Uncle G’s FUN 420 Reviews
Words and Pipe Photography by Gary “Uncle G” Brown
Twitter @GBrown0816

Uncle G’s Corner
Number: 4
April 2011

The 420 Special
Topic: Gateway Drug?
Part Two

Continued….

Why is it no one says that drinking beer, will only lead later to drinking whiskey? Said as a warning. That a person drinking only beer, will one day certainly crave a stronger alcoholic beverage. Yet, it’s said with pot. Smoke weed one day. Shoot up heroin the next. Designed to be instituted as an automatic thought process. Not that it’s bad to scare the kids. I feel cannabis users should be at least 18 years of age. Am comfortable with them waiting till age twenty-one. Even if it doesn’t seem practical. Another one of those old enough to go to War and fight for our Country, but not old enough to drink a beer (which is fine in moderation for certain individuals) situations. Regardless of my experiences. This having everything to do with full body development, including that of the brain, of our younger generations. The mass message that using cannabis will lead to what I think of as real drugs, known to cause harm mentally and physically ….heroin, or crack just to use as examples, it can’t be any more wrong.

Drinking only beer one night, as compared to only smoking cannabis, is in my opinion, the worse choice between the two. Here’s a fact. Consuming too much alcohol could lead to alcohol poisoning. Simply put, a person could die indulging in this activity. Up to that end of game move, they also could have more than likely, inflicted damage to other living creatures. Animal, or human. It’s a shame that the drunks don’t only hurt themselves. Just saying.

Smoke a lot of cannabis, and odds are you would be too stoned, to even get up out of the chair you were sitting in. At least for a while. And when finally getting up to walk to the bathroom, don’t make a wrong turn and accidentally find the kitchen. Beware the munchies! You’ll never leave that room. On top of this, it’s virtually impossible to smoke oneself to death. I like that. Score one for pot.

It’s true. I consumed a ton of weed in all the time I’ve been smoking it. Two other guys and myself once tried smoking a quarter pound of grass. At one sitting. Method of consumption; bong. Regular pot. Columbian. Girls we knew got wind and crashed. Just as well. Lesson learned by me that evening was that a person can only get so high, smoking weed. Once you hit that plateau, it’s a waste of weed smoking it anymore. Nowadays with weed having higher THC counts, only a small amount of it needs to be consumed, to get that medicated feeling.

Reefer will help to stimulate your senses. It’s like your brain going zero to sixty within a few seconds. Once the THC is in your bloodstream, away you go. Accounts on the person. If in good health, and having no issues, cannabis should increase the odds of having a good day. While under the influence, let’s say you watch a movie. The popcorn tastes better. The movie is more interesting to follow. Alcohol is a depressant. Too much, and your body starts shutting down. Oops. Let the cat out of the bag. It’s true. Certainly sounds like fun (said sarcastically of course). Am sure I came close to that several times.

At age seven, my Mom passed away. Alcoholism. Not a quick death. Whiskey drinker. In the hospital mainly the last few years of her life. Yellow jaundice. Hepatitis. Wet brain. Whatever other problems. I always remembered her. She didn’t at all times remember me. Speaking of memories, most are not pleasant. One would think going through the experience, that I would stay away from the bottle. Didn’t happen that way. I was drawn to it.

My own alcoholic like journey, started right after Mom was buried. My Dad, who was a heavy drinker himself, rushed me into the Catholic religion. I was baptized. No more public school. In the third grade, it was now a Catholic education. Saint Mary’s of South Amboy, New Jersey. Here came communion. I became an altar boy. One benefit of this was that I was able to be alone, behind the altar. Preparing for the mass. A little wine for the priest. A little wine for myself. I still remember the warm feeling in my tummy, it would give me.

Between ages seven and eleven, my Dad raised me. Mostly in bars. Coke and potato chips were my favorite. I dunk the chips with the bubbles in it, in the glass of coke. The chip bubbles would then fill up with cola. Right in my mouth, it went. Delicious! Wise Potato Chips. Yummy! Bet it’s still a favorite of pot heads up North. While also at the bars, I got into music. Played CCR on the jukebox. My memories are filled with 1960’s top ten pop songs.

In the early 1970’s, my Dad had a stroke. Paralyzed one side of his body. He was a tough one. Still got around. When I was eleven, one day he had another stroke. Paralyzed from the neck down, this time. A massive heart attack that night did him in.

