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In Marijuana Veritas
We were both in agreement that forcing people to purchase and/or have healthcare simply because they are a breathing organism is a great usurpation of individual rights. It was at that time that I decided to push the limit and ask ‘what do you think about the war on drugs?’ Mind you, it was freer flowing, in terms of the conversation, than the way described; however, it was my attempt to show hypocrisy of belief. Essentially, if you agree with the premise that the government mandate of healthcare is tantamount to government tyranny and government involvement in life and death issues, conversely, how can you dictate what a person can or cannot put into his/her body, regardless of effect? Both examples referenced above are government tyranny and/or suppression of rights in action. If we allow for the government to arbitrarily decide that any substance is not fit for consumption then why can’t the government dictate what is in the ‘best interests’ of health? I understand our natural compunction to help people who are afflicted with either an alcohol or drug addiction. Furthermore, I have seen the affects of drug abuse first-hand and it is neither fun nor easy to deal with a person under such influence. However, we must understand that true liberty and true freedom is the ability to make the wrong decision even though someone else may know what the affects are from said decision. Many will interject that the societal implications of allowing people to freely use and/or abuse drugs are too great to be left to individual choice. The net result, they argue, will be rampant lawlessness and droves of addicts wandering the streets. This is perhaps, one of the more extreme views, but I use it to illuminate a point. We, as a society, accept and approve (either explicitly or implicitly) the use of alcohol. Additionally, we have made laws prohibiting the use of a motor vehicle while under the influence of ANY drug and/or alcohol. Despite the prohibition, many are still arrested on a daily basis for DWI/DUI. Conversely, the same is true for drugs, save the caveat, you are threatened with arrest and incarceration for simply ingesting ‘elicit’ drugs into your body. I would argue that with anything in life there is a cost and a benefit and the continuing costs of the prohibition vastly outweigh the benefits; consider the fact that incarceration rates for nonviolent, drug crime has increased some 1200% from 1980 to today. This has resulted in gross overpopulation and making the United States #1 in the incarceration business. The costs of said incarceration are debilitating to state/local governments desperate for funds. Government force is government force regardless of how you couch it. Not only has the prohibition against marijuana and other drugs created the de-facto narco-war which is being waged on our border, it also has been a complete and utter failure. How much money will we waste and how much time will be squandered trying to prevent someone from making a decision to use drugs? Ultimately, it is the sole business of the person using or not using and he/she will have to suffer the effects of whatever they choose. Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com Thomas M. Brophy Editor www.dailylibertarian.com |
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