Pubdate: Mon, 08 Mar 2004 Source: Chicago Tribune (IL) Copyright: 2004 Chicago Tribune Company Contact: http://www.chicagotribune.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/82 Author: Kirk Muse Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v04/n345/a07.html A FREE COUNTRY Mesa, Ariz. -- I'm writing about Michael R. Butz's outstanding letter, "Drug policies" (Voice of the people, Feb. 28). One issue Butz didn't cover is the right of a free country's government to dictate which substances adult citizens may or may not consume, even in the privacy of one's own home. If our government can dictate which (politically selected) recreational drugs we may or may not consume (Viagra is OK, marijuana is not), it can also dictate which foods we may or may not eat, even in the privacy of our own homes. Our government cannot protect adult citizens from themselves and our government has no legitimate right attempting to do so. A free country should be . . . a free country. Kirk Muse - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake