[bigbob]

I’m fine with all that, but I would add that penalties for selling or giving pot (as well as other drugs) to minors carry the same kind of penalty as child porn. Essentially zero tolerance and major mandatory jail time. And DUI penalties would be that same if not stiffer than for alcohol.

My libertarian streak says I don’t care that much about what consenting adults do privately as long as it doesn’t harm others. But the evidence is growing that pot can result in great ham to adolescents and teens, and protecting kids is part of the responsibility to have individual freedom as an adult.

[Clump]

Alcohol is a lot more dangerous than marijuana IMO.
I've been practicing criminal law for nearly a decade, and I see so many DWIs and violence that is alcohol related. Not to mention that alcohol poisoning kills thousands of people a year, while there's no way to die of marijuana overdose (unless it's laced with another drug in the black market).
Also, minors tell me routinely that it's much easier to get pot than alcohol.
That's the nature of the market.
On the abuse side, I see more problems from physically addictive prescription drugs and of course meth (which is a problem that could be eliminated on the supply side- but the government only pretends to care about that drug) which keeps plenty of law enforcement busy and militarized.
That's just my experience and take.