With the ban on smoking tobacco, the prospects of marijuana legalization have receded.
What is interesting is that the Indian Express, in its lead editorial of today, has championed gay rights. For them, PMK ramadoss, architect of the smoking ban, is a hero for upholding gay rights.
Even the Delhi high court has spoken in favour of gay rights, according to this story from the ToI.
It is indeed sad that gays fear prosecution in India.
I believe this is a violation of one’s property rights over one’s own body.
But the biggest victims of police excesses and “selective enforcement” are not gays in India.
The biggest victims are actually cannabis smokers, cannabis farmers and cannabis dealers.
The “crime” is non-bailable and the minimum sentence is 10 years.
I hope that the Indian Express, which is upholding gay rights, will also champion the rights of ganja smokers – like me.
We ganja smokers are indeed the largest group victimized by The State.
In the meantime, at least one sensible editorial has been published against the smoking ban. This is from the new pink paper, Mint. Great edit.
If there is something extremly addictive, and once someone uses it, it is very likely that he would have to use it again even if he has to steal or rob, does the State, in this theoretically possible case, justified to ban the use of this stuff?
ReplyDeleteOr, if sth. addictive damages users' health badly, the question remains.
I am a whole-hearted libertrian. I just intend to think of all possible counter-arguments before they are raised by enemies of liberty.
actually, WOMEN are addictive, and we call it love. tea is addictive as is coffee. we should be free to be addicted to whatever we like.
ReplyDeleteif the substance sold damages the user's body it is a TORT and damages should be paid
this way we have Liberty Under Law
hope this helps you in your arguments for freedom
Thanks for the reply, Sauvik.
ReplyDeleteBut still, smoking damages health. Is it a tort from the tobacco company? Is it justified for smokers to claim compensation from tobacco companies?
i think tobacco companies should warn consumers themselves on the dangers of smoking. this way, there is no tort.
ReplyDeletenote that ice cream, hot dogs and potato chips also damage the health. much of what we consume is unhealthy. so it is with tobacco.
in my book, therefore, tobacco companies are not guilty of a tort if they issue advance warnings to consumers.
this is like the "Caution: Wet Floor" sign in a restaurant. If you slip and fall - and break a leg - because you ignored the sign, there is no tort.