It looks like this coming November, Californians will get to vote whether or not they want to legalize marijuana. What we want to know at FinerMinds is, “Would you legalize it?”
After all, it’s been used as a spiritual guide in ancient China, with Hindus and Buddhists, and lots of other ancient cultures too. If you really think about it some more, there’s ayahuasca, the psychoactive vine, which is used in the Amazon and peyote, which is used in the United States and Mexico. All have been used to induce spiritual experiences and divine connection.
So drop a comment and let us know your thoughts on this. Have you ever had a spiritual experience on a drug? Do you condone this type of spirituality?
Details in the article below.
Yes on Prop 19: Marijuana Legalization Gets its Number in California
by Michael Whitney from FireDogLake.com
While California confirmed its state’s marijuana legalization initiative would be on the November ballot months ago, today the state assigned proposition numbers to this year’s slate of initiatives. Get used to hearing about Proposition 19, which is where you’ll get to vote to legalize marijuana in California.
The state restarts the counter for proposition numbers every ten years, last doing so in 2008 (hence why the gay marriage initiative was Prop 8). While it’s inevitable proposition numbers will be reused, the LA Weekly notes a strange coincidence in the legalization initiative’s number. When pot legalization was on the ballot in 1972, it was also Proposition 19.
The Secretary of State’s office says it was a coincidence. But you can’t put anything past the people who named the state’s medical marijuana bill SB 420.
Anyway, if you still have your Prop. 19 buttons and posters, you won’t have to go buy new ones.
As you can probably tell, Prop. 19 failed in 1972. In fact, it wasn’t close. According to Ballotpedia, the measure went down by a vote of 66.5% to 33.5%. We’ll see in November how much attitudes have changed in the intervening 38 years.
The latest LA Times poll found 49% of Californians support marijuana legalization, with 41% opposed in May. Earlier that month, the Public Policy Institute found the state evenly split, with 48% supporting to 49% opposing.
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It’s like come on already, this marijuana prohibition looks just like the alcohol prohibition of 1920 — 1933. The potential tax collection could pull this country up and out of debt faster than other options currently being put to task. Plus those who use it will continue to use it ether way. I feel the many benefits of this “weed”, far out weigh it’s dangers. My experience with it has induced some spiritual experiences indeed, though my use is very rare anymore, I support the benefit of it for others.
I agree. The driving implications can also be just as for alcohol and bring in more revenue to towns. To have it regulated would at the least let a buyer know what s/he is buying and feel more confident about its safety.
One of my most profound spiritual experiences was doing Ayahuasca with native indian Shamans of the Achuar tribe in the Amazon Rainforest in Ecuador. The experience was wonderful and enlightening. Despite the violent puking that happens shortly after you take the drug. After the “purging”, you lay back in a hammock under ths stars with the sound of the jungle surrounding you and you glimpse visions. Some are non-sensical, but others are insightful. You also often experience a deep sense of connection with everything around you and all life.
By all means legalize it. It would definitely improve not only the economy, it will also improve the mindset of many. I have not indulged since my youth, however, I would indulge again if it were legal. I think it is a healthier alternative than alcohol. I think my only apprehension would be that our youth, (teenagers) would be more prone to accidents. We would have to require more limits on how much you can have in your possession. Just as police measure the alcohol limit on drivers, there should be a test that would determine the marijuana limit in the blood stream. The up side would be that the drug dealers would not be as popular, and the government could put such a high tax on it, that it would become the most demanded crop in agriculture. Imagine how much it could help our struggling farmers. I think it is time for it to become a legal consumable product.
Could someone please explain to me how a state that prides itself on being progressive could display such bass ackward politics. Two people of the same gender cannot have their union “legally” recognized by the enlightened state of California. However, the same state is willing to “legalize” the medical use of a mind altering drug. Let me see which is of more concern to me and hence more of a threat to me and my family: 1. two guys moving in next door and kissing each other good by as they head off to work. OR two guys using “medical marijuana, getting behind the wheel of a car and rear ending me as I drive the kids to school in the morning. The citiznery and legislators in Cali need to stop the shell game. The only reason that they would legalize pot but not same sex unions is a basic matter of $$$$$$$$$. Wherre are all of the opponets to gay marriage? You know those who claimed it was a threat to the institution of marriage (lets ignore the fact that Cali probably leades the nation in divorces) and the American family. Obviously they don’t see some putz driving on the interstate with a buzz going while talking on the phone a societal threat.
Who blacks out and goes on a crazy driving spree smoking Mary Jane (Marijuana)??? Im sure there will be laws againts it but who knows? As for the Gay thing I would say its a free country let them do what they want since nobody gets hurt except there own arse if there into that stuff and as long as they don’t be gay in public because I dont want my kids seeing that (when I have kids if I ever do). But being a Few Trillion in debt I would say LEGALIZE/TAX IT! If alcohol can be legal then marijuana should have been legal a very long time ago.
(This is going to take MANY posts)
Hi,
I have some questions that may not be easy to answer and maybe I will have to continue to look deeper within myself to answer them, but I was hoping I could get some good ideas/answers to them considering the nature of the questions.
Ok a long time ago before I had really any views at all on science and spirituality I had an amazing experience in my opinion. I was with my brother and some friends. We were all going to consume some magical mushrooms (except my brother who I guess took Acid) which I’m guessing you know what they are. I had a completely different experience than anyone else. I got to the point where I could not physically function so I laid down. I started to go into a dream like state where I started to feel like I was God or The One who creates everything. I went through my life over and over and sometimes I was shouting out “Here it comes! It’s the Big bang! Why? Only God knows why! Cause I’m on mushrooms!” and in my mind there was always a bright white flash and explosion of things hard to describe. At times I was flying through space and I was passing by stars and structures and I had the desire to create more.
I still have that desire sometimes where I wish I could create beautiful nebulas, static storms, planets, stars and things of such immense nature. As I recall when I was nearing the end of my trip, when the mushrooms were wearing off I was confronted with a light so bright and so large that it overcame me and it was like I was in a completely white room. I had a feeling of some sort of presence around me or over me it’s hard to describe. I then heard a voice that asked me a question. It said “Do you Believe in the LIGHT!” I was scared and I still don’t know why and wish I could go back and change what I said but maybe it was a lesson or maybe it is why everything is the way it is I can’t explain it. I thought I was dying and I said “NO!” I woke up right after that and was inside the house we were staying at, originally I was inside. I was staring at the number 12 which was upside down I still haven’t made sense to why I was in the position I was in maybe that was just coincidence? What is coincidence?
Is there anything I have stated that can be described by anyone? Or was this just a completely unique experience of the One Universal Mind?
Also I have another question that has to do with the so called “Drug” Marijuana. How does Marijuana affect my brain and my mind? Is it something I should stay away from? I have always believed it to be something good for me, I seem to have more time to think about things, enjoy nature, come up with ideas, and relax/meditate. Without Marijuana I don’t think I would know as much as I do now about reality.
It all started one day when I was High and I was driving home from college and I started to observe my surroundings and I became extremely grateful for the trees, the birds, and life itself. Right after that the next week of school I happened to sit next to an older guy who I became great friends with and he asked me “Do you know this is all and illusion? Did you know that you are made up of atoms which are 99% NOTHING?” When he said those words I had that amazing gut feeling that rises up through your stomach or wherever in your body and makes your hairs stand up! I immediately after class began investigating online which was about one year ago. Now I am here with so much knowledge of our Universe and what created it and I am only 20 I started learning when I was 19 or maybe it all began when I was on my mushroom trip when I was 16 or younger and I started to believe that I was God and I created all of this. I can’t remember for sure it was so long ago but that does not matter.
I would really like some expert opinion on what I am going through and I believe that Gerald could maybe answer them.
Maybe Marijuana has been good for me because I believed it was, I mean Gerald and many other people say that your beliefs are what create your reality and maybe that is what is going on with me? And by the way I have not smoked Marijuana for about a month now since I came to visit my mother in Iowa and I’m from Missouri so I have no choice but to stop smoking for now. Also I have been thinking about a long lost friend of mine in Iowa where I was originally from and born. Just the other day he got a hold of me and said it took him over a year of searching! Now we are going to hang out again this weekend and guess what? He asked me if I still smoked and I told him not really but I am totally down to. I never knew that he smoked at all and I guess he knew I did from one time I visited him 7 years ago and asked if he wanted to try, he declined.
LEGALIZE IT!!!
The time has come for it to happen and it will. Legalize it, and let the truth be know. if anyone wants to know the facts from past to date read, The Authoritative Historical Record of Cannabis and the Conspiracy Against Marijuana…and How Hemp Can Save The World! ” The Emperor Wears No Clothes” 11th Edition by the late Jack Herer. AWESOME book about many things people should know about the truth of Medical Marijuana.
I think they should legalize marijuana, and outlaw alcohol. No one ever died from a marijuana overdose.
I don’t know why we are voting on this again.
