Can You Multitask?

A city ordinance should be enacted banning the use of cell phones while driving. Most people are involved in a car accident during their time as a driver, but one's chances of causing an accident increase by almost 100% when a cell phone is involved. I am tired of having to swerve, dodge and/ or slam on my brakes because some idiot on his/her cell phone can not talk and drive at the same time. When a person is talks he/she is focused on internal thought processes. This can be dangerous if the person is not paying full attention to other people who are sharing the road. In the past month I have almost been killed by a person running a stop sign and also by someone who could not stay in his/her lane of travel, both of them were talking on their cell phones.

The people who text message while driving are worse drivers than drunks. The punishment for those causing accidents while using their cell phones should be the same punishment given to those who have caused an accident while intoxicated; in both situations the person knows before hand the risk involved in not paying close attention to the road.

An alternative to banning the use of cell phones while driving is to enact an ordinance that would demand a hands-free way of communicating while driving. This might prevent some people from talking or text messaging their way into another driver. I know some cities have introduced such ordinances. Although I am not sure how well these hands-free devises work in preventing car wrecks.

A Harmless Drug

Marijuana users have been convicted of victimless crimes and have been incarcerated for using a harmless drug. I don’t see why marijuana is illegal in Texas. It is certainly less harmful to society than tobacco and alcohol. The two highest drug related fatality rates are caused by those who use alcohol or tobacco, which are currently legal drugs for most of the population. Nicotine is one of the most addicting drugs known to mankind. It is also one of the most widely used recreational drugs. It is the primary cause of lung cancer and contributes to a number of other serious health conditions including heart disease. Second hand smoke from tobacco is also toxic. Tobacco is so dangerous that it can kill people who do not even smoke. Marijuana is a much less harmful drug. It is outrageous to see tobacco smokers killing themselves and others while a perfectly reasonable alternative as a social drug is illegal. I believe that tobacco smokers would switch to marijuana if it were socially acceptable, or legal in other words. Alcohol can be dangerous because it causes people to become foolish, distracted, and violent at times. Drunk drivers kill thousands of people a year on the road. Almost any drug can be safely used with moderation, which is the way alcohol is supposed to used. But, how many people do you know who only have one or two drinks? Probably not very many. When was the last time you heard about a marijuana user killing someone on the road? I have seen my fair share of violent alcohol abusers. On the other hand, I have not seen many violent marijuana users. Marijuana is a social drug which is much safer than tobacco or alcohol. I do not see how these drugs can be legal, while marijuana users are going to jail and being fined left and right. Lives have been ruined by the felon title given to marijuana users by the courts for a victimless crime. I say legalize marijuana. Legalizing marijuana would stop a huge amount of illegal smuggling into our country. The nation and state would be a much safer place if smugglers and drug dealers were cut out of the picture and the government regulated the usage of marijuana. Does use of marijuana make a person stupid or lazy, a traditional criticism against users of marijuana? The answer is: marijuana doesn’t make a person stupid or lazy. If one is stupid and lazy before one smokes, one will be stupid and lazy after one smokes. Finally, a marijuana plant can be used to make textiles, medicines, oils, and nutritional supplements. There are many industrial applications in which the plant can be used. There is an explosive potential for it in our market. For all of these reasons, I would hope to see marijuana legalized for social use in Texas.