WE SHOULD DEMAND OUR RIGHT TO FREEDOM

EDITOR:

With the much-feared meth epidemic and all those exploding meth labs
fading into folklore history (almost as if they never existed),
MATForce needs a new demon drug du jour. Oh, putting teenage drinkers
in jail, where no doubt they're better off than they ever were in
school, was a nice diversion, but definitely NOT crusade material.

Enter medical marijuana. It's no secret that drug policy reformers
support medical marijuana because they see it as a stepping stone to
total legalization. Drug warriors, on the other hand, oppose it for
the same reason. But those of us who recognize prohibition for what it
is - a tool of oppression - see medical marijuana as stepping stone to
nothing but more oppression.

Yavapai County Attorney Shiela Polk calls medical marijuana a
"smokescreen." For once, I agree. While you're busy arguing about
allowing us to ask the masters' permission to live our lives, the very
real carnage of the drug war continues unabated. And the closer we get
to winning our freedom, the more violent and oppressive the masters'
tactics become.

The people who support prescription-only marijuana and the people who
oppose it believe that government agents should have the right to make
medical and lifestyle choices for you and your family. Those of us who
support freedom oppose prohibition because we believe that you should
have the right to make those choices yourselves, whether or not we
agree with those choices.

Your life, your body, your choice. My body, my life, my choice. It's a
simple concept. If you don't understand it, find a real American to
explain it to you.

Rita Stricker

Chino Valley