The color of geed
Oxford dictionary defines greed as: “Intense and selfish desire for something, especially wealth, power, or food.” I was thinking about greed this morning while listening to a Ted Talk by Ben Cort entitled “What commercialization is doing to cannabis” His talk gives some very interesting statistics on how the legalization and, subsequent commercialization of cannabis has negatively affected poor people and people of color in Colorado. He also talks about the fact that the two primary ingredients in marijuana are CBD and THC. CBD is the medicinal part of the plant and THC is the part of the plant that produces a high. In Colorado the focus has been on increasing the percentage of THC in the plant by growing it indoors and using pesticides and fertilizers.
Interestingly Mr. Cort, an educator, states that in Colorado: “According to the Colorado Department of Public Safely, since we opened retail in 2014 – almost all of which are in poor, minority neighborhoods-we saw an eight percent reduction in the arrest of white kids for weed-related activity. Good on ‘em. During that same time period, there was a 29 percent increase in the arrest of Hispanic kids for weed-related activity and a 58 percent increase in the arrest of black kids for weed-related crimes.”
Mr. Cort, himself a recovering addict, is not against the recreational use of marijuana. He is against the abuse of any drug and the abuse of others in order to make a profit; what the companies are doing to increase the amount of THC in their product, the neighborhoods in which they are setting up shop, and how their product affects those in the neighborhood.
The bottom line is that the growers and sellers are making a huge profit with little concern for how it is affecting those who are predominantly buying and using their product. Most of the profit is not from CBD sales. It is from enhanced THC (the word enhanced is mine) sales.
Last evening, I was talking with some friends about the amount of money that West Virginia Supreme Court judges spent on redecorating their offices. One bought a couch for $32,000.00. Another friend and I were talking about how many members of congress and other wealthy individuals benefit from farm subsidies.
I am not, despite the urging of some for whom I have deep respect, willing to say that all those who get rich off the backs of the poor or others with little power in our communities are evil people. I do, however, want to suggest that the essential issues we need to address in our community if we want to reduce the number of people we are incarcerated, the number of active addicts and the overall poverty rate are:
Written September 6, 2018
Oxford dictionary defines greed as: “Intense and selfish desire for something, especially wealth, power, or food.” I was thinking about greed this morning while listening to a Ted Talk by Ben Cort entitled “What commercialization is doing to cannabis” His talk gives some very interesting statistics on how the legalization and, subsequent commercialization of cannabis has negatively affected poor people and people of color in Colorado. He also talks about the fact that the two primary ingredients in marijuana are CBD and THC. CBD is the medicinal part of the plant and THC is the part of the plant that produces a high. In Colorado the focus has been on increasing the percentage of THC in the plant by growing it indoors and using pesticides and fertilizers.
Interestingly Mr. Cort, an educator, states that in Colorado: “According to the Colorado Department of Public Safely, since we opened retail in 2014 – almost all of which are in poor, minority neighborhoods-we saw an eight percent reduction in the arrest of white kids for weed-related activity. Good on ‘em. During that same time period, there was a 29 percent increase in the arrest of Hispanic kids for weed-related activity and a 58 percent increase in the arrest of black kids for weed-related crimes.”
Mr. Cort, himself a recovering addict, is not against the recreational use of marijuana. He is against the abuse of any drug and the abuse of others in order to make a profit; what the companies are doing to increase the amount of THC in their product, the neighborhoods in which they are setting up shop, and how their product affects those in the neighborhood.
The bottom line is that the growers and sellers are making a huge profit with little concern for how it is affecting those who are predominantly buying and using their product. Most of the profit is not from CBD sales. It is from enhanced THC (the word enhanced is mine) sales.
Last evening, I was talking with some friends about the amount of money that West Virginia Supreme Court judges spent on redecorating their offices. One bought a couch for $32,000.00. Another friend and I were talking about how many members of congress and other wealthy individuals benefit from farm subsidies.
I am not, despite the urging of some for whom I have deep respect, willing to say that all those who get rich off the backs of the poor or others with little power in our communities are evil people. I do, however, want to suggest that the essential issues we need to address in our community if we want to reduce the number of people we are incarcerated, the number of active addicts and the overall poverty rate are:
- Pretending as if addiction to power, money, self-importance or better than are different issues than addiction to drugs, sex or food is not accurate or helpful.
- The definition of success or winning cannot be about the number of toys one has whether the toys be houses, cars, electronic devices, clothes, expensive paintings, expensive alcohol or other things.
- Either we are all equally sacred/important/worthwhile or none of us are.
- All have different talents and contributions to make to the community. All contributions are equally valuable.
- Nice things are nice! I am sure some luxury cars ride smoother and are more comfortable than my relatively inexpensive car. I personally really like my air conditioning, indoor plumbing, electricity, gas, a comfortable home, good food and other things that make life more pleasurable and easier. These things do not, however, define me or make me better than. I am blessed to have been given an ability to earn money to have access to them. I am not more deserving than anyone else in the community.
- Greed is a method of attempting to convince oneself that he/she who has the most toys wins. It is not a moral failing any more than addiction. It is a gross lie.
Written September 6, 2018
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