OREGON IS NO. 1 IN NATION IN PERSONAL FREEDOM

I love how Oregon trumps New Hampshire's downer "live free or die"
motto. Who wants that choice?

Here we're able to "live free and die free." Not without limits, but
more so than in other states.

Our constitution enshrines free speech of all sorts to an exemplary
degree. That's why we can take pride in being No. 2 in strip clubs per
capita. West Virginia, sadly, is No. 1.

We're also free to sit inside our cars, dry and warm, while an
attendant pumps our gas for us.

The Oregon Beach Bill guarantees free beach access to everyone. And
our pioneering land use laws ensure that farmers will be able to
continue freely raising crops rather than having subdivisions sprout
instead.

If we find ourselves suffering from severe pain, cancer or other
serious problems, we're free to find relief through medical marijuana.
Hopefully before too long, Oregonians will vote to legalize marijuana
use for everyone, making us even freer.

And when our life nears its end, we're free to decide how and when we
want to die. Oregon's Death With Dignity Act allows us to end our own
lives when we're terminally ill through the voluntary administration
of lethal medications.

There's a lot more to love about our state, but our unique freedoms
are tops for me.

Brian Hines of Salem has lived in Oregon for 39 years.