Joy from drugs?
(In response to Ben Morin’s April 22 column, “Banning drugs limits joy.”)
I couldn't disagree with you more. “Joy,” really? Did you swallow bong water? Legalizing drugs would present no one with any benefits, especially “joy.” Using evidence like the legalization of nicotine and alcohol does not strengthen your point, nor prove it. In fact it proves why we shouldn't legalize the drugs you spoke of.
Drugs are dangerous, regardless of how experienced or knowledgeable one might think they are with their usage. If we can agree that the presence of nicotine and alcohol have had negative effects on society, why then push to include more, and in most cases, more severe drugs on society? Why not quote statistics of other countries that tolerate drug usage? Have you ever been to Vancouver, B.C.? How about Amsterdam?
You went as far to claim that the “joy” one receives from using drugs is comparable to playing sports, working hard, and interacting socially. How many of these things have you done “high,” and how successful were you at them? I read this paper almost every day and this is the first I’ve heard of you. Working hard are you? No one says that you can't pursue “joy.” Instead, we limit how certain people would like to achieve their “joy.” Some people get “joy” from killing people, from raping people, from beating their spouses for burning dinner.
Should you feel that this is a stretch, my equating drugs to murder, rape and abuse, perhaps you should evaluate your stance that limiting the pursuit of “joy” through drugs is like the limitations imposed on people of different races or of different sexual orientations, which you claimed at the end of your article.
For those who want to do drugs, feel free. I believe doing drugs, like many other things, is a personal choice, and with that comes the consequences of one’s actions, some good, and some bad. So, light it up, shoot it up, or snort it up. However it is you find “joy,” as sad as that is, please don’t drive a car (if you have one). Enjoy finding a good job that will hire you too, and good luck in living the rest of your life chasing the dragon.
Jonathan Fortner Undergraduate
