When I speed in my car I am also breaking the law, should I go to prison then?
Simply breaking a law does not mean I should go to prison. Smoking pot is only a misdemeanor where I live anyway, so thankfully I won't be going to prison anytime soon.
I agree my choice of drugs should not be your responsibility. I don't think anyone is arguing that here. What is central to this argument is which is better: prison or treatment for non-violent drug offenders.
Of course no one wants people under the influence of drugs of ANY kind driving cars or operating heavy machines. I guess coffee is assumed to be ok. I'm sure we don't have any numbers on auto accidents where caffeine was involved.
I would further argue that a treatment program would cost less than prison too. Are there any studies as to the efficacy of prison in treating drug abuse? I'd like to see what the reoffend numbers are like there.
Or are you saying that drug treatment is "good" because it keeps people out of jail? (ie., given a choice, who wouldn't take the treatment program?)