CANNABIS – THE DOCUMENTARY

If you have an hour to spare watch this documentary. Knowledge is power. In my continuing quest to seek why is cannabis ( weed) illegal  this documentary explains it all in details. The so called ‘war on drugs’ and the criminalization of cannabis is the biggest lie and conspiracy ever created by man. It is an attempt by a few to marginalize a crop purely on the basis of racism and monetary greed . By building a machinery of propaganda you control the people and make them believe what you want them to believe. Man cannot legislate morals. Neither can he fight mother nature. I am not advocating a revolution. All I am asking for is to use common sense on this so called war.When we spend 4 out of every 5 dollars fighting the growth of one plant, you know something is wrong, someone is trying to hide something. How can we fight and kill nature and at the same time build and create synthetic drugs to counter it. Stupidity must have some limits.   I await your feedback.

CANNABIS- TO SMOKE OR NOT TO SMOKE

In the continuing series The 7 wonders of Jamaica here is Wonder # 2- Cannabis.

Cannabis. Everybody just pause for a minute. Let’s just stop and take a deep breath.

Growing up I remembered clearly being taught that this plant was a ‘bad’ plant ; that you can get thrown in jail so don’t smoke it, don’t be seen with it and if your friends have it leave them by. My Mom told me this. I was also told it would ‘turn you mad’, Jamaican patois meaning that the plant had side effects that would diagnose you as insane by the authorities. Some of the people I knew seemed to verify that as through their constant smoking their eyes would change color, they no longer looked ‘groomed’ and they were in a state of mental euphoria.  I remember seeing every day on TV the arrest made by the authorities and it reinforced what my Mom told me. And so I believed and I conformed. Never smoked it, always hating those that had it. But time has a way of teaching you things in life that you take for granted. I kept asking myself ‘why is this plant illegal?”. Everyone I asked did not give me a definitive answer? So I decided to do my research and this is what I found.

1. WHAT’S IN A NAME: This plant has more names than any other plant I know – Cannabis, pot, marijuana, weed, herb, bush, sinsemilla , cali weed, mary jane, hemp, grass, ganja, skunk (because it can smell like skunk spray),  hashish and many more. Not to mention that each “strain” of cannabis is given its own name, some of which are quite interesting.There are hundreds of other names for the plant and its derivatives. So with so many names in so many countries meaning so many things to so many people why is it so bad ?

2. IT PRODUCES HEMP: Cannabis – the scientific name has long been used for fibre (hemp), for seed and seed oils, for Industrial hemp products are made from Cannabis plants . Various extracts including hashish and hash oil are also produced from the plant. So if this plant has so many derivatives including hemp, a known product of immense use, why is this plant illegal?

3. MEDICINAL USE: Cannabis has tested and proven medicinal values that ails a lot of the diseases that we are fighting now from glaucoma to cancer. Just recently Dr. Sanja Gupta , a chief medical correspondent for CNN reversed his opinion on Cannabis –   Hmmm. Ok so if this plant has medicinal purposes, tested or otherwise, then why is it bad, why is it illegal?

4. NO GROUNDS FOR ILLEGALITY: When you look at the historical timeline you will see that it was during the turbulent years of “Prohibition” , in the 1930’s that Cannabis  was outlawed. The legislations passed were all cock-eyed to please the various interest groups to make sure that their pockets were well-greased. Legislation was passed without he knowledge of the people at the time and what was fed to them they believed. Remember the old adage feed them what you want them to believe, and they will believe.  Cannabis was  declared a ‘drug’ and a narcotic that only the lowest of the lowest , the Mexicans and Indians at the time,  used. It was said it  gave these people the false pretense  that they were ‘equal’ to the dominant class at the time. The drug also caused them to rape white women. It must  be banned. In modern society the arguments presented in the 1930’s about Cannabis would be seen as racist, dumbfounded, has no legal or factual basis and full of self-interest and nepotism all grounds for an over turn.

