It’s been a minor issue for quite some time, but like many of the issues minor there is a major and important overriding issue involved. It connects to the drug war, then to Marijuana, then finally down the line to industrial hemp production. The effects of misinformation and prejudice roll down the hill of causation. They cause collateral damage and civilian casualties galore. ( This is why I’ll be announcing “The War against Stupidity.” Stupid actions and beliefs are like cancer, they metastasize and travel far throughout the system. And set precedent for more idiocy. But I’m digressing
Throughout late youth and since, one of the many drug debates has been: Who is stupider alcoholics or potheads? The answer of course depends on who you ask. Old Alcoholics will almost universally rave on about stupid weed heads and their sub par humanity and their lazy lifestyle and their zombie like sentence structure and conversation. All of which could be said about the alcoholics as well. I saw a video by the much celebrated and always soused Charles Buckowski. His comments, while insightful, even eloquent, were no surprise. Very much the opinion of your average old drunk (assuming old alkys can still handle the effort of having such things as opinions)
The issue is more complicated than at first it seems. For one thing, most pot aficionados also partake of spirits as well, many to excess. In fact drinking comes first to lots of them. So how do you get a pure control group and get statistical analysis?
Science documents very well alcoholic brain damage. It can be well quantified. Recovering alcoholics take at least two years to recover a lot of the higher brain function that has been destroyed over years of drinking. There is no doubt about that.
Perhaps the following will help elucidate the confusion that mere applied scientific method has not.
Boozing in general loosens the tongue. In many, pot inhibits verbalization. Having said this, many rappers use the inspiration of the cannabis goddess to help loosen the screws and spew out their rhymes. Could they be accessing a different brain function than everyday speech? Quite possible. Singing and music involve cognition and expression from another source than reasoning and speech.
As a non-participant both in heavy drinking and cannabis inhalation or intake. I really have no dog in the fight. But there is pleasure in speaking about what everybody internally knows to be true but has almost never been expressed. Concerning acute immediate and overwhelming dumbing down, I would have to give the advantage to the cannabis crowd. You’ll know what I mean if you have ever been talking to an aficionado of the herb and the dialogue gets a little too real, In the exchange true ideation is coming up from the depths and surfacing. Things are starting to get a little uncomfortable. About then one of the club will say: “Hey man! How about we burn one?” And after that there will be few too any traces of intelligent life, for a while.
We’re in the realm of observation and speculation here. I would appreciate any other input. I don’t think there is hard science on this, and on something of this political and economic import science must be met with a raised eyebrow, if not millions of raised eyebrows. One point concerning chronic usage is the lack of intellectual stimulation. Constant magic herb intake 4 to ten times per day virtually precludes any other mental activity other than hard rock or heavy metal listening, or cartoon and movie watching and low brow comedy. And of course gossip on who’s doing who and who got busted and is this “Good Shit Or What”. Much like babies can have massive-passive brain damage by long duration TV watching before they are two years old, something similar can appear in our older Cheechers and Chongers. Physiologically, I doubt there is any long term damage, but you can see how some would come to that conclusion after any other than a casual conversation with the chronic user.
Back to boozers. A different group with different effects and outcomes. It takes longer to see the effects of booze. I think (along with many others that chronic usage here is always devastating; mentally, physically, spiritually and in every other way). A lot has been said on this so I don’t want to go into much detail. But the facts are easily accessible on this. As a former insider, but now outsider, I can only advise partake of both smoke and brew at your own risk, if at all.
As for the creative process and drug use, at times art is created in the destruction and song is just the process of a release from pain. Pictures are drawn in the lines and colors of despair. Many here have drowned, so swim in these waters at your own risk.
Proponents and opponents will sling their pros and cons on the matter. We don’t hear too much from the Pros anymore…they’ve run low on any factual ammunition. Still, the beat goes on, the war drums pound and innocent industrial hemp production is collateral damage. Or was it the target all along? Another subject under corporate conspiracies. Of course people are the victims as well. Collateral? Or Target? Just raising the question for another column. When it all hits the fan, we still have existence to deal with. Best wishes
The Editor
