Bridging Scientific Knowledge

Book excerpt: There is still today much discussion about whether some drugs that the government deems as dangerous should be decriminalized. The U. S. Government imposes fines and imprisonment for the possession and use of marijuana, while the most harmful drug, alcohol and its known dangers, remains legal and extremely abused. The U. S. Government views itself as the world's protectors, yet it imprisons many of its citizens for exercising the right to choose their own lifestyle. If it is a lifestyle that does not bring harm to others, why should the government interfere? This book, A casualty of war, the war on drugs, the war within, is a about a black soldier whose life and the lives of his family were changed forever because of such unjust and inhumane laws. William Francis was introduced to drugs during his first tour in Germany. For much of his military life he used marijuana to cope with racism and other forms of discrimination. The book details the external problems he faced in the military and civilian life and the internal war raging within him because of his religious beliefs. It tells how his wife views his use of marijuana; in that it poses a risk to the family's welfare and his military career if his use is discovered. She and others know that he is more than functional under the influence of marijuana. Determine for yourself whether or not what finally happened to William is justified. And then, if you can without bias and self-righteousness, determine for yourself if the laws are protecting people or unjustly depriving them of their right to real freedom.