Is it foolishly hopeful?

[DenverRelief]

Is it foolishly hopeful to believe that success in the medical marijuana movement will lead to broader political progress?

I have been writing about how medical marijuana can represent much more than just marijuana, but would like to hear some opinions on just how much marijuana reform can affect.

Do marijuana's recent success stories represent a shift in our society towards taking hold of one's health away from the bureaucratic nightmare of the health care system and big-pharma?

Does it give you hope for the next decade politically, societally?

I have written 4 parts to a blog series exploring some specifics of this, and would love to hear some of your thoughts.

More than Marijuana | Denver Relief Blog (http://www.denverrelief.com/blog/category/more-than-marijuana/)

[generalhydroponics1]

In the 1970s J.J. McRoach ran for parliament as candidate for the Australian Marijuana Party. He had an advertising campaign funded by a well-meaning anonymous dealer. His party came fourth in the elections.

Thus, I think you have a great change!!!

[DenverRelief]

In the 1970s J.J. McRoach ran for parliament as candidate for the Australian Marijuana Party. He had an advertising campaign funded by a well-meaning anonymous dealer. His party came fourth in the elections.

Thus, I think you have a great change!!!

If only fourth had as much sway as first ;) .

I wonder if marijuana could return to being an acceptable part of culture as alcohol is, or if it will remain sub-culture and always be perceived as subversive even if it is medical.

??

[HighPopalorum]

It's acceptable now, depending on the social set. I was shocked at how casual marijuana use had become on a recent trip to Alabama (the last state progress visits). Among my milieu of mid-thirties white, well-educated attorneys, doctors, lawyers, teachers and managers there was very little stigma associated with pot. Over and over I was surprised to find casual pot use: a couple of housewives giggling over a joint in the afternoon, ubiquitous use at every cocktail party I went to, clusters of men in jackets and ties and women holding wine glasses congregating on the back porch for a smoke. I don't think there's necessarily any stigma attached to pot use because it is now used by a wide variety of people. Once confined to hippies, musicians, gangsters and dropouts, pot is now used by all sorts of people. I think pot will be increasingly viewed as socially acceptable in almost all groups, though the law will take some years to catch up.

(There is zero stigma with pot use here in Durango, but the culture is not representative. It's certainly as accepted as alcohol.)

[senorx12562]

I wouldn't ever call hope foolish, but until we as a society stop the hypocritical treatment of mankind's demonstrated need to seek out altered states of consciousness as any business of government and as a moral failing, I don't hold out much hope that any larger change can come from the limited success of marijuana reformers.