You all have posed questions(and answers) that are important but Scalerman answered some of your concerns PJ. The fact is that if you legalize any drugs you will exacerbate the problem. If it becomes legal, More people will use..meaning we will have to have More drug rehabs that will have to be paid for by the government(meaning us). If you think legalizing drugs will be a good thing just look at Holland. Also, if you think legalizing will make things cheaper...get serious! When has the government ever made things cheaper when they can tax it? Look at cigarettes!! And people will still steal so they can pay for their habit except it would be at an ever larger rate. Many people don't do drugs of any kind just because they are afraid of the law.. PJ you are right in saying that the pot of today is a far cry from yesteryear...and yeah people do become addicted to pot...even if it is only psychologically because they like that feeling. No You'll never stop people from using drugs including alcohol. But if you do as PJ said and execute the dealers on the spot(especially around schools) most will either quit or die. And don't forget about the drug lords as PJ said. Literally just invade the countries they are in... capture them and bring them back here and publically execute them. It sounds terrible but this IS a war on drugs..is it not?
Wahnie, been thinking on what you said too. I understand the feeling of youth. I kinda felt the same way when your age although I never did drugs. I gathered for some of the comments you posted on the board in the past that your childhood(includes your teen years) was kind of rough. I understand that..but let's be honest. As teens we always blame our problems on someone else because we can't take responsibility for our actions. I know I did. As I am sure you did. You seem to have overcome some of that shortcoming as most of us do. But to feel that the government has no right to say what can be put in your body legally is assinine. Your actions DO affect others also... even if you think otherwise. And yes marijuana is a gateway drug whether you want to believe it or not. As Scalerman said..he tried other drugs just because pot didn't have the kick he wanted. I've heard that over and over. So maybe it isn't physically addicting but it certainly is psychologically. And as I said, impaired is impaired either from pot of pills or alcohol. So don't hide behind that argument about the amount of impairment. You live in the land of midnight sun and the marijuana laws up there allow a small amount of personal pot I think...and alcohol use up there is really astronomical(or it used to be). C'mon man, get out of the drug culture completely...it's about time to join the world..whether it is what you want it to be or not. If it isn't, try to change it...in a positive way! Come out of the dark side into the sunlight...even when it is winter up there.
Not dissing you man. Just concerned about you! Cause if you don't get completely away from drugs of any kind..they will probably capture you again...although I hope not!