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Nor was I suggesting that government has the solution. In fact I agreed that the solution being employed is worthless. If it was started with good intentions, which is questionable, it certainly has devolved into something that needs to be abandoned. That being said it still leaves the problem of drug abuse.

Whether we want to admit it or not, that also impacts on our freedoms, primarily because we are getting stuck with the bills. In addition our society is becoming more violent which in the long run will continue to erode our freedom of movement.

While most everything does affect someone else, some are positive. Drug abuse is nothing but a negative over the long haul. My biggest concern is the children who are not only facing probable physical & mental abuse, but indoctrination into the drug culture. Thus the problem expands exponentially.

Drug abuse is a two sided coin in which both sides leave us with lost freedoms. No matter which side the coin lands on we lose. If we try to force non usage we lose, and if we legalize it we also lose.

I think we can indeed kiss freedom goodbye, as I see no solution. Especially since we have taught generations of American youth to be irresponsible for their actions.

Whether we want to admit it or not, that also impacts on our freedoms, primarily because we are getting stuck with the bills.

We have chosen through our elected representatives to pick up that check - we should reverse that poor choice, not use it as an excuse for further restrictions of freedom.

In addition our society is becoming more violent

Using pot doesn't make one violent (although sometimes violence-prone people use pot). Pot criminalization does put financial resources in the pockets of violent criminals.

While most everything does affect someone else, some are positive. Drug abuse is nothing but a negative over the long haul.

The only negative effects that are the proper business of government are violations of rights. Drug use is not in general a violation of rights, except when it renders one unable to meet one's responsibilities to one's minor children - and banning drugs for ALL users including childless ones is not the answer to that violation.

The coin analogy fails - we already have both force and drug use. Anyone undeterred by the inherent risks of drug use is equally undeterred by the much remoter chance of the much lower penalty of imprisonment.