Now in Manasquan, New Jersey, and after my Dad’s death, I moved in with an Uncle & Aunt. By age twelve, I drank enough alcohol one day to get totally drunk. I remember coming too in a shower, my friends Mother was giving me. Good thing she was a nurse. I was sick for almost three days.

Had weed by now also. My Uncle & Aunt had two boys, older than me by a few years. The oldest one smoked pot. I would steal some of his.

Hanging out with older kids now. Drinking more. Kicked out of my Uncle and Aunt’s place, and then my first foster home. Second foster home threw me out as well. By the time I’m fourteen, I’m into the fourth home since my Father’s passing. Living in Long Branch, New Jersey. Regularly smoking weed. Drugs entered the picture.

This newest foster home seriously didn’t care. Only about the monthly checks. No adult supervision. Jail. Detention centers. Way more than one. Had my first probation officer when I was age twelve. Lasted till I turned legal, which back then was eighteen. Time on probation kept getting bumped up, with every new thing I did. I survived the experience. As I stated before, peaks and valleys. Am sure it reads like a horror story. It wasn’t all that bad.

Sometimes I got lucky. Was forced by court order, to visit Rahway Prison in New Jersey, so I could participate in the Scared Straight program, a week AFTER they filmed the movie. Like Maxwell Smart would say; missed it by that much. So close. The documentary was hugely popular, and frankly, I would have hated to have to been in it.

As luck would have it, I was yet again arrested after completing the Scared Straight proceedings. Imagine that. Not scared straight. Frightened sideways perhaps? Fleeing from a runaway stolen car. That’s what they call a car after everyone inside it, bails out while the car was still proceeding, forward. Judge suspended sentence. Was warned if I was ever in front of the courts again, that I would have to do the time for what the charges were in this case, and whatever other time for whatever else I did. Oh, in a maximum ADULT security jail. Seeing how I was like seventeen then. A social worker I had advised me to take a tooth-brush with me before the trial. Close one.

A saving grace was that I always was a hard worker. Specializing in semi-skilled labor. Passed on college. Marriage number one was a total failure. Was a foster parent. The kid called me the male provider. We never bonded. No relationship. She liked my ex-wife better. It was really when I was in my early thirties, that I started to pull my head out of my ass. Cannabis stayed with me off and on, till I quit everything back in ’92, and got to know myself better.

Looking back now, out of everything I did back then, cannabis truly, hurt me the least. Matter of fact, I was only smoking that when I decided in the early nineties that I’d try to turn my life around. Yet again. Failed a few times before that. Didn’t matter. Was disappointing putting pot aside. I wanted the totally straight effect. Knew one day grass would be back in my life.

I wonder to myself. I said; self…..has my experience with pot shown that it was a gateway drug? Answer being; nope. Booze and drugs were. Both opened lots of doors. Alcohol seriously releases the inhibitions. Made me search for other highs. Pot never did that. It always made me feel somewhat content. When smoking pot, I’d hang around the ones shooting coke in their arms and always say; no thanks. Nice folks that they were, they always leave me a corner of the bag to snort. One night when drinking, and there was no pot, I said yes to the persistent question of did I finally want to try it the right way.

In a field. In the Carolina’s someplace. At night. A group of us gathered around the headlights, so we could see. I said yes, and they came down like vampires. Acting all happy. The needle was prepared. In it went. Was the best high ever. Experienced in a field, in the middle of nowhere. Beautiful dark night sky. Lots of stars. The weather and temperature were perfect. As I already knew it would be. That’s why up to then, I didn’t try it. That’s the problem. It’s a new game now.

You chase that first high. It was that incredible. At first, I controlled it. Silly drug addict. Coke controls you. Still, I kicked that and alcohol back in 1986. Almost died doing so. Detox was horrible. The itching from all the needle holes healing in my arms drove me crazy. I would have dreams, seeing myself shoot up. So vivid. Took a couple years getting Lady Cocaine out of my system. I stole for her. I’d help steal window air conditioners and sell them for coke. Me and a guy who had one fake leg, and one real one. Stealing kept me on three day binges. The weirdest thing is going to bed on Wednesday, and waking up Friday. Almost went to jail for that drug. Glad I freed myself from its clenches. One of the worst mistakes I ever made, was getting seriously involved with cocaine. One of the best things I ever did, was getting it out of my life.

