What is wrong with a Little Grass?

In his song “I shot the sheriff“, Bob Marley shot the sheriff but did not shoot the deputy. All around in his home town, they were trying to track him down. Trying to bring him in guilty, for the life of a deputy. He admitted shooting the sheriff, but said it was in self defense. He said Sheriff John Brown always hated him. For what? Every time Bob planted a seed, the Sheriff said “kill it before it grows” and so he shot the sheriff but swore that he did not shoot the deputy. What seed was Bob Marley trying to plant? Why was Sheriff John Brown and governments world over against that same seed?

Marijuana (Grass) Smoking

Bob Marley was a Rastafarian. Rastafarians believe in smoking weed for spiritual reasons. They believe in the sacramental use of cannabis and believe that getting high is way of spiritually connecting with God. Marijuana is one of the Pillars of the Rastafarian faith and is seen as a way of being in fellowship with fellow men and Jah (God).

Other names for Marijuana are: Bhang, Mary Jane, BC bud, Boza, Ganja, Indo, Kindbud, Ishence, Homegrown, Shake, Acapulco gold, Sleng teng, Sinsemilla, Cashi, Collie, Chronic, Blunt, Locoweed, Sensi, Green goddess,  Green, Weed, Cannabis, leaf, Indica, Cheeba, Reefer, Grass, Spliff, THC, Bud, Pot, Herb, Wisdom Weed, KGB (killer green bud), 13, Hydro, Smoke, Kaya, Buddha, Thai, Kona Gold, Hash, Maui wowie, Wacky tabacky, Dope, Skunk and 420. I feel like I could add a few new names of my own but the list is long enough.

In Kenya, smoking marijuana was mainly done by primary school dropouts. But coming to Australia and living here for more than 10 years now exposed me to another wider group of people who smoke weed. These people are not Rastafarians. Some of them even read this blog. This bigger group includes teachers, doctors, lawyers, business men and women, fathers and mothers, backpackers and university students. The law here seems soft on people who only have a plant or two of marijuana as long as they are not hydroponic weed. It is a crime to posses weed beyond a given quota and carrying too much makes one a “dealer” which carries stronger legal implications.

In 1998 as I was leaving Kenya to come to Australia for further studies, my parents had a very strong final message for me at the airport. Just before I got into the Air Zimbabwe flight to Australia, my parents pulled me aside and said “Never ever take drugs, you will be alone in that foreign country, but remember there is no such thing as a little drug”. Those words are still with me and if you are reading this mum and dad, thank you for those words.

I refuse to take drugs. I refuse to take even a little drug, and for good reason. I will illustrate my reason by way of a story from Northern Kenya.

Camel Story from Northern Kenya

I have a mild fascination with camels. I was born in one of the few countries in the world with camels (Kenya) and now I live in country with a camel for every 20 people (Australia). Did you know that there are more than 1 million camels in Australia?

This story was first told to me when I was very young.

There was a family in Northern Kenya that lived in a small house (small as in not very tall). One day it started raining heavily, a rarity in that particular area. The camel was being rained on so it decided to ask for permission to put its head into the house. The owners said it was ok. The rain continued pounding heavily and the camel asked for permission to put its neck in. The owners said ok again. After an hour, the camel asked if it could put its front leg and shoulders in. The owners again said yes. Then the camel stood up to stretch. The small house broke and was blown away by the heavy wind. The family was devastated.

If you give drugs an inch, it will take a mile. Drugs are self perpetuating. The more you smoke or take drugs the more your body will want it. It is called addiction my friend. It does not happen overnight but when it happens, it has devastating effects, much worse than that caused by the camel. It may start with a friend inviting you to smoke and pass the joint, or adding “a little something” to drinks to make the night more interesting. My friend; do not give in to temptation. A little leads to more.

The Effects of Marijuana

• Effects on Daily Life – Smoking weed has long term effects on physical and mental health. It hinders creativity and cognitive abilities. Weed desecrates career status and social life.

• Addictive Potential – Long-term marijuana abusers trying to quit report irritability, sleeplessness, decreased appetite, anxiety, and drug craving, all of which make it difficult to quit.

• Effects on Mental Health – Increased rates of anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation and schizophrenia.

• Effects on the Heart – The risk of heart attack more than quadruples in the first hour after smoking marijuana.

Other Drugs You Should Avoid

• Depressants – Drugs used to reduce mental or physical activity. They make people feel relaxed, less tense, and less aware of events around them. They include alcohol, heroin, inhalants, sleeping pills and ketamine.

• Stimulants - Stimulant drugs are drugs that temporarily increase alertness and awareness. Stimulants are taken to make people feel happy and to decrease appetite. They include tobacco, cocaine, crack, amphetaminess, and methamphetamine.

• Hallucinogens – Psychoactive drugs that induces hallucinations or altered sensory experiences. Besides LSD and PCP, they can include mescaline, deadly nightshade and salvia plants.

Summary

Curiosity killed the cat. Avoid the curiosity to experiment with drugs. Drugs are detrimental to the health and well being of success minded people like you and me. If your friends entice you to take drugs, get new friends.

The issue of drugs is a wide topic; I have just opened the floor for further discussion on this topic. Please post your comments on ways to avoid the drug culture and the effects of drug abuse.

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