Pubdate: Sat, 08 Jun 2002
Source: Sacramento Bee (CA)
Webpage: www.sacbee.com/content/opinion/letters/story/3155278p-4198879c.html
Copyright: 2002 The Sacramento Bee
Contact:  http://www.sacbee.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/376
Author: Philip S. Kearney

THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS

Re "Hike in state smoking age to 21 sought," June 4: In their eternal 
search for new ways to manage the individual's pursuit of happiness, our 
rulers are now proposing to raise the "smoking age" to 21 -- just a small 
step toward prohibiting tobacco altogether!

A reasonable reading of the Declaration of Independence and the 
Constitution would make it legal for each adult to pursue happiness in ways 
he or she deems suitable as long as others are not threatened or harmed.

As for added health costs to the smoker, I am sure that the taxes on 
tobacco are more than enough to insure for that. If the tax is inadequate, 
it certainly should be raised as required.

Instead of devouring our rights one bite at a time, our rulers should be 
restoring them "one drug at a time," starting with marijuana!

Philip S. Kearney

Sacramento
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