I never suggested that.
Also, somone who was reluctant to do pot because of it being illegal, will be more likely to use it if it becomes legal. What then? You hope that they will stay away from other drugs that are still illegal? Foolhardy.
No, completely rational---those that avoid breaking the law, avoid breaking the law.
Look at what is happening in Canada with the decrim of pot. Prices and crime are expected to rise.
That's not what IS happening, but what SOME people PREDICT. Have any actual facts?
So you disagree that a HIGHER percentage of people who smoke pot move on to harder drugs than do people drink alcohol?
I have seen no evidence for it.
You decry the "deadly addictive" booze and cigarettes
No, I merely note that I don't use them.
Yes, alcohol has been abused. Yes, that should be illegal.
How would we enforce a ban on abuse but not use? And why ban only abuse of alcohol but ALL use of other drugs?
As for cigs, I have no problem with further restrictions.
Still less than the TOTAL restrictions on other drugs (which, according to research cited by the Institute of Medicine, are less addictive than tobacco).
I am STILL waiting for your response on how legalizing pot makes the problems of alcohol and tobacco any better whatsoever?
I never claimed it would.
If you want pot legalized, please tell me why cocaine should remain illegal.
It shouldn't.
When you smoke pot, you've broken a barrier, so it's somehow easier to do the next thing down the line. Only with drugs, you don't progress into something better, you progress into something more dangerous and harmful. Actual studies done by rational, logical people DO show that if you smoke pot, you're more likely to try things like crystal meth or cocaine or heroin. Not only is marijuana dangerous in its own right, it also screws up your judgement, making you more likely to use other drugs. A gateway drug, like pot, breaks down a psychological barrier against doing other drugs. Once you've crossed the line with a gateway drug, you're more likely to go there with other drugs, too. Gateway drugs also impair your judgement. If you're high, it's easier to say yes to cocaine or whatever else is around. These drugs break down your inhibitions, so you're more susceptible to peer pressure or experimenting. And they don't just impair your judgement when you're on them-these drugs can change the way you feel about drugs in general, putting you on a really ugly path that'll get you in trouble and make you quite unhappy. With impaired judgment and that "barrier" crossed with pot, the fact that other drugs are illegal will certainly have a lessened effect on someone with access to the drugs. This, sir, is why ALL drugs, INCLUDING POT, need to remain illegal. Besides, if things were run your way, your imaginery belief that people who didn't do pot until it becomes legal won't do harder drugs that are still illegal is moot. You want ALL drugs legalized, right?
Now then, in studies I have looked at alcohol use by children and young adolescents DOES serve as a precursor to and predictor of future use of illicit drugs, while alcohol use that begins after the age of 16 does NOT appear to be linked directly with use of other illicit drugs.
This is why it is ENTIRELY consistent and NOT hypocritical to suggest that POT should remain illegal and alcohol need not be made illegal BUT USE BY MINORS MUST BE DEALT WITH SERIOUSLY. Several studies have found that, if society can prevent an individual from using any of the gateway drugs until age 21, the chances are 93-7 that that person will not use illicit drugs OR use alcohol in a high-risk manner.
The most hypocritical stance of all is to complain about the "deadly drugs of tobacco and alcohol" and then turn around and say "all drugs should be legalized". As you yourself admitted, making pot, heroin, and cocaine legal will do NOTHING to address the problems of alcohol and tobacco. Indeed you will have created many more problems.
Perhaps this simple logic will escape you as well. Drug use should remain illegal because IT IS WRONG. Period.