Oh, they certainly are problems.
I disagree that cannabis would be less of a problem.
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Opiates have been proven to be one fo the most addictive drugs known to man. They are far more addictive than cannabis, which is psychologically addictive rather than physically.
Many drugs used in medicine are addictive but that does not mean they should not be used.
We need to move beyond the area where abused drugs are used for medicine, and work on safer methods.
If there's elements of pot that is helpful, isolate them. Keep all the addictive parts out of it.
It's a dangerous road though, since this is all about getting high in the first place.