5. IT IS NOT A DRUG: The anti-narcotics law written to  regulate narcotics–opium and its derivatives, such as heroin, cocaine  and morphine had nothing to do with Cannabis. Cannabis has not been proven to date that the side effects are devastating to an individual any more so alcohol , tobacco and all the other designer prescribed drugs that are legal.   If Cannabis makes you crazy, high and delusional then so too does alcohol, aspirin, Benadryl, coffee, and the list goes on and you can easily get these over the counter.  Tobacco, the great hope to millions, causes more deaths per year and it is fashionable to say the least. The contradictions don’t add up. Why aren’t these drugs illegal ?

6. RASTA DID NOT ORIGINATE GANJA: The Jamaican connection with Cannabis , commonly refereed to as Ganja , started from the 1800 brought here by the indentured laborers  as slavery coming to an end. These East Indians introduced Cannabis to the Jamaican populace and they used it for medicinal and recreational use. It was like smoking the hashish. Contrary to public belief the  Rastafarians did not originate Ganja in Jamaica. They , like the Indians and other herbalist then , used it and smoked it for the same reason everyone did at the time which was  the natural ‘high’ and medicinal purposes derived from the properties of the plant. Rastafarians considered Ganja the “wisdom weed” as its use helps one to gain wisdom. Rastafarians also use it as a part of a religious rite and as a means of getting closer to their inner spiritual self. They also equate it to being grown on the grave of King Solomon, but that is another story.

Bob Marley one of the most popular icon of the Rasta religion.

7. ILLEGAL IN JAMAICA: This is where you have to stop and ask why?  By virtue of being the Caribbean largest  producer of ganja , Jamaica was pressured to conform to ‘international standards’ and declare its use illegal. Why you might ask? Because the USA said so. My summation is that so much money was riding on the other combatting industries there was no way the US was going to defeat its own self-interest and allow a small minion like Jamaica disrupt its monetary base. So Jamaica declared it illegal on those grounds only, not by its own research or findings. The result of this immature action – the clogging up of the courts and jails with frivolous arrests and declaring Ganja a luxury product ,putting value , cause and effect on Cannabis. Hence the volatile drug trade.

...”Jamaica has signed three international treaties that make possession of marijuana a criminal offense, including the 1988 U.N. Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances. Hylton the DPP of Jamaica,  did not outline possible penalties for violating the treaties but said decriminalizing marijuana could put Jamaica at risk of losing its annual antidrug certification from the United States. Countries that lose U.S. certification can face economic sanctions.  The U.S. government, which gives Jamaica up to $2 million in annual aid, has consistently opposed the island’s efforts to loosen its drug laws…” (From cannabisnews.com)

8. THE DRUG TRADE: The Drug Trade was conceived , created, fostered and nourished by the same people who declared Cannabis illegal – the USA. The US consumption of Cannabis is at an all time high, the market exist  for the sale and distribution of the plant. Mexico and other  countries are the largest producers , with Jamaica used as a middle man in most cases. In recent times Jamaican middle men took the risk of going it alone , often to the demise of their product and their organization. Hence the vicious war and related crime and violence . Cannabis  is not the cause of war. Man is. Man is fighting with  himself. On one hand is Cannabis, on the other is oil, the only difference oil is restricted to a few countries so the war is ‘manageable”. Cannabis on the other hand is everywhere  in people’s homes, bedrooms , backyards and cellars. How are you going to fight a war where the enemy is all around you?

9. THE SECRET IS OUT: With the help of the social media, the secret is finally out and the people are no longer fooled as in the 1930s. Hence so many states and countries have made Cannabis legal for personal and medicinal use .

The battle is big and the system created by the US will untie itself but in time,  Cannabis will take its rightful place in society as a legal entity.  As for Jamaica , a forward thinking government would investigate , plan and manage the use of Ganja to help the country economically. A forward thinking government would decriminalize the personal use of Ganja saving its tax payers millions of dollars. The very country that forced everyone to sign the international treaty is the very one , little by little, legalizing the use of Cannabis. So why is Jamaica still worried and scared of the big bad wolf?

