Pubdate: Wed, 21 Dec 2005
Source: Mountain Xpress (Ashville, NC)
Copyright: 2005 Mountain Xpress
Contact:  http://www.mountainx.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/941
Author: John Buckley
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?420 (Cannabis - Popular)

IT'S MY HOME, AND MY CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE

Thoreau's Civil Disobedience and Ghandi's civil-disobedience methods
seem too formal, grand and distant to apply to the marijuana issue.
However, given the grievous marijuana-related costs in human terms and
taxpayer expense, civil disobedience is exactly what is called for.
Government has no place either restricting or interceding with those
making the marijuana choice, whether for pharmaceutical purpose or for
pleasure.

Over the years, starting with Nixon, government "blue ribbon"
committees have deemed the effects of marijuana nearly harmless, and
yet legislators maintain malicious, criminal penalties. Any rational
person realizes that marijuana represents something sinister in the
minds of its opponents, which casts those people as being sinister
themselves. In their ignorance, they even fear hemp, which is totally
benign.

The arguments over the marijuana issue are endless, with a very long
list of the whys and why nots. But in the end, we are free to choose
for ourselves -- the law and those who write and enforce it be damned.
No one belongs in my living room except by my invitation. It is my
home and my life, and it belongs entirely to me. This right of
ownership of my life is a cornerstone of our country, of being an
American, [and it should] be yielded to no person.

I will get high when and how I choose, and no one will stop me. This is
my act of civil disobedience, and I will endure and thrive by it. When
we all stand forth honestly on the marijuana issue to our friends and
families, then the law will change. Meanwhile: Smoke all you want --
they'll grow more.

John Buckley

Cullowhee
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