Exactly
I use this substance every day despite it being illegal in my country. When i wake up, WAKE AND BAKE!! I try to keep it going all day but when I get tired at night and go to bed I either have a trippy dream or I astral project. So saying marijuana doesn’t help you spiritualy usually makes me go “OH YEAH?! HAVE I GOT NEWS FOR YOU!!!”
I would legalize Marijuana for personal & spiritual use. Although I do not smoke, I believe that Cannabis / Marijuana is a sacred herb, which when used with respect & correct “intention” can assist in meditation. I prefer not to use the word “Drug” as it implies that Marijuana is a pharmaceutical and should be treated like Ecstasy or acid… when in fact it is a sacred plant which can naturally alter our state of consciousness.
I have participated in both Ayahuasca & Peyote rituals and have a great respect for the plant teachers.
From reading other people’s comments, I also understand that people have concerns about the legalization of such herbs. Substances can be used responsibly in a spiritual setting / or they can be abused. Alcohol, (which in my opinion is far more dangerous than Cannabis) is legal and responsible for many arguments and deaths each year.
I think when people are more conscious, they would not do anything which might cause harm to another. e.g. People would not drive under the influence of mind altering substances. Of course once we evolve to this level of awareness as a society, there would also be no need for laws or police, because everyone would behave consciously…
Until then, do we ban everything that could be misused? Or do we trust people to behave responsibly? Perhaps if Marijuana is legalized, certain guidelines for use could be put in place… Any thoughts on this?
Yes, I agree that marijuana should be legalized, for personal/medical uses. It does help take you to a different state of mind. it helps you relax, clams your mind, and depending on the potency it could even make astro projection a lot more easier to achieve. Plus I have never heard of anyone stealing, killing, and overdosing off of Marijuana! If anything I say everybody should smoke it when the time permits, and Free their minds its natural and it comes from the earth!!! not some man made crap that was Forced FEED to the society! But thats another subject. LOL
You should be ready for some new kind of tourist people in your state:)
Hey Lance
Seriously
You wanna write a book do it but dont belabour us all with your meanderings.
If you think you are god then you are god get over it and fix things
Hurry up cause I wanna smoke a legal joint after 40 yerars
geeeesh
..we are creatures of the extremes,
wine wasn’t good enough, so we went to moonshine, a buzz wasn’t good enough, we needed to get
comotose or life threatening. But once we have found the limits MOST of us are content with the necessity
of an element, without basteredizing it’s purpose..If the government could have made money from the stuff
we wouldn’t be here…and if the medical profession had used pot instead laudum adictions wouldn;t have
been such an issue. But there will always be those who take things to the limit in EVERYTHING; it is the
nature of our curiosty to find the limit to all things…anyone for an apple?!?!?!
Hey Lance,
Totally understand your feeling of absolute ‘oneness’ or connectedness when on a trip. I could relate to lots of the beautiful experiences in your description. I’ve tried to explain seeing what i can best describe as the ‘matrix’ to people before, where I can see how everything in the world is connected. Amazing!
I’ve also used marijuana fairly regularly over the years and have found it helps me relax, meditate and form a deeper spiritual connection. I agree that it is much more dangerous than alcohol and should be legalised everywhere.
The Dutch have certainly made it work both legally and financially.
Marijuana comes from natures pharmacy and it should be legalized for the right reasons . They allow consumers to buy cigaretts which hae dadly ingredients such as cyanide and rat poisoning, and thats just two out of 4,000 ingredients. Cigaretts should be taken off the shelves because of health reasons, but instead people are paying money to literally kill themselves. And its entirely legal! Marijuana should be legalized but it can never get a patent because its natures drug and so the big pharma knows that they will not profit from this amazing and harmless plant. It sickens me to see what these corrupt , lying establishments have done to brainwash society in this country …and have gotten away with it. And so basically its up to society to wake up and realize what they’re doing to us.
Yes Mary Jane should be legalized for personal use wether it be for spiritual, medical,mental or just for fun.
There should be a minium age of 21 or maximum age of 110 limit. Marijuana should not be sold for any reason but grown by the person who intends to enjoy it. You should have the right to heal yourself, explore and expand your mind, find your creative spirit or just relax and unwind at home or somewhere private that you will not drive on public roads.I am 50 and have been using marijuana for pain,stress,spiritual oneness with my creator and creative inspiration for 10 years instead of the perscription stuff that I used for pain after an accident that wrecked my back . Not only does the weed really work for pain I found the other qualities of my herbal friend to be just what I needed at this point in my life. They can keep the pills and booz I’m good!!