Pubdate: Mon, 10 Sep 2012
Source: Fort Collins Coloradoan (CO)
Copyright: 2012 The Fort Collins Coloradoan
Contact: http://www.coloradoan.com/customerservice/contactus.html
Website: http://www.coloradoan.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1580
Author: Nicholas Lieurance
Note: Nicholas Lieurance lives in Fort Collins.

PROTECTING KIDS NOT A REASON TO PROHIBIT OTHERS FROM USING MARIJUANA

I know a lot of responsible adults who like to use marijuana. If 
Amendment 64 passes in November, they will no longer be considered 
criminals by the state when they do. That's why I'm really looking 
forward to casting my vote in support of this amendment, and I hope a 
sufficient number of Coloradans are, too.

The opponents of Amendment 64 are working very hard to prevent 
legalization, and one of their most frequently used arguments against 
it is that prohibition is necessary to protect our children. They 
claim that if we legalize and regulate marijuana like alcohol, use 
among teens is going to skyrocket. They worry about what pot might do 
to their child's health, motivation and future.

I agree that kids ought to stay away from marijuana. What I can't 
agree with is the idea that my freedoms ought to be restricted 
because some overprotective parents think their kids might be able to 
get hold of it. This argument reminds me of a Mark Twain quote; it's 
like "...saying a man can't have a steak because a baby can't chew it."

Keeping children away from things that are dangerous or inappropriate 
is the job of parents, family members and teachers. It is not my 
responsibility to set an example for others' children by surrendering 
my rights, nor is it my burden to abstain from things I enjoy so that 
kids don't have access to them.

What kind of place would the world be if we outlawed all activities 
that are inappropriate for children? Wouldn't it be one in which many 
of life's most exciting and challenging experiences were prohibited 
because they aren't for kids? Where our children exist not to pursue 
their own dreams but to raise our grandchildren? Where every 
generation is a slave to the next?

Parents who support marijuana prohibition ought to ask themselves if 
they are comfortable handing over responsibility for their kids to 
the government, because that is essentially what they are arguing for 
when they say Amendment 64 is bad for the children. They should think 
about finding ways to parent that don't involve encroaching on my 
rights or the rights of others.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom