LEGALIZING MARIJUANA

Truth is not a matter of majority vote. I often wonder if the Bill of
Rights would pass if subjected to a popular vote today. This idea is
worth remembering when pondering the fate of the Nevada state
referendum which would have legalized marijuana.

Individual freedom was supposed to be the idea behind America. That
means you have the right to do anything you want which does not
directly infringe on the rights of others. Government exists solely to
protect individual rights against violations through force or fraud by
other individuals. That's why we have laws against murder, rape and
theft.

A person smoking marijuana in the privacy of their own home is not
violating the rights of anyone else, anymore than someone enjoying a
beer, martini or cigarette. The government violates that person's
rights when it arrests and jails them. Instead of protecting citizens
from aggression, government becomes the aggressor.

As Mary Ruwart wrote in "Healing Our World": "We cannot protect people
from themselves. When we honor their choice of food, drink, drugs, or
activities, we free our police to focus on individuals who would
directly and purposefully harm us through force, theft, or fraud. When
we stop trying to control others, we can more readily prevent
aggressors from controlling us."

Peter B. Hull , Pocatello