Now for something completely different

I'm sure you're all tired of my whining, so here's something new for you to ponder. A local news station has been covering a story about a county an hour or so from here that banned an herbal substance that gives a marijuana-like effect when smoked, but it's legal and safe. The ban specified compounds found in a specific brand that are also in marijuana. A bait and tackle shop changed to a similar product (which, according to the supplier does not contain the banned compounds) and may have some trouble on their hands.

According to the shop's spokesperson, "Every item in this is perfectly natural, all natural herbs. They're Japanese and Asian herbs that are combined together- that gives you your body relaxation."

Uh huh. I have some questions.

1. Don't people fish to relax? Why would you buy a pot substitute in a bait and tackle shop if you want to relax? Why not buy bait?

2. Are Japanese herbs not Asian?

3. Isn't pot also a natural herb? I mean, really, if it's grown inside with grow lights, one could even make the assertion that it's ORGANIC! (Not that I know anything about growing pot. I saw it on CSI. Or maybe it was Law And Order.)

Also let me point out that "organic," "natural," and "herbal" do not necessarily mean "safe." I think I've mentioned here that hemlock is natural and herbal. So is Foxglove (from which we got digitalis for heart conditions).

The owner of the shop believes that these products are safe. Maybe they are, maybe not. I'm not a doctor or a lawyer so I can't speak to the safety or legality of these products. I'm just of the opinion that if you're dumb enough to smoke something because it's a legal pot alternative, you deserve to face the consequences. I don't smoke things, and relaxation has never been a problem. Isn't there something to be said for natural selection?