See what happens with no parental guidance. Today, I’m cool with everything. I took responsibility for all my actions. Got rid of what some might call, the nasty habits. Read a BIG book. Tried to salvage some of my religious experiences. At least make sense of them. Found a good woman. Came to terms with really heavy issues. One was I decided, that my Mom was sick. Nothing personal. She didn’t drink herself to death because she hated me. A little boy will think that. Regarding my behavior; I brought the bottle to my lips. The pills to my mouth. The needles to my veins. Nobody’s fault but mine. From then on, I dealt with it. Took full responsibility for my actions. Carried on. And it’s been a work in progress, ever since. The last time I displayed self-destructive behavior, was around 1992. The time before that was way worse. Mid 1980’s. The cocaine days.

And now in 2011, I just smoke pot. Medically speaking; helps with stress….helps me relax….helps me have fun. Helps me sleep. Medical benefits. And sometimes, I just enjoy getting high. The older me, having fun is staying at home with the wife, smoking a couple bowls, and watching television. Having a nice dinner. Enjoying each others company. If circumstances are different, and I’m home alone, I can keep myself entertained. I like listening to music. A BIG part of my life. I write, using the computer. Keep myself busy. I imagine the man with everything, continues to crave more. Like an obsession. I’m of course striving for better, but content having what I do. Cannabis is an asset in my life. Not a liability.

Here’s a big question. As bad as I was in the past with booze and drugs, why is it pot isn’t motivating me to go back to using them again? In August of 2009, or sometime close to that, I decided to continue my use of cannabis. Smoking pretty much daily, ever since. Why no gateway effect? I certainly qualify. If anything, I’m the damn red flag. “Warning Will Robinson!” I’m not even smoking cigarettes. People figured if I smoked weed, that I would pretty much automatically go back to smoking cigarettes. In a previous entry, I mentioned this. It has not happened yet. Still cigarette free. Since November of 2007 (what the hell — worth mentioning again).

I think it’s because pot doesn’t really do that. A side effect of cannabis isn’t that you’ll predestined to advance your use of other substances. Drink screwdrivers all night long, and then on the way home, contract a Sexually Transmitted Disease. Pot doesn’t do that.

People get confused. They socially smoke cannabis. Then go out drinking. The effects of the weed disappear. The effects of the alcohol take over. In some cases, here comes whatever other drugs, like cocaine. Later on coming forward is a good-looking lady in a black rubber suit, with a long whip in her hand. Pot doesn’t do that. My experience is that sex is enhanced when under the cannabis spell. So it could make that situation at least, somewhat more entertaining. And finally, my conclusion is that this gateway talk is pure nonsense. A tactic used to help keep pot use controlled, and or illegal.

Don’t be afraid to debate this. Do the research yourself. Remember the difference between someone like me remarking from experience, and someone who only knows what they read in books. Question where the so called facts, come from. Apply your own logic. The next time you hear about how using pot will certainly lead its users to other illegal drugs down the road (notice how there is never any concern about the legal ones), tell them to knock it off. Shout when you say; “Uncle G thinks you’re full of crap. Nonsense I tell you…NONSENSE.” Laugh, turn around, and then walk off. Logic never seems to work with these people. Maybe irritation will?

Onward Through The Fog,

Uncle G

Originally Published

http://greenribbonworld.com/2011/05/19/gateway-drug-part-2/

Uncle G’s Corner – Gateway Drug? Part One

https://garyunclegbrownarchives.com/2017/09/27/uncle-gs-fun-420-reviews-uncle-gs-corner-04/

31 Aug 2017
Uncle G’s FUN 420 Reviews
Words and Red Ashtray Photography by Gary “Uncle G” Brown
Twitter @GBrown0816

Seeing how this is an archival website, I’d like to introduce to my newer 420 readers, a series of essays I did for a non-profit pro-cannabis website out of New York City, some years ago. One that I’ve been involved with since the year 2011. The webmistress is the wonderful Arlene Williams aka Ganja Granny. I love her to death! The website: Green Ribbon World.

Please note … we’re going back in time. Six years ago. I was married. That one came crashing down in which I was awarded a divorce, one day shy of us being a couple 22 years. No resentments or hard feelings. I wish her well. This is growth. Can’t say I felt that way about wife #02 only months ago. Life goes on. Other aspects in which other parts changed as well. Time stands for no one.

