| Disneyphile |
06-14-2008 02:56 PM |
Other "substances" have just as much "detrimental" effect if abused - alcohol, gambling, food, internet, video games, etc.
So, until those things are also illegal, I don't think drugs should be.
The substance is not the problem, and is too often blamed for the addictive behavior which is the real problem.
Case-in-point: Internet addiction. Ken's therapist now has many cases involving this, because it's finally becoming recognized as an issue. Over the last 10 years, I have personally known it to cause divorces, "infidelity", child neglect, spousal abuse, lost jobs, unplanned pregnancies (resulting in abortions or adoptions) etc. So, is the internet really to blame or the behavioral patterns of the person using it?
Same thing with pot.
The pot users I know are actually more functional than some of the internet users and gamblers that I know. In fact, I know of some people who spend more money in one gambling session than all of my pot using friends combined spend on the stuff over the course of many years.
And for those who will say, "Yeah, but it's just another thing that people can use to drive under the influence.", um, how about driving under rage (i.e. a gambler that's lost a bunch of money), or alcohol, or not paying attention to one's driving while unwrapping a burger, or checking email via a cellphone while driving?
Child/spouse abuse and neglect - alcohol contributes largely to that. So does internet abuse. So does gambling (caused by rage, or sending the family savings into the toilet).
|
