Pubdate: Thu, 23 Nov 2006
Source: Cambridge Times (CN ON)
Copyright: 2006 Fairway Newspaper Group
Contact:  http://www.cambridgetimes.ca
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3423
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v06/n1575/a04.html
Author: Chris Banton

ALL VICES CAN'T BE BANNED

I agree with every paragraph of Dean Woods' letter from Nov. 17 
("Target cigarettes, not cannabis") except the last one, largely 
summed up with its final sentence, 'Outlaw cigarettes'.

I'm assuming this was used rhetorically, but just in case it wasn't, 
I feel compelled to present the arguments against outlawing cigarettes.

Put simply, it's a victimless crime. Self-harm, deadly though it may 
be, has no business whatsoever being banned by any government 
authority provided that it not infringe upon any other's right to 
life, liberty, property and protection against fraud. It's not even 
an effective deterrent - has any addict ever given up a habit due to 
its legal status alone? Would anybody have taken a tippler at his 
word if he had announced that he'd drink his last drop at 11:59 on 
the eve of prohibition?

But what about the cost to health care? Presently the parasitic 
cigarette taxes collected are enough to finance health care and, this 
is just a guess, but probably a decent amount of the domestic drug war as well.

Free adult citizens cannot morally be prevented from any vice 
provided no public danger is posed and no other individual's rights 
are violated - any thought or deed of it shows contempt towards the 
human spirit's innate curiosity and desire to take risks in life.

I cannot see an appropriate argument for criminally punishing a 
non-violent, self-financed drug addict - be it heroin or nicotine. 
And besides disagreeing with it upon principle, I don't want to pay 
for it. More police, more jails, more lawyers, cross-border 
co-operations, stings, international treaties, UN declarations, all 
government self-patronization financed by our blood and sweat. There 
will always be vices - fear the government that would force them into 
the sole domain of criminals.

Chris Banton

Cambridge 
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