James Lambert
Former 17 year pot addict urges Californians to vote NO on prop 19
FacebookTwitter
By James Lambert
October 25, 2010

Last month I had the privilege of being interviewed on Virginia radio station WINA regarding my commentary I wrote last summer about Calif. Pastor's reluctance to condemn a controversial state ballot measure, Proposition 19. Prop. 19 is an effort by Northern California marijuana activists and pot users alike to fully legalize the use and commercial development of recreational marijuana throughout our state. More detail of the ramifications of this terrible proposition is explained in a recent TBN interview I participated in along with the Chaplin for the San Diego Chargers, Shawn Mitchell.

When radio host Rob Shilling opened up his phone lines for calls that morning, Chris was one first callers on the line who wanted to inform the radio listeners of his past involvement with marijuana use. He told a very moving story 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 drug free but it came after years of struggle. Chris concluded by urging all Californians to vote No on proposition 19. He also urged Pastors and Christians throughout the golden state to not be timid in declaring their support for a No vote too.

Perhaps you know of others like Chris' that are in your life right now. They also struggle with a drug that pot promoters say is 'not addictive.' Funny but even the Office of Drug Control Policy informs us that there are over 1.23 million people who are currently in some sort of 'marijuana addiction' counseling.

As for myself, I have had a number of friends who have started their own downward cycle of drug abuse by their introduction to marijuana. What do these five have in common? They all have died from drugs. Tragedies like this have played out throughout the country. Hopefully the voters in California will realize that we cannot afford to make the mistake of saying yes to marijuana (Prop 19) — like Chris would have before he escaped his addiction to pot more than 20 years ago.

© James Lambert

 

The views expressed by RenewAmerica columnists are their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of RenewAmerica or its affiliates.
(See RenewAmerica's publishing standards.)

Click to enlarge

James Lambert

James Lambert has a broad business background. After receiving his undergraduate degree from Linfield College (McMinnville, Oregon), Lambert pursued a career in banking by working in various management capacities for Crocker Bank, San Diego Trust & Savings Bank and First Interstate Bank (between 1973 and 1995). By 1990 Lambert received his Master in Business Administration from National University (San Diego). For 3 years, Lambert also taught Finance at Mira Costa Community College... (more)

Subscribe

Receive future articles by James Lambert: Click here

More by this author

March 19, 2024
It’s time to get a Republican (like Steve Garvey) elected to the U.S. Senate in CA. It’s been 30 years!


January 28, 2024
Summer Camps are usually a very good experience for young boys & girls


January 9, 2024
U.S. federal debt is a serious impending national problem


December 18, 2023
Economic Disaster: Democrats are determined to end sale of new gas-powered autos by 2034


September 24, 2023
Why illegal immigration negatively affects our country


August 14, 2023
Remembering a nice friend from my teen days who sadly passed away recently


August 1, 2023
Gavin Newsom has taken action to fully eliminate oil extraction in California


May 30, 2023
Newsom & Democrats eliminate the freedom of dealers to sell gasoline powered equipment


April 10, 2023
Over 60 years: 7 heartwarming San Diego team appearances at National Championship games with only 1 win


March 10, 2023
Dems ‘Amnesty Plus’ Senate proposal would have disastrous results


More articles

 

Stephen Stone
The most egregious lies Evan McMullin and the media have told about Sen. Mike Lee

Siena Hoefling
Protect the Children: Update with VIDEO

Stephen Stone
Flashback: Dems' fake claim that Trump and Utah congressional hopeful Burgess Owens want 'renewed nuclear testing' blows up when examined

Jerry Newcombe
Church should be about worship, not entertainment

Kari Lee Fournier
Almighty God vs. Satan: Satan and his Deep State, panic everywhere!

Tom DeWeese
SDG Trifecta? Education, Healthcare & Vaccinations

Curtis Dahlgren
Hackademania: "What fools these mortals be," Shakespeare

Laurie Roth
Trump, the truth, and America will prevail in spite of leftist evil plans

Cliff Kincaid
Terrorist attack in Baltimore

Tom DeWeese
DOJ ignores 2nd Amendment

Linda Goudsmit
CHAPTER 11: Critical Race Theory: A species of the ideological thought genus Marxism

Pete Riehm
They have tried everything to destroy Trump, but assassination

Tom DeWeese
When your red state governor dresses in blue

Rev. Mark H. Creech
Revelation Chapter 22: Eternal recompense

Tom DeWeese
YIMBYs, workforce housing, and community land trusts: All means to an end to private property
  More columns

Cartoons


Click for full cartoon
More cartoons

Columnists

Matt C. Abbott
Chris Adamo
Russ J. Alan
Bonnie Alba
Chuck Baldwin
Kevin J. Banet
J. Matt Barber
Fr. Tom Bartolomeo
. . .
[See more]

Sister sites