Editing: Versions 2.0 … my aim is to clean up any remaining typo and grammar errors. The originally published essays could be found on the Green Ribbon World website. When finally done (this could take some time) archiving all the past essays published, I’ll start writing new ones. In a way, I already have done so: Uncle G’s FUN 420 Reviews.

Green Ribbon World
Uncle G’s Corner (#03)
April 2011
Topic: Responsibility

When people generally think of cannabis users, more times than not, the vision of the stereotypical stoner comes to mind. The one we see all the times in the movies.

Tommy Chong, in my opinion, portrays the world’s best stoner. This dude has stoner playing, down to an art form. He’s a master craftsman. Pair him with Cheech, and it’s one of the most successful comedy duos in entertainment history.

If not familiar, they do sketch comedy. Most of this centered around reefer. So successful putting out records, and touring, they got into putting out movies. The beginning of the end. Not long after, they quit being a team. The political climate at the time with its “just say no” to drugs, including cannabis like it’s as bad as heroin, was going strong. Those who indulged too much, blamed everyone and everything, including pot, for her or his problems. Lots of folks stopped laughing. Lucky for us, and back to our story, Cheech & Chong got back together a few years ago. This writer saw them twice, one time each, from their past two tours. Only saying.

Back to Tommy. He plays scenes out perfectly. The mannerisms, and the way he carries himself, be it physical or vocally, it’s all one hundred percent believable. He’s put together a true characterization of your everyday, typical pot smoker. For the younger ones reading this, Mr. Chong is acting the way lots of cannabis users did back in the 1960’s and ’70’s. Makes sense, since he’s from that era. And yeah, you can still find potheads like that even today. Be it the younger, beginning marijuana consumer who’s using it for recreational purposes, or the middle aged one, who’s seeking some kind of medical relief for whatever their ailment(s) be.

There’s one problem with Tommy, and his many Oscar Winning Performances of The Man. Wait, no Oscar? Surely an oversight. The portrayal some say was that of a loser, who happened to smoke cannabis. Critics more than once indicated weed made him the way he was. Or was it lack of having any weed? Years ago right? Let’s sum it up. Someone whose life amounted to nothing.

Now out doing errands, you see someone who kind of resembles that person. Typical stoner dude. The person is thought as a failure, at first glance. Brain issues an automatic profile. Took two seconds…boom! Based on what? Impressions that fill up the head. Ideas we believe in. Why the outcome? We can only guess. Bad upbringing? Poor education? A series of crummy jobs? A crummy life in general? Not really a success at anything. Bored most times. Gliding through life. Totally irresponsible. Smokes pot at any given opportunity (this might not be a totally bad thing).

Not one thing thought about the person, based on fact. I could understand why blacks and such get pissed so often. The actions show no respect. It’s very lack of? More than once folks tried to automatically judge me by what they saw. Conclusion sometimes could not be any further from the truth. Judging a book by its cover, don’t necessarily mean you’ll be correct.

Ever end up playing in an episode of “Dude Where Did I Park My Car?” The subject is driving. So caught up in the moment, we park, get out of our vehicle, and an hour later, come out and don’t have a clue as to where the auto we were driving, is at. A characteristic of an everyday pot smoker; bad memory / short term memory loss. A sometimes side effect with cannabis used in many a stoner comedy. But at the same time, people who never used cannabis, as well, have memory problems. A quick fact that helps establish that all character traits of a Tommy Chong character type cannabis user, don’t only afflict marijuana consumers. So the next time the boss loses his / her car keys, don’t automatically think their home at night doing multiple bong hits.

Stoner’s are known for slow driving. But I’ve also seen Brillo head, gray hair, straight (meaning not buzzed) old ladies drive so slow, joggers were passing them up.

And let’s not forget the ever famous, munchies. It’s true that after consuming cannabis, that one tends to get hungry. Real hungry. Defending this, I’ll say that people can get fat, without consuming weed. The proof’s in the pudding. Got to watch this one. I have a rule. I know my belly is getting too big, if when naked, I’m standing and look down, and don’t see my junk. That should be a rule for all guys. If when nude and standing, a guy can’t see his man stuff, then items like mashed potatoes should be banned from his household, until he can.

