Beachcombing

Jay Beeler

I admit it. I smoked a joint back in my college days while attending Long Beach State. It really did not have much effect on me, so that experiment died a quick death.

This age of experimentation came while my wife and I managed an 18-unit apartment complex in Park Estates. Some of these same buildings on Anaheim Road were used in the early days of CSULB for classrooms as the permanent facilities were under construction.

Several of our pot-smoking tenants were either attending medical school or recent graduates, so I logically thought they would be more knowledgeable about any dangers involved.

As the property manager I had a garage workspace for storing all the tools, paint and materials involved with keeping tenants happy. Some of the local teenagers were eager to help me with projects and get paid.

One time I managed to slice the top of my finger off with a razor blade, requiring stitches at Community Hospital. It was very painful.

So my little garage buddies came by and told me they had something that would make things better. Hashish is a more potent variety of marijuana that’s smoked in small pieces in a pipe. But instead of making things better that puff on a pipe served to intensify the pain and made me sick to my stomach.

That stopped all future experimentation. Liquors became my permanent choice of relaxation therapy.

 

Fast forward a few decades and I became more knowledgeable about marijuana and its medicinal benefits for some people. In recent years, I became more of an advocate for legalization, not so sure that recreational use was a good idea. Time would tell.

Anyone with the label of “senior citizen” will readily admit that there are a variety of aches and pains that come with age. Arthritis in various joints, low back pain and sciatica nerve pain are examples. Some of the medicines available for treatment require a doctor’s prescription at a time when they are being pelted by regulatory agencies for prescribing opioids.

So the writing was on the wall. Time to look into those new, legal pot shops we have in town if over-the-counter drugs don’t work.

One Love Beach Club on Broadway (near Temple) was one of the early shops approved for medicinal (now recreational) purposes. I was pleased that they responded positively to our annual appeal for contest sponsors this year.

Last week I visited with Jeff and Judy Abrams to learn what they had in store for those occasional nerve spasms. The choices are plentiful and do not require a prescription.

I purchased a targeted topical item, Releaf Balm, for rubbing on those areas that typically ache from arthritis and it works like magic. Drift Away is a cannabis infused tincture that helps one go to sleep, especially when pain is present. A side benefit is that you wake up after a full night of sleep, refreshed and ready for a new day.

This was something that I should have done years ago, but thought better of it because of the legality. I am grateful that our City Council finally gave the voters of Long Beach what they’ve wanted for many, many years.

 

Just getting the news that Sue Morris, wife of Jim Morris, died on March 8 from a heart attack as that couple of 46 years were heading out to see a movie and have a date night. They own JCL Traffic Services in Los Angeles, which handles re-routing of traffic around special events like marathons, auto races and motion picture filming.

Residents of the east side with a Duffy Boat moored nearby, they were clients of Beeler & Associates and I introduced Jim into membership in the Rotary Club of Long Beach in 2010.

On Sunday, March 17, at 2 p.m. there will be a memorial service at Rose Hills, Hillside Chapel, 3888 Workman Mill Road in Whittier. Enter gate 17.

A celebration of Sue’s life will follow at 4 p.m. at The Grand, 4101 E. Willow St. Jim invites you to “Please come and hear the stories of her wonderful adventure-filled life with friends and family.”

 

 publisher@beachcomber.news

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