STAND UP FOR RIGHT TO SAY NO

Editor:

Since re-legalizing marijuana is once again on the minds of some
representatives, I thought I'd throw my two cents in one more time.
But before I get into my main argument I thought I'd dispel a couple
of anti-pot myths.

First is the gateway myth. If this is the case, then why is it that
85 percent of those who use any illicit intoxicants "only" smoke pot!

Next is the myth that pot-impaired drivers pose the same danger as
alcohol-impaired drivers. Fact is a study conducted by the University
of Saskatchewan found that totally stoned drivers pose just one-tenth
the danger as a minimum (.08) drunk driver. It seems cell phone users
present more of a danger than pot smokers when it comes to driving.

Now for my main argument. This one concerns you non-pot smokers. It
is far more important to stand up for your right to say no than it is
to say yes.

We all lose if those who would say no fail to stand up for that
right. But you say, "I was going to say no anyway, which is true, so
what's the big deal?" Well, the big deal is that you've just OK'd
government making decisions for you. In other words you've set a
precedent that in the future can and probably will come back to haunt
all of us.

Already we've seen several of our personal rights go down the tubes
because so many of you won't stand up for your right, not
government's, to say no. I like the pope's term, "cafeteria
Catholics." That same term can be used extensively when it comes to
Americans. If the right involved doesn't directly affect the
cafeteria types, they don't lift a finger in support of someone else's rights.

But put the shoe on the other foot and look out. "My rights, my
rights," they scream. Little do these people realize that because of
their refusal to stand up for the rights of those they disagree with,
they just make it easier for the authoritarian socialists to take
their rights away as well. It all comes down to the same 'ol theme
that I've been harping on for decades now! "Respect property rights"
is the key to freedom and liberty. This includes individual rights
such as smoking pot.

The secret in understanding this is that you don't have to condone an
activity such as smoking pot, but we all have to support the
individual and property rights involved, or else those who would
"control" us will run all over us.

JOE DePAUL, Casper