Pubdate: Fri, 22 Oct 2010 Source: Daily Courier (Prescott, AZ) Copyright: 2010 Prescott Newspapers, Inc. Contact: http://www.dcourier.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4036 Author: Rita Stricker WE SHOULD DEMAND OUR RIGHT TO FREEDOM EDITOR: With the much-feared meth epidemic and all those exploding meth labs fading into folklore history (almost as if they never existed), MATForce needs a new demon drug du jour. Oh, putting teenage drinkers in jail, where no doubt they're better off than they ever were in school, was a nice diversion, but definitely NOT crusade material. Enter medical marijuana. It's no secret that drug policy reformers support medical marijuana because they see it as a stepping stone to total legalization. Drug warriors, on the other hand, oppose it for the same reason. But those of us who recognize prohibition for what it is - a tool of oppression - see medical marijuana as stepping stone to nothing but more oppression. Yavapai County Attorney Shiela Polk calls medical marijuana a "smokescreen." For once, I agree. While you're busy arguing about allowing us to ask the masters' permission to live our lives, the very real carnage of the drug war continues unabated. And the closer we get to winning our freedom, the more violent and oppressive the masters' tactics become. The people who support prescription-only marijuana and the people who oppose it believe that government agents should have the right to make medical and lifestyle choices for you and your family. Those of us who support freedom oppose prohibition because we believe that you should have the right to make those choices yourselves, whether or not we agree with those choices. Your life, your body, your choice. My body, my life, my choice. It's a simple concept. If you don't understand it, find a real American to explain it to you. Rita Stricker Chino Valley - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake