POLITICAL ISSUE # 505: EXCESSIVE SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Justification: Our government, which is based on the premise that individual liberties shall not be infringed, implicitely forbids the government from inprisoning people for choosing to ingest into their personel bodies whatever substance they freely choose to. What freedom does an American citizen have if they don't even have sovereignty over their own bodies?

Benefits of ending prohibition: Restoration of freedom, liberty, and human rights, which have unconstitionally, and unjustly been violated by our government. Hugh savings in government spending, which have been wasted on the "drug war" ( the majority of people in our justice system, prisons, probation, etc., are there for non-violent drug offenses!!). Our courts, justice system will have more resouces to deal with violent offenders who are the real threat to society, if drugs are legalized.

Author: Eric Roy Williamson EMAIL: 104350.1777@compuserve.com

WEBMASTER COMMENT: I expanded Eric's proposal to a "defined option solution". These 10 options presented below attempt to define a spectrum of choices on what and how government should be allowed to restrict a citizen's access to and use of chemical substances. Please note the option that best matches how you feel before you vote, because the ballot simply lists the numbers 1 though 10.

10 = No government restrictions on sale or purchase of any drug by anybody. Government provides information and allows citizens to choose whether and how much to use any drug.

9 = Drugs must be sold by licensed dealers who are required to make information available on the effects of the drugs they sell. Otherwise no government restrictions on the purchase of any drug by anybody.

8 = States permitted by a 2/3 vote of their citizens to impose reasonable drug quantity use restrictions for people under 12. Quantity use restrictions can include such provisions as the current "blood alcohol limit" for driving a car and can also extend to licensing systems that suspend an individual's use privileges for violating quantity use restrictions. Licensing systems could also include quantity purchase controls, but no drugs could be banned.

7 = States permitted by a 2/3 vote of the citizens to impose reasonable drug quantity use restrictions for people under 18.

6 = States permitted by a 2/3 vote of the citizens to impose reasonable drug quantity use restrictions for anyone.

5 = States permitted by a 2/3 vote of the citizens to selectively ban drugs for people under 12. States would also be permitted by a 2/3 vote of their citizens to impose reasonable drug quantity use restrictions for anyone as per item 6 above.

4 = States permitted by a 2/3 vote of the citizens to selectively ban drugs for people under 18.

3 = States permitted by a 2/3 vote of the citizens to selectively ban drugs for people over 18.

2 = States permitted by a majority vote of the citizens to selectively ban drugs for anyone. States would also be permitted by a majority vote of their citizens to impose reasonable drug quantity use restrictions for anyone.

1 = States permitted to set drug policy without a direct vote of the people as is presently the case.