Note: To the Ladies reading this. You’re welcome. Consider that last part, Uncle G’s Public Service Announcement of the day.

Reality is, that there are way way too numerous cannabis users, living stable, productive lives. Happy. Responsible. We just do it from a different perspective. That’s certainly not a definition of a loser. Yet, that’s the characterization many people believe because it’s so much in the forefront. Humorous? Yes! A reflection of a true cannabis user today? Not so much.

My typical day, I’m up at around 5:30 AM. It’s still dark outside. My work day starts at either 7:30 / 8:00 / 11:45….all in the morning. The one close to Noon is on Sunday. I have two jobs. Full time is the Monday through Friday gig. Can’t say I care for that much. A major benefit is the insurance coverage. I actually like my weekend job. Warehouse. Connected to a retail store. This job has a further drive. Combining the two days, I’ll put about seventy miles on the odometer.

All this, while not under the influence of cannabis.

I’ll typically stop at a grocery store on the drive home, and buy whatever supplies are needed for the time being. I’m in a BIG city. Wally World is a half mile away. Open just about all the time. A supermarket is across the street from that. Another major grocery store is another block away. Instead of a weekly shopping routine, I almost enjoy the daily trips to the food store. Great for people watching. True characters walk up and down those grocery aisles.

By the way, I’m still straight. Have not smoked anything yet. Besides, a place like Wally World would be too bizarre while high. I know. It’s happened. Only once. They specialize in selling stuff that you don’t have and would like to own. Every isle almost I found at least one thing that I was sure I could no longer live without. After bored with that, I played find the stuff not made in China game.

Come home. Check the mail. Put whatever I purchased away. And then comes chores. Before doing the mundane household tasks, I might smoke a small bowl of the herb, before getting into it. Then dishes. Laundry. I have pets. When all is done, I might chill out here in our home office. Computer. Music. Tonight it’s Mike Oldfield. With the Misses, later on, smoke another bowl. The days finished. Eyes are getting heavy after nine at night. I’m crashed by 11 PM.

That’s a typical day. I mentioned in this and past entries, that I smoked every day. I did so in this example. I have a feeling. I could be wrong. Many others, who smoke grass, have days just like the one I described. Instead of taking care of pets, maybe they have children. Or maybe they raise children and take care of pets. And when the times right, they get high. And when I say high, I mean more like kind of buzzed. Not stoned. Nor wasted. Like a small bowl. Shared with a loved one. Had on the TV. Watched some Adult Swim. Maybe a repeat of The Office. Laughed. Had the munchies. A good time was had by all. No drama. Just relaxed. Decompressing, at its finish. The simpler things in life are indeed sometimes the best. Like that fart, I let out a few minutes ago. Loud. Commanded attention, and respect. Made the cat run away. Was that good! In a farting contest, I’d racked major points with that one.

Responsible is what those of us, living in the shadows….wait….the politicians say that’s the Mexicans. Kind of, it’s us cannabis users also. Laws might be cooler in California, then say Texas. Not acting like a fool, and acting responsibly, is how we increase the odds of not going to the crowbar motel.

Hard to believe out of all the drug busts in 2009, that number being *1,663,582 in the United States, that *858,408 was for weed. We need to stop getting busted so much. If in a collective, Spock would find intelligent life when aiming his scanner at us. Yet, look at all those arrests. Wonder how much money was wasted on prosecuting those associated with cannabis? Is it worth all the trouble? Legalize. Decriminalize.

Mr. President, Nothing worse will happen to society at large, then what’s already been accredited to alcohol. Need I say more?

In closing, please don’t let them sin tax us to death. Would kill me seeing fake cannabis plants throw into the Boston Harbor (you don’t think anyone would totally waste a good plant…do you?)

Onward Through The Fog

Gary “Uncle G” Brown

PS: OH…God bless Cheech & Chong. Sometimes people misinterpret jokes. It happens.

Source:

Green Ribbon World – http://greenribbonworld.com/2011/04/04/uncle-gs-corner-2/

“Crime in the United States 2009,” FBI Uniform Crime Report (Washington, DC: US Dept. of Justice, September 2010), Table 29,

http://www2.fbi.gov/ucr/cius2009/data/table_29.html

and Arrest Table: Arrests for Drug Abuse Violations,

http://www2.fbi.gov/ucr/cius2009/arrests/index.html.