“Drugs are bad for you.” Undoubtedly. Most things are, if nut used properly. SO WHAT? Is it YOUR business that your next door neighbor smokes a joint in the privacy of his own home? (Hint: the CORRECT answer is “NO.”) Do you want your kids smoking pot? If not, raise them up in a manner that when they get older and out on their own, they will not be TEMPTED to do so. That’s YOUR responsibility, not government’s.
I am 61 years old, never smoked a joint, never been tempted to. Won’t, even when it’s re-legalized. I barely have a drink of the mind-altering DRUG, alcohol, anymore. Maybe every other month or so. But it’s NONE OF MY BUSINESS (nor YOUR business) what my neighbor does, as long as it doesn’t get out in the streets. You are hopeless busybodies, sticking your noses in where one day they’ll get cut off for you.
The origins of the war on some drugs are interesting (and I KNOW you’ve been made aware of them), because there was not one WHIT of evidence that regulation was desirable for “medical reasons.” It was and yet is all about control over the lives of others by miserable jack- and jenny asses like you. If you truly believe that drugs are bad for people, PREACH IT FROM THE STREET CORNERS. I’ll come along and hold your coats. BUT GET THE GOVERNMENT BACK OUT OF IT. The war on some drugs (but not others) has torn up our constitution to the point that we now have an undocumented moron living at 1600, getting ready to slide the knife in for the coup de grace. Thanks a LOT, drug warriors.
There is no country in the world that has fully legalized marijuana use. So, any argument you make in favor of making it legal is strictly theory. You are here arguing that something which is currently illegal will make the crime associated with it, lessen. This has never been done with marijuana, so we are to take your esteemed word that this is the right thing to do.
This argument that “what my neighbor does, as long as it doesn’t get out in the streets,” is fine. However, if you believe this as your sole criteria, you therefore believe bestiality in your own home is okay, that people should be allowed to create and use chemical and radiological weapons (as long as it stays on their property), and that shooting from one’s property with a blindfold is fine, again, as long as it never hurts another.
I don’t think you are that consistent, so, please, tell us why some behaviors our society deems “bad” should be legalized, while other behaviors our society claims are bad should categorically remain illegal.
Gosh, if we legalized rape, rape statistics would immediately drop to zero (you know, it’s no longer “illegal”). Interesting stance, there, huh?