Second Time's the Charm?

Let me be helpful and suggest that what a person (0.00 / 0)

ingests, inhales, injects or, for that matter, excretes from one's own body represents the very essence of personal privacy and is not properly subject to social regulation--at least not if the right to privacy has any significance.  

The deprivation of liberty under color of law isn't a crime that's gotten a lot of coverage, in part because precedential cases have usually involved the right to property, rather than the right to personal integrity.  But, that's what the detention and assaults on the captives at Guantanamo amounted to and, now that the Supreme Court has established precedent and ruled that foreign persons have the same human rights as everyone else within the jurisdiction of the Constitution, deprivation of liberty under color of law is what those who authorized torture can be charged with.  And the record that some detainees were injected with legal drugs to "rescue" them from near death can be part of the charge.

Using or not using mind and life-altering substances is not an issue of prudery.  It's a basic human right that one needs to respect for oneself and everyone else.

Making and selling toxins, on the other hand, are behaviors that are properly subject to social control.

---

by: hannah @ Mon Oct 19, 2009 at 06:32:02 AM CDT

John Lynch Is Wrong On This One... (4.00 / 1)

...and the Obama Adminstration gets it.  

Here is what the primary sponsor of House Bill 648, Representative Evalyn Merrick of Lancaster, said in an E-Mail to Legislators yesterday:

"Everyone has been touched by physical and emotional suffering due to a chronic condition or disease, whether it be through a family member, a friend, a seat mate or yourself."

"Many of you know I am challenged with an incurable form of blood cancer.  The treatments I endured during a bone marrow transplant and related rounds of chemotherapy created side effects that prescribed pharmaceuticals couldn't mitigate.  I almost lost the fight due to malnutrition and dehydration until someone suggested cannabis.

"Only a small and limited amount was needed to jump start the engine.  As a result, I am able to help fight for those who may not be able to fight for themselves.  I ask you to put aside fear, inaccurate information, and preconceived notions.  Please don't discount the suffering of many of our constituents.  Twice the house passed this bill based on policy.  Twice the Senate passed it.  It is time to put policy aside and join the voices of those who voted on behalf of compassion."

It would be good if John Lynch were to change his request for a veto before next week.  But short of that, we should override.  It's smart policy to help people.  Always.  

And we should never make criminals of those residents who need help.  Never.  

---

by: Rep. Jim Splaine @ Mon Oct 19, 2009 at 06:37:40 AM CDT

I believe there are (4.00 / 4)

enough votes in the House to override. It passed the Senate 14-10, basically on party lines except Betsi DeVries voted nay and John Gallus voted yea. That means constituents need to convince two state senators to change their votes.

This is one case where I disagree with the Governor, especially in the light of the change in federal policy. The bill is also very tight. Representative Merrick and others worked very, very hard to address the Governor's concerns during the committee of conference process.

Rep. Merrick's strength, compassion and work ethic in the House are amazing. Her constituents are lucky to be represented by her and this entire state benefits from her service. Without that small assistance to keep her going when she needed it, she most likely wouldn't be here. That is really something to think about.

---

by: Jennifer Daler @ Mon Oct 19, 2009 at 07:28:41 AM CDT

Dear Governor Lynch (0.00 / 0)

Your concern is duly noted.  

"What you need is sustained outrage...there's far too much unthinking respect given to authority." -- Molly Ivins  

---

by: The Grand Panjandrum @ Mon Oct 19, 2009 at 08:28:03 AM CDT

Crucial (4.00 / 1)

If you know people in Manchester, it is extremely important that they contact their senators, particularly Betsi DeVries. She voted the wrong way before, but if enough constituents, not people from outside Manchester, contact her it may make the crucial difference.

Call your friends in Manchester, please ask them to call their senator.

Thanks, from a formerly seriously ill patient as defined under the bill (six awful months enduring Hep C treatment). So many have it so much worse.

No'm Sayn?

---

by: BurtCohen @ Mon Oct 19, 2009 at 11:09:38 AM CDT

Thanks for posting this, Dean (0.00 / 0)

Couldn't have said it better myself.  

Executive Director, NH Coalition for Common Sense Marijuana Policy

---

by: Matt Simon @ Mon Oct 19, 2009 at 12:11:48 PM CDT