Replies

From the moment a recreational drug user puts the first straw to his nose, the first joint to his lips or the first needle in his arm he KNOWS that what he is doing is illegal.

For whatever reason, he has made a moral choice that his "normal" state is insufficient and needs to be augmented – so much so that he is willing to assume the risk of arrest and/or incarceration. And his resulting addiction should come as no surprise. He knowingly operates outside the law from the get-go. This is vastly different from Limbaugh's scenario.-Jim Quinn

Rush and most people have taken a drink or two. It is a simple fact that drinking alcohol risks addiction. Yes, marijuana use is illegal by comparison and it is a sound moral course to abide by the law. But smoking a joint or two is also something that vast numbers of people do. And they risk addiction by doing it.

We should all appreciate the nuances and know that addicts are broken people at great risk.

At the same time, appreciating the nuances does not require us to stop condemning poor moral practices OR to stop fighting intrusive government.

Well said. I can't find one word to disagree with you about. Your last sentence is really clear, well-stated, and is my position exactly:

At the same time, appreciating the nuances does not require us to stop condemning poor moral practices OR to stop fighting intrusive government.

Actually, I can quibble about one word, just for the record--the use of the term "addiction" with respect to marijuana. robertpaulsen and I had a lengthy debate/discussion about that this weekend. I don't want to reopen it here. But, I do have to go on the record.