1 Reply by Johnnie Ruffin, M.sc.

(33 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

Janet Taylor-Perry wrote:

Wow! This has degenerated into a political stew pot. I happen to agree with Johnnie. I also think we should get over all the BS about the Confederate flag, I also dare anyone to try to take my .357. I also think Obamacare is a farce of the highest magnitude. This started out as an encouragement to max to seek whatever means he needs for his ailment. Why has it spiraled into the cesspool of politics?


I think it proves that Max is right about it being a hot topic. And, I admit, Charles may be right. I learned a long time ago that I don't know everything, and if I had the answer to this world's problems I'd probably be working on that right now instead of here writing this. As for the Confederate flag, I don't have much of an opinion. If they want it, they want it, let them have it. The Confederate flag wasn't hoisted for evil purposes or meant to represent slavery or hatred. It had a different meaning once upon a time. I get that. Just like everything else that happens over time, a series of events changes its meaning. I also don't think taking away guns is the answer, but when surrounded with chaos we sometimes try to get hold of the one thing we can control. It's not right, and it never works out, but there it is.

I do wish Max the best. None of that has anything to do with what he's trying to find.

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2 Reply by Johnnie Ruffin, M.sc.

(33 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

Charles_F_Bell wrote:
Johnnie Ruffin, M.sc. wrote:

The worst part about marijuana in my opinion was that it was controlled by drug cartels and unscrupulous characters that kidnapped and murdered entire families to till their crops and sell their products.

What did Treyvon Martin and Michael Brown have in common, other than being thieves?  Adolescent brains soaked in THC.

http://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2014-07-16-how … s-paranoia

I'm not sure how to respond to that. Should I site the amazing amount of video footage from the seventies? Or the crime statistics of countries that have already legalized marijuana? Should I make more allusions to alcohol and other legal drugs that are abused by teenagers? Should we get into a debate about police, excessive force, and the poor decisions of two dead boys? Should I point out other crimes that have taken place without the use of drugs and follow with statistics that show that drugs are not always relevant to adolescents, poverty, and an oppressed culture that we tend to ignore until something happens?

In the end, I think you make my point. Control the output and it might become less accessible to teenagers. It also might put the drug dealers that are giving these drugs to teenagers out of business.

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3 Reply by Johnnie Ruffin, M.sc.

(33 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

I always find it funny to think that George Washington and Thomas Jefferson attempted to sell marijuana for profit and were unsuccessful. In the end, they kept it for themselves...you know..for hemp, to keep their slaves clothed. As I understand it, there is no real proof that they smoked it, but I've never really been close with the people who write the history books. Sometimes, and this could entirely be my own paranoia, but sometimes I think historians fudged a bit to hide things that might be considered...embarrassing.

The worst part about marijuana in my opinion was that it was controlled by drug cartels and unscrupulous characters that kidnapped and murdered entire families to till their crops and sell their products. I believe the corruption was more evident in Prohibition, but marijuana had a tendency to remain in the background. Legalization and a somewhat-controlled method of distributing the drug was long overdo. The only reason, and again this is my opinion, it became a so-called "gateway" drug had to do entirely with those that controlled it.

It's like going to the doctor and he says, "oh, you liked the Acetaminophen...well...have you tried it with codeine? It's bit more expensive, but you'll sleep like a baby."

If your doctor has a conscience, he'd only suggest the codeine if its necessary...not just to make a profit. Hopefully that made sense...

Either way, I'm glad you were able to get access to it in this way, rather than the other. Good luck, Max!

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4 Reply by Johnnie Ruffin, M.sc.

(4 replies, posted in Spirituality & Religion)

Awesome! I've never won anything so this is really a blessing! Thank you to everyone that left me feedback, it was both encouraging and helpful. Hopefully, I can return the favor someday.

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