Jamaica is sitting on a wealth too vast to measure. When we don’t think for ourselves but for others we miss opportunities that others will take away. If Jamaica continues to govern not for its people and its own economic and social path but for the values of others , then we will continue  in economic constipation and its citizens the by-product of this harsh reality.

Status of Marijuana in the USA

Countries where Cannabis is Legal/decriminalized: North Korea, Iran, Pakistan, Portugal , USA at 14 State levels, Canada ,Uruguay AND COUNTING. 

I HAVE A DREAM SPEECH

I HAVE A DREAM SPEECH

BE THE BEST THAT YOU CAN BE

BE THE BEST THAT YOU CAN BE

“We need more people who are competent in all areas and always remember that the important thing is to do a good job. No matter what it is. Whatever you are doing consider it as something having cosmic significance, as it is a part of the uplifting of humanity. No matter what it is, no matter how small you think it is, do it right. As someone said, do it so well that the living, dead, or the unborn could do it no better.”

The words of Dr. Martin Luther King as he introduced the street sweeper at the 50th anniversary of Alpha Phi Alpha in Buffalo, 1957 – “The Birth of a New Age.” A great blueprint for any commencement speech.

A TRUE LEADER WILL COME

A TRUE LEADER WILL COME

I read the piece and ML King would have concerns  on certain social and economic standards that exist in the Black community but the difference is he would not just be talking about it he would be leading the charge and so he did and what did he achieve – his death. That’s the difference between his leadership  and now. You see MLK knew he had a calling , he knew WHY he was born. not to be rich, not to be famous but to die for what he believed in. How many present day so-called leaders KNOW why they are here? The politicians are hopelessly corrupt, the wealthy black men that can make a difference are too busy making money at the expense of the blacks, the family unit is in shock so crime prevails and as for the religious leaders- well the least say about them the better.

How many will lead in the face of threats? We can count on one hand.  Yes there have been progress-but look at the cost. Our own people kill each other,  grudge each other, back stab each other  and that has gone on before King and certainly after King. King could not have stopped that. He would fight for the killers and back stabbers because he is a leader and leaders don’t choose who to lead.!

What does that say about our society. It is a flawed entity made from sin and no one person or thought (Christianity & other religions) will ever create the perfect society. Religion and leaders  controls some of the people some of the times.  The black man’s weakness of morals and unity among each other is his constant. What is also constant is every generation there comes a true leader that will take us further to the utopia.

So the writer , like all of us frustrated beings should be  patient and don’t use the  MLK experience to draw any comparisons. It’s the same people, but 2 different worlds, cultures and morals.

Coming generations will learn slowly but surely what MLK meant in his “I Have A Dream speech”. MLK generation had their war. So too  is our generation. We must keep marching. We must keep hoping. We must carry on.

 

THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX

You are driving along in your car on a wild, stormy night. You pass by a bus stop, and you see three people waiting for the bus: 

1. An old lady who looks as if she is about to die. 

2. An old friend who once saved your life. 

3. The perfect man (or) woman you have been dreaming about. 

Which one would you choose to offer a ride to, knowing that there could only be one passenger in your car? 

Think before you continue reading. This is a moral/ethical dilemma that was once actually used as part of a job application. 

You could pick up the old lady, because she is going to die, and thus you should save her first; or you could take the old friend because he once saved your life, and this would be the perfect chance to pay him back.

 

However, you may never be able to find your perfect dream lover again. 

The candidate who was hired (out of 200 applicants) had no trouble coming up with his answer. 

He simply answered: “I would give the car keys to my old friend, and let him take the lady to the hospital.

 

I would stay behind and wait for the bus with the woman (or man) of my dreams.” 

Never forget to “Think Outside of the Box.”

