James Lambert
Former 17 year marijuana addict urges other states to say No to recreational pot
By James Lambert
Over two years ago, I was interviewed on Virginia radio station WINA regarding my commentary about a Calif. Pastor's reluctance to condemn a controversial state ballot measure, Proposition 19. (Prop. 19 was an effort by Northern California marijuana activists and pot users in 2010 to fully legalize the use and commercial development of recreational marijuana in the state of California). Fortunately, that year, it was rejected by voters in this state during that our election cycle.
When radio host Rob Shilling opened up his phone lines that morning, "Chris" called in to share the story of his past involvement with marijuana. He described a moving account about his own struggle with marijuana addiction that lasted for over 17 years.
Chris told the audience that "as a drug addict I was dependent on daily, multiple uses of pot. I missed many opportunities to mature by relying on marijuana to solve difficulties in my life as well as forfeiting my human potential. I would get high to divert any unpleasant thoughts and feelings of inadequacy and self doubt. Eventually, my frustrations would lead to more marijuana use, hence starting the endless cycle again and again... At the end of seventeen years of marijuana use, I wanted to die."
He went on by saying that during "the past twenty years, I have been healing my addicted personality and character by living life on its own terms, not my terms. This process has taken the power of years of intense effort to find the maturity that this powerful and insidious drug enabled me to deny."
Chris was happy to say he is now drug free but it came after enormous struggle. Chris concluded by urging state citizens to vote No on any attempt to legalize recreational marijuana.
If you want to help in the effort to keep recreational pot out of your state, encourage pastors, your friends and relatives to boldly declare their support against any efforts of legalization. Also, in my opinion, it would be a bad idea for individuals to personally buy insurance from Progressive Insurance Company. I say this because their CEO (Peter Lewis) is a huge financial supporter for legalizing recreational pot around the country. Chris, along with many who have personally experienced the negative ramifications of pot use, urges voters in the remaining states (outside of Colorado & Washington) "to say no" to these legalization efforts.
Perhaps you have friends or relatives just like Chris. They also might have struggled or struggle with the drug that pot promoters say is 'not addictive.' Funny, even the Office of Drug Control Policy informs us that there are over 1.7 million people who are currently in some sort of marijuana addiction counseling.
As for myself, I have had a number of friends who started their own downward cycle of drug abuse beginning with marijuana. What do these five have in common? They are now all dead from drugs. Tragedies like these have played out throughout the country. Hopefully future voters will realize that we cannot afford to make the mistake of saying yes to recreational marijuana. Chris understands the dangers of this drug too well after escaping his own addiction (to pot) which controlled his life for over 17 years.
The writer of this commentary, James L. Lambert, is the author of his newest released book, "16 Amazing Stories of Divine Intervention" (Xulon Press). For more information on this exciting new book please go to the website: www.16AmazingStories.com .
© James Lambert
March 9, 2014
Over two years ago, I was interviewed on Virginia radio station WINA regarding my commentary about a Calif. Pastor's reluctance to condemn a controversial state ballot measure, Proposition 19. (Prop. 19 was an effort by Northern California marijuana activists and pot users in 2010 to fully legalize the use and commercial development of recreational marijuana in the state of California). Fortunately, that year, it was rejected by voters in this state during that our election cycle.
When radio host Rob Shilling opened up his phone lines that morning, "Chris" called in to share the story of his past involvement with marijuana. He described a moving account about his own struggle with marijuana addiction that lasted for over 17 years.
Chris told the audience that "as a drug addict I was dependent on daily, multiple uses of pot. I missed many opportunities to mature by relying on marijuana to solve difficulties in my life as well as forfeiting my human potential. I would get high to divert any unpleasant thoughts and feelings of inadequacy and self doubt. Eventually, my frustrations would lead to more marijuana use, hence starting the endless cycle again and again... At the end of seventeen years of marijuana use, I wanted to die."
He went on by saying that during "the past twenty years, I have been healing my addicted personality and character by living life on its own terms, not my terms. This process has taken the power of years of intense effort to find the maturity that this powerful and insidious drug enabled me to deny."
Chris was happy to say he is now drug free but it came after enormous struggle. Chris concluded by urging state citizens to vote No on any attempt to legalize recreational marijuana.
If you want to help in the effort to keep recreational pot out of your state, encourage pastors, your friends and relatives to boldly declare their support against any efforts of legalization. Also, in my opinion, it would be a bad idea for individuals to personally buy insurance from Progressive Insurance Company. I say this because their CEO (Peter Lewis) is a huge financial supporter for legalizing recreational pot around the country. Chris, along with many who have personally experienced the negative ramifications of pot use, urges voters in the remaining states (outside of Colorado & Washington) "to say no" to these legalization efforts.
Perhaps you have friends or relatives just like Chris. They also might have struggled or struggle with the drug that pot promoters say is 'not addictive.' Funny, even the Office of Drug Control Policy informs us that there are over 1.7 million people who are currently in some sort of marijuana addiction counseling.
As for myself, I have had a number of friends who started their own downward cycle of drug abuse beginning with marijuana. What do these five have in common? They are now all dead from drugs. Tragedies like these have played out throughout the country. Hopefully future voters will realize that we cannot afford to make the mistake of saying yes to recreational marijuana. Chris understands the dangers of this drug too well after escaping his own addiction (to pot) which controlled his life for over 17 years.
The writer of this commentary, James L. Lambert, is the author of his newest released book, "16 Amazing Stories of Divine Intervention" (Xulon Press). For more information on this exciting new book please go to the website: www.16AmazingStories.com .
© James Lambert
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