A Few Thoughts (Updated)

I found myself with a bit of time this morning, and decided I would post another editorial — not that this is an attempt at procrastination!

Clutter

I’ve had plenty of time to let my mind wander during this past week, while trudging up and down the basement steps, carting what I estimate to be about three tonnes of junk out to a dumpster.

It seems that a good cure for procrastination is a deadline. Knowing that everything had to be packed-up or tossed-out by the end of the week has spurred me into action. Not to say I haven’t taken the odd break here and there, but generally I’ve been working fairly steadily.

It’s amazing how much junk one accumulates. I have the added burden of having inherited my parents’ accumulated junk. Looking at everything in the dumpster, all crammed together in one spot rather than spread out through the house and garden shed, one gets a better perspective on how much junk there was.

The dumpster is about half-full, now. In terms of volume, the contents of the dumpster would fill two average bedrooms, wall-to-wall, about waist deep.

I was speaking with one of my neighbours, who sympathized with my plight, saying that she "would not want to have to move" for just the same reasons. And they have a garage, too!

Now, I’ve been in homes that don’t seem to have any clutter. Perhaps those people are just better at hiding it, or perhaps they really don’t keep unneeded items. I’ve always envied people like that.

I will admit that I have a magpie-like tendency to keep items that I may — may — someday find a use for. Perhaps it was something I used once and could foresee possibly needing again; perhaps it was something I thought I might be able to use in the future.

I have been told, both recently and in the past, that one should box-up any items one isn’t using and set them aside; if after a year they haven’t been used, one should discard them. I imagine the people who don’t have any clutter in their homes follow this advice.

I did find a bit — okay, a lot — of stuff that fit this description, and it got tossed. But I also had quite a few items that I just haven’t been able to use, for one reason or another. I have a reasonably extensive assortment of hand and power tools. However, since I haven’t been able to afford to do any renovations around the house, and since I haven’t had a vehicle on which to perform minor maintenance and repairs, these have remained unused.

I will be keeping these.

Similarly, I have a fair collection of books, many of which have been in boxes for (I hate to admit it) about 20 years. Now, I have gone down and rummaged through these boxes from time to time, pulling out volumes I wanted to read. I just haven’t had a place to put them.

I had intended to install some bookshelves down in the basement rec room, but one thing led to another and it never happened.

So the books remain packed, or re-packed, for the time being.

As stressful an ordeal as this move is, I am glad it is taking place. As reluctant as I have been to leave what I have called "home" for the past 29 years, the time to do so has come. It is time to move on, and that wasn’t going to happen sitting here amidst the clutter and comfort of this house.


Hempfest and the Cannabis Culture

There were some interesting discussions this past week regarding Hempfest and the, as some described it, draconian actions of the OPP.

I do understand that some people use pot in a relatively responsible manner, having a joint in the evening much as some would enjoy a glass of wine or a wee dram of whisky. I do understand that such people tend not to disturb others in any way.

Unfortunately, there are others — perhaps, many others — for whom the cannabis culture is more an active one: people who spark-up wherever and whenever they can; people who consume immoderate amounts of alcohol at the same time; people who drive under the influence.

I’m fine with the basic idea of Hempfest being a peaceful gathering to celebrate the cannabis culture. I have read through the Hempfest FAQs and the online guide, which implores people to bring non-alcoholic beverages, and prohibits glass containers. The strictly-enforced policy against rowdiness of any sort is well-stated. (Read it all, here.)

I commend the organizers for their responsible planning and hosting of this event, and I understand why they see the actions of the OPP as being aggressive.

Unfortunately, not all of those who would travel to Hempfest are as responsible as the organizers would like them to be, as evidenced by the various charges laid by the OPP: liquor offences, prohibited weapons, unlicensed drivers and unfit vehicles, possession (2 pounds) for trafficking, several breaches of probation, and one Canada-wide warrant executed. ( full story )

Despite claims that the OPP were trying to prevent participants from enjoying themselves at Hempfest, I see the OPP’s actions as attempting to ensure that everyone — both participants and area residents — remain safe.

There are some — even among the Police — who want to see marijuana legalized and controlled, in the same way as alcohol or tobacco products. Personally, I think this may be a good idea, although I worry that this might cause as many problems as it solves.

I'm not convinced, as some would argue, that marijuana has more benefits than drawbacks. Many claim marijuana is not addictive, but addictions can be formed as much in the mind as they can through use of a substance or a behaviour.

Currently, contraband tobacco is a significant problem for the government. I can only imagine that bootleg pot would be an even bigger issue.

I don’t know how many people are nipping into tobacco fields, picking themselves a bushel of leaves, hanging and curing them, and shredding them into roll-your-owns. Given all that’s involved, probably not very many.

But I suspect that there could be many more people sneaking onto marijuana farms and grabbing themselves an armful of bud. Aside from the loss of tax revenue for the government, the lack of control over the product and its distribution would be very problematic.

I also feel that there would still be a criminal element that would deal in the illicit growing and sale of marijuana. Profits can be quite addictive, too.

But… that’s just my opinion.

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Note: this will be my last editorial for a few days. I lose my internet connection tomorrow, and need to pack-up the computer. Stay tuned, as I will be re-running some of my more popular columns, as well as new some columns, once I am settled-in in Thunder Bay.