If you walk around the neighborhoods of Riverside at night, you may notice something. If you know what marijuana smells like, you can not walk far before you smell it. And if you don't know what it smells like, you will by the time you get back home. Some nights I can not go one block without walking past a house where either the smell is coming from the windows, or the occupants are out on the steps or porch having a smoke. I suppose different people see this activity in many different ways. I have noticed that some folks are quite rattled by the blatant use of the controversial, and illegal drug. At the same time, many folks are very comfortable around the same "out in the open" use. I notice that most of the people out smoking seem very comfortable, and rather friendly. I cant really decide what I think about it. I cant speak of it as though I am from Mars, or a retired State Trooper- I have smoked "weed" plenty of times, though primarily as a teenager. I never saw much of a problem with it, and honestly I don't see what all the fuss is about. On the other hand, I do want law and order in my neighborhood. So, I'm out there every night, walking through the wafting trails of marijuana smoke, unable to decide how to feel about it. At this time, I choose to NOT do anything about the use of the stuff, though I may not feel the same about the open sale of it. Once again, I have to ask you folks what you think?
7 comments:
As a marijuana activist, I obviously see no problems with anyone smoking. I agree that it is rather prevalent in Riverside but have never seen any problems with its use (unlike the alcohol infused fights and whatnot that I have witnessed outside of my window). I think that most people around here are pretty accepting (or maybe just tolerant?) of it. I will leave it at that since I do not want my post here to turn into a speech! ;)
(shameless plug)
By the way, for anyone interested, there is the Jacksonville NORML meeting Wed. the 20th at Raglands at 6pm.
(/shameless plug)
I agree with Ash on most points (though I'm not an avid activist). The instances of mischief and mayhem involving marijuana are probably few and far between, while drunken routes and trips to the hospital are. While I in no way want a return of prohibition, and I don't think that legalizing marijuana is the right course either, I do see it as a not so evil thing. Do I want my kids around it? No. Do I want them constantly bombarded by it? No. To each his own, as long as it doesn't negatively affect me. Maybe that's a passive cop out or whatever, but there you go.
I too, right now think that mary-jane is not the worst of our problems. Our "real" problems are the people who are walking the streets daily and nightly and who are "stalking" homes. Where is the "mother" nest so to speak. We need to focus on those area's. We need to buy the signs that say this is a "crime watch area" it's cheezey, but it needs to be done!
Lets have our own neighborhood picnic. Let people see we are for real, we are here and we are watching. Who cares what people do in there back yard. I want to personally know whats going on in front of me.
Well, well, well. Here is the problem with those friendly scamps smoking their harmless doobs on the front porch....they have to get it somewhere...that "somewhere" happens to be on my side of the neighborhood. And let me tell ya, those scamps selling it, aren't nearly as friendly as the hippy smoking it on his porch! So, keep buying it...no harm done, right? Not to YOU anyway. Meanwhile, I get to live next door to the guy selling it and enjoy YOU coming by the house at 4 in the morning to get it! You are not buying it from lovable Cheech and Chong or that nutty guy that was the life of the party when you were in highschool...you are buying it from the guy with a gun standing on my corner at 4 in the morning! Even if you do buy it from "Stoner" or "Bonger" or the same lovable turd you got it from in school...HE HAS TO GET IT FROM SOMEWHERE!
So either grow your own or stop smoking it! You are the reason, like it or not, that that guy is standing there when the kids walk by from the elementary school in the afternoon.
If you don't beleive me...come on over and we'll take a walk!
ps...I bet the guy that you buy it from will NOT be at your "NORML" meeting!
Van Nostrom
Hey now, no need to be a big jerk about it. If you see people selling dime bags on the side of your house at 4am, then call the freaking cops on them. I dont know anyone that buys weed off of the street. The people selling things on the street are usually selling more then just a dime bag of pot. And I guarantee you that NONE of the people selling pot around here are getting their supply from the street. Geeze. So yeah. Let me come over there and see this. If there is a guy standing on your corner with a gun selling drugs to kids, why the hell havent you called the cops on him?????
EXACTLY.
Well "Ash",
Read it again slowly..I am sure that the people that you know are not infact buying it from "the street". I'm simply saying that, whether you want to admit it or not, there is a chain of command there.
As far as the police are concerned, I do give them quite a bit of business on a very regular basis.
You can really "guarantee" me that "no one that is selling pot around here is getting their supply from the street"? So where do they get it, slick? The weed fairy?
Ofcourse the guy out there on the street is selling other things besides "dime bags". Hell ,he's probably got a freaking pharmacy out there available.
Maybe Johnny Smokes-a-lot gets his stash from some farmer out in middleburg...or maybe he does grow his own but you said it in your reply...he IS selling it in this neighborhood and that is going to attract crime to this area like seagulls to a cheeto! Like it or not!
Look man,
I am not looking to write any speeches either. Hell, I DO believe that legalization is a great way to combat the "criminal" reputation of it. Legalize it and the guy outside my window is gone...probably not. We did agree that he is most likely selling more than simply a dimer, right?
My point here is that once that "drought" sets in...we've all been there...scenario: "Hey man, my guy is out and HIS guy is out...what do we do? Well, I know this street over in Riverside where you can get it. It may not be the quality we're used to but hey, it's better than nothing!"
And there you are, in the shadiest part of R-side, waiting on someone you DON'T know to sell you that dimer. Not to mention the dude that drives over from Arlington to buy it...and the guy in Mayport..and the guy from the beach.
There are a lot of "neighborhood watchers" that read and contribute to this blog site...sitting on the porch smoking weed doesn't help clean up a neighborhood. If it were legal, it wouldn't matter...I agree with you there. But it is not. NOT LEGAL...I really don't mind when you blaze up...my kids aren't old enough to know the difference. But if that guy selling dimes and crack smells it, all he sees is a potential customer.
Again, not here to preach...the man asked and I opinionated. Maybe a bit too strongly but hey, I tend to ramble on and say too much when I'm stoned.
Van Nostrom
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