THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY SUPPORTS YOUR RIGHTS

Nearly everyone at this year's Hempfest, regardless of their political persuasion, will agree that our country's draconian drug laws should be dramatically liberalized. 

The Libertarian Party believes that you own your body, and the fruits of your labor.  The activists of the Libertarian Party have always been at the forefront of true legalization and/or decriminalization ( Libertarians usually say re-legalization ) efforts all over the country. 

We don't advocate these re-legalization activities because we are pot smokers ( although many of us may be ).And it is not necessarily because of the many practical reasons that you are surely aware of: the relative harmlessness of marijuana, the high cost of court trials and incarceration, or the possible medicinal and industrial uses of hemp, etc. 

The activists of the Libertarian Party believe that YOU own your own body, and have the natural right to do and ingest whatever you please, so long as you harm no one else directly, take total responsibility for your actions, and you grant the same right to all others.  It doesn't matter if you wish to ingest unapproved vitamins, ride a motorcycle without a helmet, or smoke tobacco or other substances, so long as you take responsibility. 

This, we believe, was the concept that our country was founded on.  The total freedom of body, mind and spirit.  The Libertarian Party will always support your right to do and say as you wish within your ability to take the physical and monetary consequences. 

Libertarian Party has always been steadfast in its support of your individual rights.  Wherever individuals are fighting oppression or convoluted laws and regulations, you will find libertarians!

And, we are winning! All over the country, the Libertarian Party and it's activists changing the laws, whether for medicinal marijuana in California and Oregon, or the more liberal legalization efforts in Alaska and Arizona, these campaigns are spearheaded with Libertarians at the forefront!

Though much has been done, it is still too little.  Much is left to be done.  You can help.  You can get involved by contacting the Libertarian Party ( http://www.lp.org ), the Marijuana Policy Project ( http://www.mpp.org ), and the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws ( http://www.norml.org ), or one of the many other activist organizations at this year's Hempfest.  Check them out and get involved!!

You should also become aware of the Fully Informed Jury Association ( http://www.fija.org ).  The Libertarian Party, the Green Party, and the US Marijuana Party endorsed FIJA.  FIJA activists advocate educating jurors of their RIGHTS as jurors, specifically the right of the juror to nullify unjust laws.  Jury nullification means that any person serving on jury duty has the absolute right to find someone not guilty of a crime even though they may be technically guilty.  Jury nullification can encourage current legislators to change bad laws. 

Enjoy this years Hempfest.  Enjoy the sights, the music, and the smells.  But most importantly, Get Involved!!

Steven R.  Linnabary, chair

Franklin County Libertarian Party