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of the chemicals which can easily be prevented during a state of sobriety. Eating a few caps of psychedelic mushrooms prior to operating a motor vehicle is clearly reckless and unfortunately difficult to combat. However, therein lays the hypocrisy as the same can be said for alcohol which also impairs the mind and body. The Office of National Drug Control estimates that $12.7 billion will be spent in 2007 in order to combat illegal drugs while the alcohol and tobacco profiteers are wiping their asses with cash.

I believe we need to be more open to alternative solutions towards drug use rather than spending billions of taxpayer dollars and imprisoning responsible drug users. Downscaling this war and showing leniency towards drug use (different from drug abuse) would obviously minimize criminal activity and governmental expenditures. It would also allow us to freely interact with our own bodies in a way that was previously prohibited. These mystical substances have been the keys for opening doors deeply intertwined in our minds and have induced states of spirituality and meditation. It would be at the very least disrespectful to restrict people from using substances with a long history of therapeutic successes both biologically and psychologically while allowing others to legally consume highly toxic substances based on the interests of corporations.

This is a war on the people and individual rights; a war that has turned us against each other and bred a culture of suspicion. The ramifications of ending this perpetual war are difficult to speculate unless progressive action is taken. Downscale prohibition now. End the deception.

Learn more about this author, Timothy Hellstrom.
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