A WAR AGAINST RIGHTS

(U-WIRE) STILLWATER, Okla. -- Friday I will be in Oklahoma City on a
business-related trip, but I also plan to spend a couple of hours at the
state Capitol in a massive protest against the ridiculous "war on drugs."

No, I'm not a big activist for the legalization of drugs. I know that drugs
are often abused and there has to be some control over them so that people
do not permanently hurt themselves, but I do not believe we need an all-out
war on them.

Furthermore, a "war" is completely unnecessary and is in fact an oppressive
action by the government against its citizens.

All controlled substances are not drugs. Marijuana is less dangerous than
alcohol and cigarettes and hemp has an array of practical uses being
suppressed by the powerful lobbies of materials it can substitute, so when
someone says it's a drug, I laugh.

To a very large degree, drug use is a victimless crime. It may hurt the
ones who abuse them physically and mentally, but in case you haven't
realized, there are far more legal things people do on a daily basis that
can harm them in the same ways.

Cholesterol and fat lead to heart disease, massive coronaries and an array
of other health problems. Yet, the police aren't circling McDonald's and
other fast-food restaurants to intercept the grease delivery truck.

I mean, shouldn't they? If people are jeopardizing their health to engage
in an activity that hurts them, shouldn't the government try to stop them?

What about things that promote ignorance as drugs allegedly do? I am up
early on Sunday mornings and never see the cops swarming the churches that
do exactly that. Many of the people there are more addicted to church,
which in my opinion is far more dangerous and addictive than the use of
controlled substances, yet these junkies are allowed to partake as often as
they want. These people are guilty of crimes against logic, reason and
civil rights. So where are the cops?

Obviously, government interference with these activities would violate our
most basic rights under the U.S. Constitution. People have the right to
engage in activities, even though they are detrimental to their health and
mind, if they choose. So if these activities are protected by the
government, why is the following scenario strictly regulated by the same
entity?

Someone who smokes marijuana in the privacy of their own home, even with
friends, is not hurting anyone. They are not driving or operating heavy
machinery. They are merely participating in an activity they enjoy, though
it impairs them slightly, that is less dangerous than alcohol and cigarette
consumption.

But the cops could, and often do, come in and arrest every single one of
them, leading to fines, a criminal record and potential loss of financial
aid. This is completely unfair.

I will concede, however, that I have witnessed the effects of crank and
meth firsthand on several of my cousins. This is indeed a drug and often
hurts the user beyond rehabilitation.

Crank and substances such as it should be banned. Some may claim that I am
contradicting myself now by stating that some substances should be banned.

People can always diet and exercise to combat the effects of unhealthy
food. Religion junkies have the potential to use their common sense and
free thinking.

These legal forms of physical and mental abuse offer ways to alleviate
their detrimental effects, crank and meth drugs can permanently deep fry
and twice bake a person's mind.

So this is where my primary objection to the "war on drugs" lies.

Instead of harassing the peaceful people who smoke marijuana, the police
should be devoting their limited resources to reducing and eliminating
drugs such as crank and meth that actually hurt people and society. This is
why I am protesting Friday.

While I may not agree with everything the legalization activists stand for
on all drugs, I will be protesting on behalf of my own belief that
enforcement of drug statutes needs to be more concentrated on the dangerous
substances, that marijuana use, cultivation and possession should be legal
and that our government is bound by the Constitution to not harass it's
citizens for engaging in activities that are no more harmful than "legal"
ones. So join me if you can at the Oklahoma state Capitol in Oklahoma City
from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. if you are able.

If you are unable, then please have a happy and safe 4:20 celebration with
your friends.