the face of it. After all, you can make illegal corn whiskey out of corn but corn growing isn't illegal. Neither is barley as far as I know.It is my understanding that hemp could be used for a lot of things besides becoming a crutch for the unimaginative who have to be doped up to exist. Potheads, in their literature of choice, like High Times, make a big thing out of this fact that hemp can be utilitarian as they try to legalize their drug of choice. They never fooled me for an instant. They don't care about making better rope unless they can find a way to smoke it.In spite of the pitiful pothead subterfuge, I see no reason that we should not be able to develop those kinds of uses for marijuana, including any medicinal applications that might exist.I am not so naive that I don't understand that if there were lots of marijuana plants growing hither and yon, people would take advantage of the situation. They might even stoop to stealing, plus I am aware that there will be people who sell it for illegal purposes. Apparently there will always be criminals in a free society, which is too bad because criminals make life a little more difficult for the rest of us -- not that they care much about that. At the very least, the criminal tendencies of potheads are keeping the rest of us from a lot of good, strong rope.If the growers of marijuana in Kent County are feeling bad about their losses at the hands of the police, then perhaps I can suggest gourds. Even with the thieves that prey on us from time to time, there is still a better chance of reaping the rewards of your efforts with gourds.Source: Grand Rapids Press (MI)Author: John DouglasPublished: Sunday, October 14, 2001Copyright: 2001 Grand Rapids PressWebsite: http://www.gr.mlive.com/Contact: pulse ccmail.gr-press.comCannabisNews Articles - Cannabishttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml END SNIP --> Snipped Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #3 posted by aocp on October 15, 2001 at 19:13:23 PT I just couldn't resist... This guy is ... out of his gourd!!!I crack myself up sometimes. Annnyyyywaaayyyy...Now you all know that I have no great love for drug dealers or even recreational drug users, especially in these times when we need all of our resources to fight the fanatics. Druggies and dealers, including potheads and their sleazy dealers, are a constant drain on our community and our nation.He's right, you know? We do need all our resources, so maybe we could use the National Guard to protect us from terrorists instead up pulling up ditchweed, yes? I'd say a more consistent drain on our nation is also the above. Or am i just an illiterate pothead with no direction, let alone an imagination?They might even stoop to stealing, plus I am aware that there will be people who sell it for illegal purposes.This guy is what my circle calls, "clueless". We're not all so flatlined as he in Michigan. Stealing wouldn't be necessary if it were legally regulated by the gov't, rather than criminals. You wouldn't sell it for illegal purporses if there were no profit margin that the black market offers so lucratively, by definition, would you?Geez, for an example, walk 2 blocks from my apartment and find all the booze shops you can chug. Do you see any gov't-approved price hikes coming from there going into the willing coffers of criminals? In fact, i bet the gov't is even getting a cut from the business, yes? And i ain't talkin' no forfeiture. All to supply what you so would so gallantly call "drunks" by way of their "sleazy dealers". [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by loki42 on October 15, 2001 at 11:08:48 PT RE:Ignorance in Grand Rapids I take offence at his remark,” the criminal tendencies of potheads ". We are rebels, not criminals. And if the gentleman would realize the folly of government regulation of morality he might not have said, "Druggies and dealers, including potheads and their sleazy dealers, are a constant drain on our community and our nation.” just legalize and tax it. It doesn't take a PHD to figure that out. Is this country really populated with ignorant and uncaring people? While these urban gardeners play on their free postage stamp sized plot somewhere, growing gourds to play with, pointing fingers at hungry people, what hope is their for this country? I guess I just have a different definition of the word sleazy. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by greenfox on October 15, 2001 at 09:03:46 PT This is crap! Why is it that antis are so fond of contridicting themselves? It seems odd to me that he can cry about people stealing HIS plants, and then hold sympathy for people ... hmm I dont know. it's CRAP that's what I know. This man has probably never grown a dope plant in his life. WHAT DOES HE KNOW? :)-gf [ Post Comment ] Post Comment