S/He seems to be saying that it caused her/his friends to be killed, it corrupts others, etc. Essentially, s/he believes marijuana is equivalent to heroin and cocaine in terms of addictiveness, which isn't true, and that is the reason it's illegal? But anything that causes pleasure is potentially addictive: love, food, drugs, alcohol, sex, gambling, video games, the internet, religion, hobbies, exercise, power, control...the list goes on and on and includes many things that are necessary for life itself or even the afterlife, if you have that belief.
I think it is evil to cause someone unnecessary pain and suffering. In the bell curve of humanity, marijuana (which has been used for all sorts of things, including medicinal purposes, for thousands of years) is most certainly going to help certain people. It is far more benign than the pharmaceuticals derived from it, far less dangerous for recreational use than alcohol (a poison) and can be grown by anyone in their own backyard...thereby eliminating the need for dangerous drug cartels. You could buy and sell it at the local farmer's markets just like tomatoes and sweet corn (I bet the FDA would like to ban those as well, once they finish with the vitamin and health food companies).
When we try to legislate against human nature, we only create forms of anarchy in a society that is compelled to violate its own laws. The nationwide 55 mph speed limit created speeders out of otherwise safe drivers. The prohibition against alcohol created criminals out of ordinary citizens and a business opportunity for organized crime (what's that about history repeating itself?). This strikes me as a government being evil, especially when otherwise good and decent people buy into the propaganda and turn on their fellow citizens, including those who simply want pain relief. This is evil. Why? Becuase the government says so. Why?
S/He seems to be saying that it caused her/his friends to be killed, it corrupts others, etc. Essentially, s/he believes marijuana is equivalent to heroin and cocaine in terms of addictiveness, which isn't true, and that is the reason it's illegal?>>>
No, it's illegal because it poisons the mind and makes the user stupid. Not as deadly or stupifying as heroin and cocaine, but it's still deadly. (It does not matter that it is not equivalent to cocaine. Dynamite is deadlier than a .22 bullet to the head, but that doesn't make the .22 bullet to the head less deadly than it is.)
But anything that causes pleasure is potentially addictive: love, food, drugs, alcohol, sex, gambling, video games, the internet, religion, hobbies, exercise, power, control...the list goes on and on and includes many things that are necessary for life itself or even the afterlife, if you have that belief.>>
Blah blah blah. "First they ban pot, then they'll ban sex! WE gotta stop those Evil Right Wing Nazis....duuuuuude!" (inhales)
I think it is evil to cause someone unnecessary pain and suffering.>>>
Which pot use does.
In the bell curve of humanity, marijuana (which has been used for all sorts of things, including medicinal purposes, for thousands of years) is most certainly going to help certain people. >>>
Where did you get that figure of "thousands of years"? Pot has only been smoked by Westerners for about 80 years or so.
It is far more benign than the pharmaceuticals derived from it, far less dangerous for recreational use than alcohol (a poison) and can be grown by anyone in their own backyard...thereby eliminating the need for dangerous drug cartels.>>>
Again the camel's nose. If it is legal for me to grow it in my garden, it's legal for the Medellin Cartel to import it and sell it to my kid.
When we try to legislate against human nature>>
Since when is smoking a bhong or a joint human nature? It's an acquired taste and habit and the government is exactly right to enforce a ban on its use.