Funny how it led right back to that, isn't it?
Or if you prefer Greek philosophers over Scottish philosophers.
And China now has an authoritarian society which also bans drugs.
There can never be any justification for criminalizing someone for merely possessing the wrong plant, chemical, liquid spirits, or medicine—in violation of the edicts of the State.
Once such laws can exist, there is no practical limit to State power. If someone chooses to pursue happiness by growing and or smoking one of God's own plants—and they do it without infringing on anyone else's rights—then it's Tyrannical, plain and simple, for the State to declare that person a criminal. It's the epitome of Statist thinking, and bears absolutely no resemblance to living in a Free country.
Authoritarians can attempt to rationalize that glaring contradiction all they want, but it will always remain precisely that—a shameful rationalization. And,of course, it opens the door to an arbitrary amount of Tyranny, as every group with a pet cause seeks to impose their vision of "law and order". Once tolerated, there is no end to the Tyranny which can exist—as we can all see examples of everywhere we look.
Once again, I'll stick with actual Freedom—without any of the authoritarian shortcuts coveted by nanny-staters. Preemptive law is arbitrary law. Once you can create law against people who are just living their lives—not infringing on anyone's rights—you've opened the door to Tyranny. Whether the Tyranny conveys any societal "benefits" or not, it's still Tyranny, and therefore illegitimate.
By the way, before you engage in the typical smears which authoritarians invariably employ—I don't smoke pot at all.
Funny how it led right back to that, isn't it?
Or if you prefer Greek philosophers over Scottish philosophers.