I have tried my best to define freedom and have come to the conclusion that there is no such thing as absolute freedom.  There are "freedoms" per say, but no all encompassing "freedom" that people speak of as a virtue when discussing why this country is great or what it is we fight for.

The Oxford English Dictionary defines freedom as such:

freedom /fre'edem/ n. 1 condition of being free or unrestricted. 2 personal or civic liberty; absence of slave status. 3 power of self-determination; quality of not being controlled by fate or necessity. 4 state of being free to act. 5 condition of being exempt from. 6 unrestricted use of (facilities, etc.)

As I read these definitions I was amazed at how far from any of them actual reality was these days.  "The condition of being free or unrestricted" is very limited in society.  Sure. There are certain "freedoms" that we as Americans enjoy, but considering I cannot even park my project car in my own driveway because of the restrictions of my city, it is easy to see how the all encompassing idea of freedom is lacking with the incredible amounts of legal and political interference on every level.

There are definitely certain "freedoms" that can be achieved, such as the freedom to work where you want, the freedom to eat what and where you want, the freedom to speak your mind (just watch what you say). There are political freedoms, societal freedoms, and personal freedoms that are definitely attainable, but this overlying concept of "freedom" is non-existent.

In my struggles with the reality of fighting a government that refuses to listen to science or medical professionals regarding the safe use of cannabis, I have come to realize that what is described as "freedom" is really just certain allowed "privileges," that can be taken from you regarding certain behaviors, lack of resources, and disabilities that impair freedoms.

It would seem obvious to me in a common sense thought that one should be "free" to medicate in ways that provide relief from the many ailments in life.  But bad policy, governmental interference, and blatant lies continue to hinder people's unalienable right to medicate in ways that are safe and effective in conjunction with a doctor's approval.  This is a blatant disregard to civil liberties and freedom that is beyond me.  How can we say we live in "the land of the free" when we are constantly bogged down and enslaved to the failed policies of decades of bad governing.

I do understand that there are certain freedoms I have given up in negotiations with the Federal Government, as I have been deemed a criminal for my actions in providing medicine.  I have given up my 4th amendment right, as I had to agree to allow for search of my home, vehicle, or person at any time as a condition of my bail.  I have given up my right to a fair trial, as there is no such thing relating to medical cannabis, and I would be fighting an uphill battle and facing ridiculous mandatory minimums for my role in providing medicine.  I have given up my freedom to own a firearm.  My freedom to vote.  My freedom to medicate.  My freedom regarding drug testing.  My freedom to travel where I want.  My freedom of having a passport. My freedom of walking down the street to get the paper without feeling as if I am being followed.  And that is all pre-sentencing.

At sentencing I may lose my freedom to be with my family.  To live in my house.  To run my businesses.  To eat what I want. To go outside when I want.  To come and go as I please. To wear what I want and to be who I am.  These freedoms, or privileges, may be removed at the discretion of a judge that knows me very little.  That has no idea who I am and what my beliefs are.  It is scary to think that I may lose everything that is considered "freedom" based on ridiculous laws that restrict a persons god-given freedom to medicate and feel better.

Yes.  My discoveries have lead me to believe that there is no such thing as absolute freedom without restriction.  There are many different kinds of "freedoms," all of which can be taken away if deemed to be proper punishment for acting too "freely".  It is a twisted set of rules that tend to play to the lowest common denominator and we see our "freedoms" consistently becoming far and few between.  What can we do?

I am not saying that everyone should be allowed to do anything they want, but let us quit bullshitting ourselves in saying we live in the land of the free.  It is just not true.  "Freedom" by definition is a myth at best.  I enjoy my "freedoms" and will miss them when they are gone.  I already do.  I will have to tell my sons that regrettably "freedom" is dead. What was once taken for granted has become a very difficult thing to define, because it is not attainable in this society.  I will tell them that they must enjoy their individual freedoms, and fight vigorously to keep the few freedoms we seem to have left.  I will teach them to work hard to begin finding ways of achieving greater freedoms and work diligently on restoring the many freedoms that continue to dissipate with time.  We all must define what freedom means on general principle and collectively begin a process that will help instill a future that truly embraces the idea of "freedoms" and makes every effort to see that they are protected with honor and pride.