Pubdate: Fri, 01 Jun 2001
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2001 The Province
Contact:  http://www.vancouverprovince.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476
Author: Kristy Ambrose

DRUG USE HARDLY A 'MORAL' ISSUE

Susan Martinuk connects the relaxing of drug laws to a decline in public 
morality.

I must admit, the connection between drug use and morality escapes me.

Where is the connection? How is drug use immoral?

Martinuk does not have the right to lecture anyone on what is moral and 
what is not. The war on drugs is an affront to our civil liberties, 
allowing the state, the police and ignorant individuals to judge our 
private lives based on their personal opinions and perceptions.

Martinuk ends her tirade by asking, "Are our laws true expressions of what 
our society views as what is right and wrong, moral and immoral? That is 
the real question." Well, here's the answer -- no, they are not.

Laws are put into place to protect us from violence and injustice (or 
that's the way it's supposed to be), and this is why society is looking at 
the current drug laws and finally realizing they are failing us in that 
respect.

These laws are not protecting us from harm. They are eroding our civil 
rights and placing a good many people on the fringes of society where they 
cannot even ask for help for fear of reprisal from law- enforcement officials.

It is not the place of the state to judge us morally, since morals are a 
matter of individual opinion. And may I remind Martinuk it is not her 
place, either.

Kristy Ambrose
Vancouver
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MAP posted-by: Beth