CrackerJax, I'm sorry if you thought I was going off on you but it really did seem like you were saying to give up because it will just get ruined anyway. If you were truly there 30 years ago then you know that it is just when people are saying 'this is it' is when they start sitting back and stop fighting. It's also when they're about to lose that the opponents get up and become really outspoken and wily in their methods.
So it is right now that we need to keep fighting and be alert, and not go spreading doomsday scenarios where it will all end in ruin because first that's not true and second, that's exactly how to sabotage the movement so it does again fail like it did then.
And I still disagree with you that the FDA and big pharma will trash it. Look, it's ALREADY under FDA control. So are alcohol and cigarettes and Twinkies. Who do you think designates it as a controlled substance and decides how 'dangerous' it is?
And as for the big takeover you describe where big pharma monopolizes the growth and distribution, keeping it out of our hands and regulating quality downward and prices upward, I can see where someone might fear such a thing very much but it's extremely unlikely to happen that way.
Whether it's big pharma, tobacco, or the alcohol industry that jumps in to take advantage, they all have one common motivation: profits. And I know that can often lead to bad things, but in this case quantity of consumers and quality of product will bring them the most profits if legalization is expanded and they encourage home grows and small micro grow operations.
So I stick by my assertion that you were wrong and even if it was unintentional you were fear-mongering.
Finally, here you say that you are not telling people to not get MMJ recommendations. But then you say that people have to doctor hop to find one who gives recommendations, and you say that people without "real" medical conditions are ruining it for everyone else.
To that I say that first you are indeed telling them not to get recommendations. So you are telling them to remain illegal and keep participating in illegal transactions that can only hurt the cause and when they have the opportunity to become legal.
Second, there is no need to doctor hop because there are many fine clinics that specialize in MMJ recommendations and they do make efforts to filter out those who obviously see it as a scam.
And finally, who better than a doctor is able to define what is a real medical condition? Not you, I'm sure. I've had terrible insomnia for most of my adult life. I can go for 3, 4, even 5 days without sleep and I can tell you that it is hellish. My moods swing, my abilities to think and act properly are stunted, and I feel like crap in a hat. But people always told me that it wasn't a "real" medical issue, but just mind over matter.
And the sleeping aids that are available are not great. Some don't really work, some work too well and leave you dragging ass the next day, and some even make you feel sick and mess with your moods and thoughts in even worse ways. But MMJ gives me the blessings of good sleep along with other great benefits and no bad side effects. So I'm not gonna let anyone else start judging whether or not it's a real condition. That's between me and my doctor as it should be.
So I say yes, go get that doctor's recommendation and be happy. Further, be proud that you are finally legal and can stand up to those who judge and say yes, I use MMJ and I'm legal. So I do not fear your judgment or the authorities or anyone else because I am legal and that makes ALL the difference!