Random Notes from a Crank

I took one of those three-part YouGov polls the other day, and it was in response to scheduling marijuana to less restrictive class. 

Here were the questions with pertinent percentages:

• Do you think that marijuana has legitimate medical uses? Definitely 43%, Probably 33%, Probably not 8%, Definitely not 5%, and Not sure 11%
• Do you approve or disapprove of the government reclassifying marijuana from the most restrictive category of drugs to a less restrictive category that allows for research on its potential medical uses? Strong approve 42%, Somewhat approve 28%, Somewhat disapprove 8%, Strongly disapprove 8%, and Not sure 14%
• Do you think that the recreational use of marijuana should be made legal in the United States or not? Yes 54%, No 27%, and Not sure 19%

The bottom line is that most people think it has legitimate medical uses (and it does), people feel it should be moved to a lesser class of drug, and a slim majority want it nationally legalized. 

I'm not a pot smoker, but these poll numbers don't surprise me. 

Existential Comics is at it again with great thoughts on "Stupidity and the Progress of Human Civilization."  

The author of the comic has a point. Civilization has advanced because of intelligent thinking. However, there have to be all kinds of cases where some stupid moves or dumb thinking or just plain old chance created some good in the world. 

The author uses the examples of riding horses, domesticating wolves into dogs, and the discovery of alcohol. Another one would be coffee. How the hell did that mainstay in many people's routines originate?

There's story about a goat herder named Kaldi, but who knows if that tale is actually true. See the "History of Coffee" from the National Coffee Association.  

Happy Festivus.