Compassion Rant

Compassion: a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.

It seems to me, that CALM, or Cannabis as A Living Medicine, is not as compassionate as they would like to appear. I realize that they are doing a service, and have risked much in the name of "legalizing" weed. But it seems to me, that they have fell supplicant to the state, in an effort to appease the authorities.

Instead of actually basing a rating system upon the merits of the marijuana, such as potency, and effects like body high vs head buzz vs munchies, they've been rated as indica vs sativa on a scale of 1 to 5, 1 being sativa, and 5 being indica, and all else in between are hybrids. No mention of ruderalis, not that I've ever even heard of someone who's had some. But I digress. The point is, rating your weed like that, is going to lead to some shitty weed, at all points on the scale.

Doing a cannabis potency test isn't that difficult I've heard. Why don't we rank pot on potency? Oh, right, because then we'd end up with everyone smoking the good stuff. WRONG!!! Some people prefer weaker strains. I knew a guy, and all he ever smoked was shake. Did the trick, that's for sure. And some people need a higher potency than others. But the "patients" at the CALM never get to know the potency of the pot their smoking.  Also, I don't know if you've noticed, but different weed has different effects.  Some is more of a body high, where some goes straight to your head.  A way for people to inspect their marijuana would also be a good thing.  As it stands, people do not have a way to really see the product they are buying.  A glass case with samples would be amazing, so that the people who know what they need, can take a look, and see.  This is mostly useful to those who have spent a little bit of time smoking and studying weed, and know how to look for trichomes.

CALM has also had it's share of up's and down's. I'm told there used to be a feeling of community there, but that's been lost due to the raids. People would talk to one another, they'd laugh, cry, share. But now, it has become a business. You go in, browse for your product, get served, and leave. There is no sense that you are in a place of compassion, but rather a sterile business, designed to make money. Legal fees aren't cheap.

I understand the need for it to be this way, but at the same time, I can't understand why they must gouge money. I can go to a street level dealer, and get the exact same pot as in the CALM for 200$ an ounce. But if you go to the "compassion" centre, it's 300$+.

So why do people go? Because they feel they have no other choice. They don't want to have to take criminal actions to get their MEDICINE. And why should they? It seems that compassion has turned into a business. Because we all as a society, have failed to recognize the rights, all of our rights, to take care of ourselves if we so desire. (there's a double entendre there) Because that is the real problem here. The masses of people who have been filled with all the negative propaganda produced by the state and the church. The judgements they have placed upon people, when they allow those very same people alcohol, which causes how many deaths a year again? Who cares. There are no documented cases that I am aware of, of people smoking some pot, and then driving around the neighbourhood and running someone over. Or of a couple smoking pot, and then the other beating their partner to death.  Yet we regulate pot as if it's the most dangerous thing on earth.  Maybe it is...to those in power.