This thread is about legalizing marijuana — one, very specific drug. It's quite disingenuous to shift to argument to a discussion of the evils of drugs in general.
You'll get no argument from me about the evils of cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, methamethemines, and Ecstasy. You should not attempt to conflate these drugs with marijuana. Conservatives should be capable of discriminating between different classes of anything, based on the harm they do.
As for marijuana -- there's a wide spectrum of evidence and opinion regarding the harm it does. Some think it's beneficial -- others think it's harmful. Most think it's less harmful than tobacco or alcohol. There should be no argument that the harm from the WOD outweighs the harm from marijuana. The "War" on drugs started out as more of a metaphor than reality -- we now have a full-scale shooting war. Why? Why not simply regulate marijuana like alcohol, and focus resources on fighting drugs we know are deadly evil?
Well said, I’m with you on this one. So many people (here on FR) criticize the left for wanting to regulate and control many aspects of our lives yet turn around and do the same thing. Marijuana can be bad and it can also have some positives. When taken/used in moderation the effects are pleasant just as a bottle or two of Lienenkugal beer seem to hit the spot. It’s all about responsibility. I drink too much I’m a menace to society, same with pot (although, not as bad (unless you consider cleaning the fridge out, Ill behavior)).
If you use your morality to judge others, that’s fine. If you use your morality to dictate what others can and can’t do, does society benefit? There are a lot of benefits that society gains from Christian values but where do you draw the line? Some so called Christians I’ve observed are a little wacky (I’m sure you’ve seen them on the corner holding signs up). Would you really like some of the more intense church’s dictating how we live our lives?
I have many friends, that I grew up with, that smoke pot and maintain their lives just fine. Most of them started in high school. We all got a little crazy with it (what high school kid doesn’t get a little frisky) but learned how to maintain. Same as with alcohol, a few nights passed out in the forest with pine needles in every crack teaches us about over indulgence.
As with alcohol, the people that have real problems are the ones that are restricted from using it, then all of a sudden are told go for it. Kids turn 21 and binge drink themselves into oblivion. Other kids move out of their parents’ house into a place with a few friends and go a little crazy.
I, for one would like pot to become legal and drugs should be seen as more of a medical/mental problem than a criminal issue. Yes, they all have the potential to ruin lives but it is the individual’s responsibility to keep their shit together, not yours.