Pubdate: Thu, 15 Jan 2009
Source: Nanaimo News Bulletin (CN BC)
Copyright: 2009, BC Newspaper Group
Contact:  http://www.nanaimobulletin.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/948
Author: Russell Barth
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09/n029/a04.html

FOLLY TO THINK WE NEED TO ELIMINATE DRUG USE

To the Editor,

Re: Work necessary to eliminate drugs, Jan .8.

'Eliminate' drugs? Humans have been using psychotropic substances
since before there was language. Drugs are implicated in the creations
of almost every religion in the world.

It is folly to think we need to eliminate drug use. What we need to do
is make it as safe as possible for those who choose to use drugs, and
for those who don't.

As for certain drugs being 'illegal', junk food kills many times more
Canadians than all illegal drugs combined, meaning that what our
governments decide to prohibit is completely arbitrary.

Beyond that, if we accept that the government has any say as to what
we can and cannot put into our own bodies, then we must accept their
ownership. That means they own us - like pets, or cattle, or slaves -
and that we have only the rights that the government grants us.

Anyone willing to accept that deserves to have all of their rights
revoked.

Russell Barth

Nepean, Ontario
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin