Blackballed and marijuana clarification

First I must thank Jun for his comment to my essay on “a CNMI Champion” and for sharing the reality of the CNMI, which inspired this letter as light truly needs to be shed on the blackball phenomenon in the CNMI. Black-balled is a sociopolitical term that identifies a person for being shunned and even prevented from becoming a member of groups like Greek organizations on college campuses and even from participating in social and political groups and events. One can also be blackballed from getting a job at a particular business and in the CNMI’s case I think it is common knowledge that you can easily be blackballed from a government job by your politics.

Even though God said, vengeance is mine, there is a human weakness to seek revenge by blackballing a person or as they say locally, “make their name bad”! There have been so many people and even entire families who have been literally blackballed, especially when it comes to government jobs—for true! The CNMI is too small and too shorthanded on professionals for there to be so much blackballing going on which is why I’m shinning my little controversial light on the subject so hopefully someone will take note and do something to stop some of the blackballing.

I truly appreciate “jun” (the commenter) for agreeing and even supporting my call for a star leader and for raising a very important concern when they said “in the CNMI, being controversial would most likely get you nowhere and you would be isolate by the whole.” The isolation referred to is the phenomena of being “blackballed” and it is very true and “whole” that was mentioned is the political group/party in power, not all of society. Blackballing is why family ties have continued to be a dominating factor in elections to assure that the families who are in will stay in with the next administration because its common knowledge in the CNMI if your family was for the looser it is going to be rough, especially if you want to work for the government.

But I was glad to hear the governor say he would change the blackballing phenomenon in the CNMI by hiring some of the hardworking people from the other political camps who are qualified and we can only hope that he was sincere as only time will tell if he will live up to his word. But the great part about being a controversial person is just like Jun said to me “you are not alone on such predicament and our lives must move on.” So one should not be afraid to be controversial and step out on faith (the size of a mustard seed) as God and supporters for change and improvement are with you, especially, if you are standing on the principles—values and morals of America, the facts and lessons of history that prove you are trying to do the right thing! But most importantly, never forget that God is in this too and with you so those who wish to blackball a person need to know they will definitely reap God’s vengeance. The thing about vengeance is that it doesn’t come when you want it to but when God is ready as vengeance is God’s and it is always best when it is served up cold and unexpected! So don’t worry about being a controversial leader because the great controversial leaders have all been immortalized in our history. So have a little faith and biba for progressive controversy as it’s a start to new beginnings and a brighter/better future! We need that great leader now more than ever before!

Marijuana update
Kaverin raised some good concerns when commenting on my efforts to push for full legalization that merit clarification. Their statement was, “I don’t think legalizing recreational use of it here is a good idea, because while MJ does not have the severe side effects of other recreational drugs, it does temporarily impair one’s ability to think or function properly while using it.” Alcohol impairs you much more than marijuana could ever do. Alcohol not only impairs your thinking skills it even throws your equilibrium off, so which is better alcohol or marijuana—it’s a simple and clear choice and this person could do us all a favor by supporting legalization and less drinking—“Smoke-Don’t Drink” is the future.

They also said that, “once it’s legalized more of the local population would be constantly stoned and unproductive. Think about its potential effect on the productivity and professionalism of our residents. Do we really need more potheads?” This is a common subjective and uneducated though by those against full legalization because they don’t understand the objective of full legalization which is to learn how to live with marijuana, not control people’s desire to get high which can never be achieved through criminalizing marijuana. FYI, the only potheads are those who are not educated to the fact that you are supposed to use marijuana for relaxation, socialization and functionalization purposes, not for you to walk around high all day every day. You would be surprised to learn how many professionals who must apply their thinking skills, especially lawyers, who use marijuana to stimulate their analytical thought process because of the “alpha state-of-mind” that will exist when you smoke marijuana. Most professionals who use marijuana actually use marijuana for real life purposes not just to be stoned for nothing. So please get educated about marijuana use before complaining about it.

They raised the question of “how will it affect our islands’ image when tourists see that some of their hotel staff, tour guides, store clerks are stoned? You are making the case for selling marijuana to tourists, and you are clearly not aware of a very important fact: China, Korea, and Japan all have severe laws regarding drugs, including the purchase, possession, and use of marijuana—even when done overseas.” First of all, China, Korea, and Japan have not said one word about or against marijuana legalization in America. Secondly, if there is one thing that is truly universal on planet earth it is marijuana use so there are no borders or stereotyping prejudices of smokers regardless of local laws. Finally, the commenter was also implying that every tourist who visits the CNMI and smokes could get in trouble back home as if they are going to be drug tested when they return home if we legalize but every reader should know that is absolutely ridiculous.

The CNMI will have a responsibility to establish an “amnesty box” at the airport with additional exit searches to make sure no tourist leaves the CNMI with marijuana but the reality is that tourists are going to smuggle marijuana anyway if they want to take the risk legal or not in the CNMI. So let’s be real about this and stop trying to play God over people and our planet’s natural growing herb—it was given to us to use by God and nature and no one has the right to deny mankind’s use as it is a “natural right in a state of nature” which is why most professionals, including the President, intellectuals and scholars now agree we should fully legalize marijuana and stop fighting a foolish war that can never be won.

Ambrose M. Bennett
Kagman