My only comment about government lies and Vietnam is that after it was over, the new Vietnam government laughingly commented that our government's claims about "16,000 men per year coming from North Vietnam" as justification for going into Vietnam was indeed wrong. It was over 17,000. Summary: That was an "Everybody's lying!" deal.
Anyhow, I meddled around a little bit with Sweet Grass in the '60s and '70s. I quickly learned that one aspect of government control is good: A standardized "intoxicant level". That is, you know that 80-proof whiskey is 40% alcohol. You know that 4.5% alcohol by volume beer is 4.5%. Mary Jane? Best luck and good wishes. Some, you might as well be smoking oregano. Some, two hits and you're wiped for hours.
I've been around grass-smokers since around 1965. One thing for sure I've found about those who are heavy users, as compared to booze-hounds: You can't do business with smokers. Yeah, be wary of booze-hounds, but they're far more likely to function in business deals.
If marijuana was legal and free, I wouldn't bother. I know where I am on Budweiser or Old Overcoat. I know I can make myself regain control fairly quickly if I overdose on those. Personal self-control is too important to me to mess with other stuff.
For now, with the legal structure we have, I've told those who talk about the relaxation effect that they're taking chances and spending a lot of money to get their heads where mine is when I wake up in the morning.
Overall, though, this War on Drugs is garbage. It's a War on the Bill of Rights, more than anything of any practical nature. Educational efforts about the stupidity of messing yourself up with crap is one thing, but what we're doing is dumber'n dirt.
I had a vice cop tell me one time, "I don't care if folks stay home and stick needles in their arms. But when they come out on the street they're making it my business." And the wrecker drivers and EMT.
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