Happy 420, brothers and sisters! Today we observe the heroic efforts of millions of Americans who have been striving since 1970 to reform cannabis laws. Republican President Richard Nixon demanded criminalization of cannabis. He launched a WAR on Americans who preferred cannabis to alcohol, tobacco, and more recently, deadly and addictive opioid drugs.
by Scott Goold, guest columnist
Scott Goold is a former professional athlete, a coach who directed sports camps for special needs and traditional athletes, and served professionally as a business analyst, programmer and civil rights activist.
Due to Scott’s sports injuries, aggravated by military training, he required numerous surgeries and suffers severe chronic pain.
Scott was hired by Hawaiian Electric (HECO) as a contract employee. Manager and coworkers rated Scott highly proficient technically and an excellent fit socially. HECO offered Scott permanent employment.
As Scott’s medical team recommends medication for his severe chronic pain, Scott checked HECO policy, as well as asked his assigned HR rep. HECO said he would be fine. They fired him two weeks later.
Scott is using his voice for people like him.
SEE HECOgate.com
The Rabbit Hole posted that drug overdoses are the top cause of death for individuals ages 15 to 49 in the United States. ODs surpass cancers, cardiovascular disease, suicide, road accidents, homicide, digestive diseases, liver disease, alcohol disorder, lower respiratory infections and fire.
Scott was trained by the CDC-University of New Mexico School of Medicine to reduce use of opioids, assist those who struggle with addiction, and rescue individuals suffering overdose.
Hawaiian Electric (HECO) recruited Scott to serve their IT department in a non-safety-sensitive role. His manager rated his performance as outstanding. HECO offered Scott an internal and long-term position. Company required a pre-employment drug test.
Scott is a disabled, older male. DRs recommended opioids. Scott substitutes with medical cannabis. Scott asked his assigned HR rep about the permissibly of his prescribed medication. She told him he would be fine. HECO HR director fired Scott two weeks later.
HECO refused to speak with Scott, forced him to hire an attorney. HECO attorneys, Susan Li and Thao Tran, required Scott to end his cannabis use “cold turkey.” He could use opioids or other medications. Had Scott been using opioids initially, HECO would not have fired him. While working with his medical team, Tran and Li ended negations. The attorneys left Scott suicidal and in tremendous pain.
Opioids addict and kill. Nobody has died from cannabis overdose. Cannabis, like any medication, presents risks to patients — but is far safer than opioids and other alternatives.
More importantly, fentanyl deaths are exploding. Poisonous raw chemicals come from China, which appears to be intentionally seeking to addict and harm U.S. citizens. These illicit compounds flow to Mexico where fentanyl is produced and tons cross our open borden into American cities and homes.
Coincidentally, the CDC-UNM trained Scott beginning in 2010. Warned of the impending disaster. HECO fired Scott for being smart and progressive. Hawaiian Electric CEO & President Connie Lau was nearly 70 years old and part of the Nixon and Ronald Reagan supporters who punished Americans for cannabis use. They had a racist agenda.
“You want to know what this [war on drugs] was really all about? The Nixon campaign in 1968, and the Nixon White House after that, had two enemies: the antiwar left and Black people. You understand what I’m saying?
We knew we couldn’t make it illegal to be either against the war or Black, but by getting the public to associate the hippies with marijuana and blacks with heroin, and then criminalizing both heavily, we could disrupt those communities. We could arrest their leaders, raid their homes, break up their meetings, and vilify them night after night on the evening news.
Did we know we were lying about the drugs? Of course we did.”
~ John Ehrlichman, Assistant to the President for Domestic Affairs under President Richard Nixon
Prohibition Only Brings Violence
The U.S. attempted a failed prohibition of alcohol between 1920 and 1933. Alcohol use didn’t stop. Violence only increased. The war on cannabis began in 1970. Americans didn’t stop using cannabis. Our nation simply funded drug thugs, criminals and cartels. Violence has exploded across America. Cannabis is more potent and prevalent than ever. Cannabis now is more popular than chocolate.
Our communities are awash in violence, rioting, looting and teen mayhem. Government has lost control. Officials have not been honest with the public. Citizens do not trust officials. Corporations bully and abuse workers like Scott. We are a nation in decline.
Some 21 U.S. states have legalized cannabis for recreational purposes. Hawai’i continues to refuse to protect Japanese interests in the islands. Newly-elected Governor Josh Green, MD, and attorney general Anne Lopez pledge to legalize next year. These progressive representatives understand that a legal, regulated market better protects keiki and teens. They’re also financially smart and prefer supporting legitimate small business over drug criminals.
Scott Goold continues his action to reduce opioid use, addiction and overdose. Scott asks residents of Hawai’i and across the nation to increase calls for cannabis legalization at the federal level. The war on Americans who prefer a more safe alternative to alcohol, tobacco, vaping of nicotine and opioid medications must end.
Happy 420 !!!
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