Bit of a dopey or perhaps dope inspired rebuttal. You simply don’t have the proper cultural perspective.
The gateway claim is nonsense - research shows that the correlation between earlier marijuana use and later use of other drugs can be explained by a "common-factor" model, that is, a third factor that causes both results, such as individuals' opportunities and unique propensities to use drugs, or more broadly a social or psychological predisposition towards anti-social behavior. (http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RB6010/index1.html, http://rds.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/hors253.pdf)
Also note that the same sort of correlation between earlier marijuana and later harder drugs also exists between earlier alcohol and tobacco and later illegal drugs - so if marijuana is a "gateway" so are alcohol and tobacco.
has been clearly associated with schizophrenia and a host of personality disorders that have ruined or diminished lives.
Association is not causation - it's equally plausible that the mentally ill turn to marijuana in a misguided attempt to self-medicate.
No reputable rehabilitation specialist or addiction professional condones its use.
Nor the use of tobacco - shall we ban that too?
It is especially dangerous when used by adolesents.
Nobody advocates making marijuana legal for minors.
The US has declined markedly since marijuana use has become widespread.
The US has declined markedly since flat-screen TVs have become widespread.
Bit of a dopey or perhaps dope inspired rebuttal.
Whereas your counterpoint is a marvel of research and logic. ROTFL!
You simply don’t have the proper cultural perspective.
Which is what?
What is your “cultural perspective”? I imagine a group of men sitting in a cloud of cigar smoke, drunkly rambling about how irresponsible are those damn, longhaired hippies, before each drives home or into a tree.
Heh. You made a joke and didn't know it.