Pubdate: Thu, 17 Oct 2002
Source: Las Vegas Sun (NV)
Copyright: 2002 Las Vegas Sun, Inc
Contact:  http://www.lasvegassun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/234
Author: Eugenie Throckmorton
Cited: Nevadans for Responsible Law Enforcement ( www.nrle.org )
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?162 (Nevadans for Responsible Law 
Enforcement)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?163 (Question 9 (NV))

A QUESTION OF PERSONAL FREEDOM

Regarding the marijuana initiative:

I don't smoke pot. I don't use tobacco. A big bottle of rum to flavor my 
tea and baking lasts me a year.

I don't have bill collectors coming to my door. I've had no moving traffic 
violations during my 47 years in Southern Nevada.

In other words, I'm a responsible citizen who also is a volunteer for 
Nevadans for Responsible Law Enforcement, the group seeking passage of 
Question 9.

Democracy requires responsibility. Our country promotes democracy 
throughout the world to provide all people with freedom. And freedom is 
what I want when it comes to the marijuana initiative in the coming election.

I'm old. Though healthy now, I would use marijuana to provide comfort for 
the aches and pains of aging. I've spoken with several people whose family 
members suffered severe pain prior to death and wanted sufficient marijuana 
as a pain-reliever without side effects.

State licensing will allow doctors to prescribe it, and state oversight 
will assure a product without dangerous additives.

We're in scaredy-cat mode these days -- we're fixated on "what might 
happen." Now is the time to protect our freedoms by exercising them. 
Decriminalizing the use of marijuana should not depend on what the police 
and other authorities see in their crystal ball.

It is parents or individuals who have the responsibility of dealing with 
alcohol and cigarettes and marijuana in the privacy of their homes.

This is a democracy. We don't need Taliban kind of control from our 
authorities that results in suffering and loss of personal freedom.

EUGENIE THROCKMORTON
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens