The Super Bowl Goes To Pot
There is one thing I find interesting about this Super Bowl. I have heard some analysts mention it, but I have not heard it made a focal point like I believe it should be.
What I am referring to is that both teams represent the only two states in the US nation that have legalized marijuana.
I’m honestly wondering if that is just coincidence, or could actually have something to do with the matchup.
Most of the time, I am a card carrying member of the conservative right. I believe in capitolism, the smaller the government–the better, and that you are rewarded and not penalized if you work hard and earn good money.
There are really only two hot button political items that I do not hold the party line on. One of them is abortion. I have always been pro-choice. What a woman does with her body should be her choice. I believe that life doesn’t “officially” begin at conception, or in other words, the right of decision of the potential mother usurps the right of the fetus. The other hot button item of mine that I don’t stand with my right wing brethren is the legalization of marijuana.
I am not a pothead or a stoner. Never have been and I doubt I ever will be, although if it is legalized, I can see myself checking out if it helps my eye condition. I am not going to lie and say I NEVER used it either though. My first time, I had bet a fraternity brother during hell week that if we make it through this and get into Sigma Phi Epsilon, that I would get high with him. We did, and I followed though. I actually didn’t like the way it made me feel actually. I remember going back to my dorm room and trying to read a book. The lights in the room seemed soooo darn bright. And I kept getting caught up on the same line in my book, over and over. I ended up giving up and just going to sleep.
The second time, I was with other frat brothers at a Van Halen concert. One of them passed me a blunt and just as I was about to put it to my lips and inhale, a security guard knocked it out of my fingers and ran off. Other than that, I have maybe tried it about 2 or 3 other times. I’m not an expert by experience, believe me.
What I have learned though makes me realize how ridiculous it is that pot is illegal. First of all, it is holistic. It is completely natural. Pot also has healing qualities. If you add up a list of “positive things about pot” against a list of “negative things about pot”….the positives outnumber the negatives.
One must also consider that according to an informal straw poll of current NFL players, more than half already indulge in marijuana use. Some of it is recreational. Some of it has a bearing on dealing with pain.
Those who smoke pot and play a sport that is physical and involves a lot of contact will tell you that using marijuana helps them deal with the pain associated with their lingering injuries. When you consider the alternatives when it comes to dealing with pain in the NFL, pot comes off smelling like a…well, a sweet, stanky, rose.
When NFL players have serious pain and injuries, they are usually prescribed vicodin, tramadal, neurontin, percocet and so on. Most of these drugs are highly addictive and end up causing more harm than good after the injury has healed. Many players, like former Nebraska defensive end Jason Peter, has had their careers ruined by prescription drug addiction.
Legalizing marijuana would help many of these players with lingering injuries deal with the pain associated with those injuries.
As for the rest of the public, I don’t think legalizing pot would have huge implications either. If anything, there will be less shootings and it might result in fewer drug dealers on inner city streets. It also could have a huge economic benefit as well. Convenience stores would see a huge spike in business from stoners desperate for a 3 am ho-ho binge.
If I am wrong with anything I have said here, I’m sure my doctor friend Jeff will fill me in, but I really believe legalizing marijuana will benefit society in general. Or at least not hurt society as much as some politicians seem to think it will.
It will also help profession sports. The Broncos and Seahwaks could be testament to that.
