Sarah pretty much stated my position on marijuana. Never tried it myself, but I don’t get too worked up about it, and there are a lot bigger fish to fry out there.
I’ll say this about pot:
I smoked pot for over 10 years during my undergrad years and then again after I met my fiancé. I had to quit. I’m an alcoholic. Once I realized that I had an issue with addiction, I realized that pot was as much a problem as alcohol or caffeine or nicotine.
Pot made me lethargic. I stopped caring about anything. I was unable to get motivated to do anything even as simple as feeding my ferrets or cleaning the house. I smoked like an addict: never stop until I can’t much move let alone bring the bong to my mouth again. I see a LOT of “functional” pot smokers who use it like a normal person would use alcohol. It’s an escape after a long day at work or a way to veg out on the weekends. If I could control my addiction (I know I can’t), then I’m sure I’d still be using it.
I would never offer it to anyone. I would never espouse its use. However, I believe alcohol is a much more insidious drug, and I’m of the opinion that pot is relatively benign. Again, I said RELATIVELY benign... relative to alcohol anyway. I don’t think it’s the root of problems in our country. I believe drugs like cocaine and heroin are necessarily banned, but with the rise of oxy- hydro- roxy-codone and other opiate prescription drugs, I don’t think we’re going to do away with it. In a way, removing the bans would at least remove the stigma and the need for a black market, essentially putting drug cartels out of business.
If you’ve never used pot and you have addiction issues, don’t start. Otherwise, I think it’s a drug with a purpose.
Me too, with one caveat. I have a big problem with drivers smoking dope in vehicles. As long as that remains illegal and fiercely enforced, I couldn't care less what people choose to smoke in the privacy of their own home. It's really none of my business.