Opinion - The Meaning of the Pot Leaf

[BigB-Baby]

The pot leaf. Do not think of it as repersenting a stoner, so stupid his life revolves around an artifical feeling (although a great feeling from a plant, that was a gift from God). Not a wannabe gansta that yells, "Yo I love grapes, get me some purple weed! Yeah!" Out a bus window. Do not let images of a shady, back-alley dealer, that adds class to his bud to increase the weight. IMagine the muscian, the artist, the writer, and the philosopher. Think of doctors, lawyers, scientist, teachers, and professors, when ever you think of the leaf.

"Heavy users seem to need the drug experience more often. Their initial and continued marihuana use is motivated not only by curiosity and an urge to share a social experience but also by a desire for "kicks," "expansion of awareness and understanding," and relief of anxiety or boredom.

"Generally, the heavy marihuana user's life style, activities, values and attitudes are unconventional and at variance with those of the, larger society. These individuals are more pessimistic, insecure, irresponsible, and nonconforming. They find routine especially distasteful. Their behavior and mood are restless and uneven.

"Heavy users place particularly strong emphasis on impulsive response in the interest of pleasure-seeking, immediate gratification, and individual expression. They tend to evidence social and emotional immaturity, are especially indifferent to rules and conventions, and are often resistant to authority. However, several surveys have also revealed that they tend to be curious, socially perceptive, skillful and sensitive to the needs of others, and possess broadly based, although unconventional, interests. "[1]

The pot leaf symbolizes the extroverted introvert, the person who could not find his place in society, isntaed walking into the open arms of subculture, a society, not beneth, but outside of society. It repersents freedom from the capitalistic-dogma, we are forced to accept. The pot leaf is not a symbol of a drug user, but someone who does not give into peer pressure, someone whois themselves, for themselves.

"Generally, most studies which have been undertaken indicate that individuals who are heavy marihuana users cannot find a place for themselves in conventional society. Their heavy marihuana use may reflect and perhaps perpetuate their unconventionality while providing social acceptance in one of the non-conventional subcultures."[1]

Users and non-users alike can line up behind the leaf. A new symbol of peace, lessing the aggressive behaviors.[1][2] A symbol of rational thought, although ridicuous at times, valid all the same, a symbol of creativity, use increasing alpha brainwave activity(associated with mediation, relaxation and creativity).[3] Come, march behind the flag of freedom, not the bars of the Stars and Stripes, but the leaf of equality, love, thought, and art.
The Leaf does not repersent truth, this is a step too far. The Leaf repersents the triumph over lies rather, because there are still idiots who will state lies with no evidence, in support of the Leaf. Do not listen to these fools, for to accept their statements would force us to accept the statements of the DEA, NIDA, and the rest of 'them'. Do not stoop to the level of the government stooges, deny Reefer Madness, see through their lives and triumph with the Leaf.
Live Free, have fun, and love yourself and others. Philosophers were have smoked marijuana for years, inspiration, opening their minds. This country was not founded upon Puritan ideals, like 'they' want you to think. It was founded by marijuana (although not named that yet) smoking Virginians who were too intelligent to smoke tobacco.

"Some of my finest hours have been spent sitting on my back veranda, smoking hemp and observing as far as my eye can see."
-Thomas Jefferson

[1]The Report of the National Commission on Marihuana and Drug Abuse,"Marihuana: A Signal of Misunderstanding", Commissioned by President Richard M. Nixon, March, 1972, Part II, Profiles of Users, Moderate and Heavy Users

[2]Halpern. "Emotional Reactions and General Personality Structure," The Marihuana Problem, pp. 130 - 131.

[3] R. L. Dornbush, M.D., M. Fink, M.D., and A. M. Freedman, M.D. "Marijuana, Memory, and Perception," presented at the 124th annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association, May 3-7, 1971.

Reputation Comments on this post:

good information...i have always wondered this as well