Originally Posted by SteveZ

Pot smokers will argue ad infinitum how "wonderful" it is, how it's no different than the (new politically correct term) "gateway" drugs, and how nobody gets hurt.

Tobacco users use the same argument.

Alcohol absorbers claim the same, as long as "moderation" is maintained.

Stimulant users see no harm in the use of uppers.

The same holds true for those who use downers.

Cocaine snorters say there's no problem with "entertainment" use of this drug.

....and the list goes on and on.

The real problem is that no group wants to accept responsibility when others are indeed harmed by their "right to use" whatever they want to ingest.

Courtrooms are filled with folks use/abuse substances and cause auto accidents/assaults, beat someone half to death (or worse), or create some form of mayhem. In almost every circumstance, the "ingestor" claims no responsibility because "I didn't know what I was doing - I was drunk (or high)." The argument is always one of no responsibility due to lack of capacity (to think) because of the effect of the substance.

Personally, I don't care if you drink vodka, smoke old stogies, inhale torpedoes, snort lines or jab yourself silly. It's your body, and if you want to abuse it, as far as I'm concerned, that's your choice. BUT, if I'm expected to pay for your silliness, then I have rights. too - and that right includes the limiting of access or quantum of absorption, and holding you fully accountable for the harm you cause due to substance ingestion.

The key again is responsibility for action and results.. To me, there is NO EXCUSE for harm caused because a person took some sort of behavior-modification substance and the result is someone else got hurt or worse.

The excuse also that addiction itself escapes one from responsibility doesn't fly with me. This society is jammed with services to assist people from breaking (or radically mitigating) addictions of everything, and if you know you're an addict to any degree, you have a greater responsibility to protect others from your addiction-related actions.

Pot, tobacco, booze, crack, speed, and all the other stuff brings with it personal and public danger. Take all the risks you want, but be ready to pay for the results and don't say "it's not my fault, I'm hooked" or "it's not my fault, I didn't know what I was doing," or "it's not my fault, I couldn't control myself." or ""it's not my fault......" You owe that much to your neighbor.

So, promote whatever you want to be "legal," but be ready to stand up and take responsibility for what happens when the stuff is used and people get harmed because of it - directly or indirectly.