[Hoot Gibson]

Are tobacco and alcohol gateway drugs? Their use tends to be a stepping stone to hard drugs in studies.

Of course they are, especially when used by teenagers who cannot smoke or drink legally. That does not mean that marijuana is not a gateway drug, does it? Selectively breaking laws is what makes Obama such a dangerous character. Laws should not be passed if they are not going to be enforced or if enforcement is only going to be done in selected cases.

I am in favor of legalizing drug use, provided a long list of other conditions are met, but justifying new laws on the basis of increasing taxes is not a good reason. I don't believe in "sin" taxes. The sale of all legal products should be taxed at the same rate. Yet liberals lead the charge to tax cigarettes and tobacco to fund government giveaway programs. Why is that? Are such taxes not an infringement on the rights of the freedom of smokers and drinkers to indulge in legal activities?