[RightOnline]

Let me ask you a question, in all seriousness. Do you not see a difference between those who use illegal drugs for "recreational" purposes (often getting hooked, then committing crimes to feed their habits) and those like Rush who inadvertently become addicted to legal narcotics dispensed by doctors for legitimate pain management?

[Bluntpoint]

From my experience dealing with abusers, labeling someone a recreational user is intellectually lazy.

Many who "recreationally" abuse drugs are, upon deeper examination, self-medicating an underlying emotion or mental disorder.

[Mike4Freedom]

Let me ask you a question, in all seriousness. Do you not see a difference between those who use illegal drugs for "recreational" purposes (often getting hooked, then committing crimes to feed their habits) and those like Rush who inadvertently become addicted to legal narcotics dispensed by doctors for legitimate pain management?

There might be some subtle difference in your moral balancing but in the legal sense, there is no difference, at least as the law is currently. However, if we were ever to restore the full constitution and particularly the Bill of Rights, there would be no laws against either. We would be looking at drug users the same way we look at alcohol users. Some people are self medicating and some are just addicted. Neither goes to jail unless they involve others (say by driving under the influence).

I wonder about the hypocrisy of the drug warriors who probably drink themselves as they advocate long prison sentences for harmless MJ users.

[Abogado]

What about vets who became hooked on pain-killing drugs after suffering injuries, but are unable to afford, or unable to obtain, "legal" drugs in civilian life? Seems the main difference between Rush and a poor vet hooked on pain-killers is economic resources - one can afford to obtain "legal" drugs, the other cannot. Face it, what is disturbing is that Rush's addiction to drugs forces people to examine and justify thier WOD poisition.

[fishbabe]

some of those who take illegal,recreational drugs have pain too....abuse,molestation,neglect....a lot of people deal with this kind of pain by using illegal drugs...they are hurting as much as rush did physically...where are the kind words for them????????? there may be a reason they use drugs to get high..it may be the only way they can cope with their horrendous problems,too...

[Conservative til I die]

Let me ask you a question, in all seriousness. Do you not see a difference between those who use illegal drugs for "recreational" purposes (often getting hooked, then committing crimes to feed their habits) and those like Rush who inadvertently become addicted to legal narcotics dispensed by doctors for legitimate pain management?

And Rush possibly might have committed crimes as well. Here's a newsflash, if - IF! - Rush did what he is accused of doing, he committed a crime to get his drugs. I don't know if you know this, but doctors don't prescribe thousands upon thousands of the same painkiller to their patient. <