GOD DID MAKE A MISTAKE….

nuff said

Syria Chemical Attack: UN Envoy Says Evidence Suggests Some Chemical ‘Substance’ Was Used

ok i have seen this movie before…yup about 10 years ago- the same players just some different faces. This place called Earth is stink by the hypocrisy that fills the air. All of a sudden everyone is appalled. Thousands of people have already died, not one action then, Now everyone is talking about war. It’s ok to shoot your people but don’t use any chemicals on them. This is filthy, this is dirty, this is gross. How can we call ourselves a civilized race when everything we do and say is based on our own corrupt and hypocritical sense. I hope this brewing “WAR” puts an end to mankind. We are one sick race.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

THE BEST HOTEL IN JAMAICA. PERIOD.

 

 

Today I begin a feature called the 7 wonders of Jamaica. This is wonder # 1.

There are no secrets that time does not reveal. At some point the secret will come out. This one certainly did. One of the most beautiful unspoiled places in Jamaica is the parish called Portland, home to the famous Blue Mountain. Nestled among the green, tropical forestry is a place called Geejam, a privately owned luxury boutique Hotel.

Players, this is no ordinary Hotel. When you are #1 on Trip Advisor 18 Hotels in Port Antonio, the winner of the Travelers Choice Award for 2012 and the winner of  the Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence for 2013 this is no mean feat considering the Hotel opened in 2008.

The hotel was built by music veteran and hotelier Jon Baker along with Hong-Kong based Beaver Music label owner Steve Beaver in 2008. It is managed by Island Outpost.

This place can be described in one word WOW. There is no stress at this Hotel …NONE. Tucked on 6 acres of well-ness and healthy living , the Hotel is for many people therapeutic but for the average traveller a piece of paradise found.  Described as luxury and luxury it is , the Hotel offers  three deluxe cabins, an exclusive suite and an independent bedroom villa. All the rooms comes with a mini-bar, home theatre with digital surround-sound system and wireless internet connectivity. Yes this Hotel does not charge for internet. They are after all a modern progressive Hotel that understands that the internet is a necessity, not an added amenity. Sandwood private villa, Ska, Rock Steady and Mento deluxe cabins, Drum and Bass suites are the names of the accommodation. The names are different, the management is different, the staff exceptional , you get the picture. We are talking about excellence here. Not some over advertised, over commercialized and glamorized Hotel that you see all over the net and media. Excellence does not need advertising. It advertises itself.

The Geejam houses one restaurant that serves custom-made local and international cuisine. Named Bushbar, the restaurant features a Teppanyaki grill, available for made-to-order Hibachi-style stir-fry dishes including meat, fish and vegetables. There is also a complete bar available in the restaurant. Sorry , no slam bam thank you ma’am burger joint on a beach where your stomach begs for food as you conquer the lines ahead of you . Here , you the guest are royalty experiencing a class act.

The other secret is Geejam also offers a state of the art recording studio equipped with musical instruments. The studio has been used by several top artiste  like Snoop Lion and Amy Whitehouse. Class draws class . Its like magnet. The revelation continues the 24 hour fitness center, the Spa , the wedding service, the cell phones on your arrival for use during your stay, in room dining service, the private car to and from the Hotel, state of the art technology in your room and public areas, surround sound in your room. Yoga, no this is not a dream. It is what they offer – no hidden fees, no pretty copy ad, no misleading brochure , it is what it is.

Geejam is located in Jamaica and it is the biggest secret that is now out to the world. We can dream. So dream of the entire country like Geejam- you would come to Jamaica and never leave. When you go to Geejam you will have a similar experience – you will not want to leave.

A luxury Hotel is supposed to promise you a fantasy and deliver this fantasy to make your dreams come true. This hotel does just that. It is Jamaica’s biggest secret and the secret is – all is not lost in Jamaica. There are still unbelievable places that are un-touched from the curse of over commercialized tourism.  Grace Jones, famous recording artiste sums it up nicely. After recently staying there she wrote in the guest book….”I came, I saw, you conquered me”. Geejam is paradise on Earth. Geejam is paradise lost in San San Port Antonio. Geejam is simply the best little hotel in Jamaica, Period.

Click here for bookings and information.

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