Arthritic Grandmother Beaten and Robbed
The War on Drugs has claimed two more victims in North Carolina. Tinkey
Mae Sullivan, a 53-year-old grandmother, and her 13-year-old grandson
Chris were beaten and robbed in Wilmington a little over a week ago when
they were on a shopping trip. Unfortunately, it was no ordinary shopping
trip. Sullivan was looking for some medical marijuana to ease the pain
from her severe arthritis.
Sullivan’s problems were compounded when Wilmington police decided to
blame the victim for bringing along her grandson. News reports quoted
Detective O.D. Horton as saying police were shocked by her actions, and
"that’s the issue I’m going to address first of all." No mention was made
in the reports about any police plans to catch the robbers.
Sullivan’s case is a perfect example of why the War on Drugs has gone
horribly wrong, say NC Libertarians. "The insane War on Drugs directly
leads to persecution of the sick and dying," said Sean Haugh, Libertarian
Party State Chair. "The only answer to this insanity is to re-legalize
marijuana now."
"None of these horrible things would have happened to Mrs. Sullivan and
her grandson if marijuana were legal," said Haugh. "Her chances of being
beaten and robbed would be greatly reduced if she could go to a reputable
pharmacy, and her chances of being charged with a crime would be next to
nothing. This case proves that the War on Drugs is a war on our own
people."
Making provisions for medical marijuana for the sick and dying is not
enough, say Libertarians. They want the General Assembly to pass
legislation completely legalizing marijuana for all uses.
"Just as medical marijuana can help the sick, industrial hemp is a very
profitable crop that can revive our ailing tobacco farms," said Barbara
Howe, the party’s U.S. Senate candidate in 1998. "Hemp agriculture will
also heal our environment, as it requires little in the way of pesticides
or fertilizers. It will even help preserve our forests by providing
superior paper and fiber."
But ultimately, say Libertarians, the issue is simply one of choice. "It’s not the place of the government to decide what you will eat, or
drink or smoke," said Haugh. "Most people are responsible adults who have
the right to make their own decisions without the government butting in.
People who use marijuana are no more a threat to society than those who
use cigarettes or alcohol."
Libertarians point out that the War on Drugs will create more needless
victims like Mrs. Sullivan and her grandson as long as it continues.
"It is no longer defensible to keep putting sick people in jail," said
Howe. "The General Assembly needs to re-legalize marijuana now, so
innocent people like Tinkey Mae Sullivan and her family can live in peace."
|
