Pubdate: Thu, 07 Dec 2006
Source: Gamecock, The (SC Edu)
Copyright: 2006 The Board of Trustees of the University of South Carolina
Contact: http://www.dailygamecock.com/home/lettertotheeditor/
Website: http://www.dailygamecock.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2319
Author: Joshua Rabon, Second-year accounting student
Cited: Drug War Clock http://www.drugsense.org/wodclock.htm
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Marijuana)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

WHO GOT TRANS FAT IN MY WATER BONG?

Legislation could bring new meaning to phrase 'rolling a fatty' in 
time Let's face it, banning trans fats extends government power much 
too far into the private sector for comfort and takes nanny state-ism 
to a new extreme.

Give people the choice to be fat if they want - at least, that seems 
to be how many people on campus feel.

But many of these pro-personal responsibility advocates don't speak 
out against anti-drug legislation, and that just doesn't make sense.

Binging daily on trans fatty-loaded McDonald's fries is completely 
acceptable, but smoking marijuana in the privacy of your own home is not?

"But drugs are so dangerous." Please. How many people died of heart 
disease last year compared to drug overdose?

Drug-related violence, however, is absolutely a legitimate concern - 
that can be easily solved with legalizing drugs. Nicotine is highly 
addictive, but there aren't gun-slinging gang fights over cigarettes 
in gas station parking lots.

By pro-viding regulated access to currently controlled substances, 
violence would actually be reduced.

Aside from intentional violence, accidental drug-related issues would 
fall as well. No one would have to worry about their neighbor's meth 
lab exploding because the substance would be made by qualified 
individuals in a controlled lab.

Anyone worried about someone over-indulging and losing their ability 
to make rational, intelligent decisions needs to walk down to Five 
Points one night, the later the better.

The addictive nature of drugs seems to be one area that clearly 
separates the two, but studies have shown eating can be addictive as 
well, and don't forget about 100 percent legal tobacco (Source: 
Brookhaven National Laboratory).

According to http://www.drugsense.org/wodclock.htm, over $47 billion 
has been spent fighting drugs this year. Harvest Hope Food Bank 
serves over 149,000 people every year.

People around this country are hungry, homeless and without proper 
medical care, and people want to freak out over drugs. Sounds like we 
spent that $47 billion wisely.

I'm not advocating picking up recreational drug use at all; in fact, 
I discourage it.

If drugs were to be legalized, I wouldn't want to see people lined up 
outside stores waiting for their fix PlayStation 3-style.

But it all comes back to personal responsibility. If you think people 
shouldn't be told what they can and can't put into their bodies, it's 
time to stop letting propaganda and the past make decisions for you.

It's time to stop wasting countless dollars and let people take care 
of themselves. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake