So what's YOUR problem with drugs?

[Wump]

“I don’t do drugs. Just weed.” -Half Baked

That pretty much sums up my drug usage. Although i did try mushrooms once. And hash, but that’s a weed product…

I have been curious about LSD, but too many horror stories have turned me away. My friend won’t be able to live out his childhood dream of racing cars… sponsors aren’t willing to sponsor him because he might have a flashback while driving and kill someone. They don’t want their name attached in any way with drug usage.

Incredibly unlikely? yes.

One ruined dream? yes.

I have no problem with those who chose to do drugs, myself of course being one. I do have a problem with those who put their drugs before their needs. (Rent, food, clothing…)
I have friends like this. I don’t understand them, but it’s their choice and it’s only hurting them.

[Nacho4Sara]

Drugs don’t DO anything… you don’t take them for a reason and any behavior modification is the TARGET, not the SIDE EFFECT.

Actually, I remembering hearing something about marijuana being used to treat “AIDS, glaucoma, cancer, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, and chronic pain” (cite). So that would give them a medicinal purpose, sort of like…sudafed. But I’m just a drug addict, I could have gotten confused.

For one, it saddens me to think that people need various chemicals to make themselves feel better or whatever.

Well, it saddens me that five of my closest friends are on Prozac or Paxil. One friend, for example, had a death in the family, went to a therapist, and was given a prescription for Prozac. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to take it or not, but his doctor urged him to, so now he takes it every day for months at a time. I don’t like him when he’s taking it. He’s a different person, and it upsets me that Prozac causes this change in him.

When my grandmother died, my mom went to a therapist. After one hour he wrote her a prescription for Prozac. She had told him at the beginning of their meeting that she didn’t want anti-depressants because she knew her sadness was natural and would pass, she just wanted someone outside the family to speak with. He urged her to take it even though she didn’t want to and she never went back.

I really don’t know what all the non-users believe about using drugs occassionally. Believe me, it’s not like those frying pan/egg commercials for the most part. It’s not like an evil being inhabits your body. I don’t even laugh all that much. I just feel really relaxed and peaceful, I’m able to enjoy nature on a whole new level. I don’t really even speak that much. I like to sit on the secluded part of the beach on a nice rock and appreciate my surroundings. It depends too on the person I’m with. My best friend and I giggle and act silly in the privacy of her bedroom. My brother and I just rent a movie, order a pizza and smoke at home.

Yes, it’s sort of like meditation. I go to a Tibetan Buddhist prayer meeting every Sunday night led by Lama Yeshi, a family friend. I’ve chanted and meditated and I’ve reached a similar level after an hour or so of repeating the Tara Mantra.

All I’m asking is that non-users stop making blanket judgements about drug users. I’m obviously not a part of the homeless/drop-out/crackhead demographic. I won’t ever try anything other than smoking.

Whatever floats your boat. I’m not going to judge you for not smoking. shrug

[mouthbreather]

Wump,

They would know how, exactly, your friend had done LSD in the past?

[Kaje]

*Originally posted by Wump *
**My friend won’t be able to live out his childhood dream of racing cars… sponsors aren’t willing to sponsor him because he might have a flashback while driving and kill someone. **

I suppose they must not allow combat veterans to race cars either, as they are much more prone to flashbacks than LSD users (not to mention that the concept of an LSD flashback from occasional use is grossly exaggerated. It’s not exactly the “all of a sudden he just jumped out a window” response)

[Miller]

*Originally posted by MFS *
**
As for users, regular or “recreational”, well, I still have very little respect for them, but it is more of a feeling of disappointment. For one, it saddens me to think that people need various chemicals to make themselves feel better or whatever. This simply violates one of my personal philosophies, and although I admit that I cannot, nor will I, force my beliefs on anyone else, I still feel a certain amount of disappointment whenever I find out about people’s drug use. No matter how they rationalize it, I simply cannot understand how they think it somehow benefits them to do so.

And there you have it. **

I don’t need drugs to feel better, but they certainly help. And what’s so wrong about that? Are you disappointed in people who use Prozac to feel better?

Actually, I don’t use drugs to feel better so much as I use them to feel different. Being stoned is a distinct sensation, not exactly like anything I’ve felt sober. Is it better than being sober? No, which is why I’m not high constantly. But it is fun, and it is a unique experience, which makes it worthwhile in its own right.

And, if you get right down to it, happiness itself is nothing more than a chemical reaction.

[dalovindj]

I accept no law that prosecutes victimless crimes.

DaLovin’ Dj

[Zaphod_Beeblebrox]

gatopescado:

Huh? aside from memory loss? sound pretty goddamn serious to me!

Actually, it only applies to short term memory, and it’s temporary. When I spent six months without smoking, my short term memory came back.

“Marijuana rarely leads to crime.” I cry “BULLSHIT!” i bet pot leads to alot of petty and serious crimes. i can tell you for sure that it lead to the burglary of my home by my doper neighbor. sure, he broke into my home-- not a violent crime-- but had i caught him, one of us would now be dead, and the other’s life pretty screwed up. why did he break into my house? to support his drug habit, period!

To support a drug habit? Sure. It was probably coke. I doubt people robbed your house for pot.

[ultress]

Opinions were asked, opinions were stated. It’s what the board is about. That doesn’t mean that we have to agree. In fact it only means that we can agree to disagree. I’m sure that everyone will agree that the topic falls under the same type of debate for/against as many of life’s issues do, religion, politics, etc.
I do think that if you are using drugs, habitally or just occasionally, be careful. Your choices in life can become limited, especially since in today’s world drug testings are common place. In my particular line of work you are randomly chosen at any time for drug testing, no way that you can outwit them since you aren’t given any notice ahead of time, and you are searched before the testing begins. All the ‘remedies’ for making postive tests turn negative will not work because of the method they use, so you can forget taking a pill to make the weed not show up. But they do you one favor, when you apply for a job they give you a little chart that shows you how long each drug stays in your system, weed stays about 28 days after you smoke.
It’s pretty common place now. Just something to consider.

[GuanoLad]

I can’t understand why people don’t like my attitude towards drug use, which is “I wish people didn’t do it.”

Am I not allowed to wish people didn’t do it? Does this actually matter to people that I have this hope that people didn’t use them? Why?

People will continue to do whatever the hell they want no matter what I think or do or say - so why care about me?

[Steve_Wright]

*Originally posted by dalovindj *
**I accept no law that prosecutes victimless crimes.

DaLovin’ Dj **

Not an unreasonable position… except that drug use (where illegal) is not necessarily a victimless crime. Because, unless you’re living as a hermit somewhere and never interact with other people, your use of drugs can affect the people around you, sometimes in negative ways.

It can be negative in a dramatic way; people have mentioned PCP users freaking out violently, and TVeblen (rather bravely) described her former husband’s collapse due to alcohol abuse. But it doesn’t have to be dramatic; anyone who’s associated with drug users (whether the drugs are legal or not) will have had to get used to (in one way or another) cleaning up after the messes they make. I’ve had to clean up vomit, I’ve had to look after a guy during an LSD flashback, I’ve had to sort out mistakes by co-workers who were too hung-over to do their jobs properly (and don’t get me started on people who actually use substances at work). There is a social cost for drug use, and it’s not paid by the user alone.

So - well, I’d agree that many of today’s drug laws are unnecessarily restrictive, and I’d also agree that we need fewer scare stories and more real education about drugs. But I don’t agree that drug use affects only the user. So, if you want to do something that affects “Society” (as in, other people around you), you have to accept that “Society” has a say in the matter too.

(FTR, and FWIW, I drink alcohol on occasion, but not regularly; I’ve never been a smoker [of anything]. In my young student days, I was a heavier drinker, and on one occasion was persuaded to try magic mushrooms after a drinking session. I can’t say that the experience irrevocably scarred me for life, but I can say that my flatmates at the time had better things to do that night than watch me stumbling around and giggling…)

[Hamadryad]

Steve Wright said: “Because, unless you’re living as a hermit somewhere and never interact with other people, your use of drugs can affect the people around you, sometimes in negative ways.”

“…your use of a hot iron…”
“…your use of a motorcycle…”
“…your use of an ATV…”
“…your use of skydiving equipment…”
“…your use of an automobile…”
“…your use of a razor…”
“…your use of a hotplate…”
“…your use of your computer…”

I know that these are NOT precise parallels. I know this, believe me. BUT…

I recently came to the realization that the time I have been spending on the Internet has been greatly harming my relationship with my children. It seems like it’s WORK to get up and make them lunch. It seems like a CHORE to go do their laundry. It’s a pain in my ass to have to go all the way in the other room to make sure they haven’t destroyed anything. It’s a colossal dent in MY internet time to make them turn off the TV and have to make sure they occupy themselves using their imaginations during the day instead of taking the easy way out and letting them suck on the glass teat (thank you, Harlan Ellison) all day.

Holy shit…people are NEGLECTING THEIR KIDS because of the Internet! Only people with LICENSES who can PROVE that their Internet usage won’t make them NEGLECT THEIR CHILDREN should be allowed to use it…there’s just too much potential for STUPID people to ABUSE it.

The sick part? I’m not kidding. I have recognized this behavior and am changing it…now I play on the Internet some, but if I find myself telling a kid to wait while I finish up an INTERNET thing, for chrissakes, I bitch-slap myself and tend to the kid FIRST. When the hubman gets home, instead of both of us wandering into the office and losing ourselves in the instant gratification of DSL web access, we shut the door and do not go in again until the kids go to bed. Once they’re nestled all snug in their beds, we can go play on the Internet, all the while keeping an ear out to make sure the kids are healthy and happy (and, after 9pm, SLEEPING).

I only smoke pot after the kids go to sleep.

I have never in my life thought that taking another hit offa’ the bowl was more important than doing something for my kids.

Damn the government for NOT making the Internet ILLEGAL, thereby taking the onus for using it responsibly off of poor weak-willed ME.

No one looks down on me for surfing the Web, strangely enough.

My stepson has spent the last couple of years knowing that his dad and I smoke out occasionally. He has learned:

• Never go to work high; they’re paying you for your ability to work SOBER.
• Never drive while altered in any fashion…you are qualified to drive a vehicle SOBER.
• Never get high OR drunk in front of the kids…there is an appropriate place and time for everything. (As a side note…I find absolutely nothing wrong with blowjobs either…but they’re unnecessary and I would never do it in front of my kids. For this, should they be illegal?)
• If anyone hands you something you don’t recognize and says, “Eat this,” DON’T.

Does DARE teach him this? No. DARE taught him that All Drugs Are Bad All The Time. But you can go have a beer as soon as you turn 21. And that’s okay. But no, we’re not hypocrites! Believe us! BELIEVE US!!!

And I don’t know a single. human. being. who looks DOWN on anyone else for NOT doing drugs. “No thanks.” “Aiight.”

Now I’m just rambling. Unfortunately, y’all can’t blame that on the drugs; I’m totally sober right now (especially since my Prozac prescription ran out, and thank you EVERYONE who is so very supportive of those of us who have actual problems with the chemicals in our brains). To the folks whose relatives have been messed up by Prozac, I suggest that they get a second opinion and, if drugs are deemed necessary, they find a doctor who will work with them, both on which drug (Prozac is NOT the end-all be-all) they should take AND what dosage.

[Mogwei22]

NightRabbit

I don’t do drugs, and I do look down on those who do.

That’s why I consider drug use something to be thoroughly ashamed of.

I don’t mind people doing drugs as long as THEY don’t go overboard.

I’m confused by your last statement…it doesn’t really gel with the first two. How do you really feel?

First, how many people are buying drugs that came from people that they trust? What about where those people got it?

Again, do you know where your prescription meds come from? Do you know your pharmacist personally? Do you know the drug makers personally? Do you know what each unpronouncable chemicals that makes up your sudafed does to your body? Do you know where these chemicals come from?

Seems I’ve been hearing a lot of stories in the news lately about drug makers being found guilty of diluting and adulterating prescriptions meds…so I don’t think you can honestly say that LEGAL drugs are safe…no drug is SAFE.

Yeah, I use tylenol, and sudafed when I have a cold. I also drink caffeinated beverages. And yeah, I’m sure people on sudafed drive and aren’t the most consciencous drivers. But at least those serve a medicinal purpose. Drugs don’t DO anything.

How do you know if you’ve never tried? I think Nacho4Sara said

Actually, I remembering hearing something about marijuana being used to treat “AIDS, glaucoma, cancer, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, and chronic pain” (cite). So that would give them a medicinal purpose, sort of like…sudafed.

Lawmakers would like us to believe that certain illegal drugs have no medicinal benefit…so then why have they created a synthetic version of the chemical THC found in cannibas to treat the diseases and conditions that Nacho mentioned? Makes me wonder…should make you wonder too?

[dalovindj]

Steve Wright:

Not an unreasonable position… except that drug use (where illegal) is not necessarily a victimless crime. Because, unless you’re living as a hermit somewhere and never interact with other people, your use of drugs can affect the people around you, sometimes in negative ways.

So you make the laws against the negative interaction, not against a victimless action. Make it illegal to get stoned and drive, but not to just get stoned. Make it illegal to neglect your kids, not to get trashed. Make it illegal to hurt anyone physically. Plenty of drug users don’t hurt anyone.

It can be negative in a dramatic way; people have mentioned PCP users freaking out violently,

So make it illegal to freak out violently. If you can do PCP and not freak out or hurt anybody, I couldn’t care less.

But it doesn’t have to be dramatic; anyone who’s associated with drug users (whether the drugs are legal or not) will have had to get used to (in one way or another) cleaning up after the messes they make. I’ve had to clean up vomit, I’ve had to look after a guy during an LSD flashback,

You didn’t have to do any of these things. If you don’t want to clean up after people when they vomit, don’t invite people into your house who drink. I’m not convinced flashbacks even exist. Gotta cite other then anecdotal? I think the phenomenon is a cry for attention. Either way, you don’t HAVE to hang out with this person.

I’ve had to sort out mistakes by co-workers who were too hung-over to do their jobs properly (and don’t get me started on people who actually use substances at work).

So you make it a fireable offense. Nothing difficult here. I can respect getting fired if use affects your work. I can not accept that just using drugs automatically means you won’t be able to do your job and do it well. Used responsibly, drugs are victimless. So make the laws against irresponsible use, not use in general.

There is a social cost for drug use, and it’s not paid by the user alone

I pay for all my own drugs. There is a cost to everything. A person who uses drugs faces the burdens of providing a shelter and food for one’s self every day, just like the rest. If you can pay your bills and don’t hurt anyone then I could give two-shits what you do on your own time. I certainly don’t think you should be put behind bars.

So - well, I’d agree that many of today’s drug laws are unnecessarily restrictive, and I’d also agree that we need fewer scare stories and more real education about drugs. But I don’t agree that drug use affects only the user. So, if you want to do something that affects “Society” (as in, other people around you), you have to accept that “Society” has a say in the matter too.

Just because I have to accept the obvious fact that society has a say in life (taxes and laws and all), I do not have to accept that those policies are wise or in any way helpful to anything at all. I go the other way and say the laws make the problem 10 times worse and misdirect billions of dollars. Feed the world and give everyone universal health care. Maybe then we can talk about fighting victimless crimes. In the meantime, quit droppin the billions to buy helicopters to bust weed farmers, while terrible poverty and malnutrition exist the world over. Crazy fools.

(FTR, and FWIW, I drink alcohol on occasion, but not regularly; I’ve never been a smoker [of anything].

Good for you. I respect your right to choose that path. I also accept the Dead-Heads right to choose a path that includes acid and weed. I do NOT respect anyone who chooses a path that includes violence, hurtfulness, and/or unproductiveness*, regardless of whether they use drugs or not.

DaLovin’ Dj
(Who has met some cool heads in his day)

• Not neccecarily at work. You must do SOMETHING in life to gain my respect. Whether it’s raising kids, making art, working a job, something. If you can create and use drugs, cool for you. If they make you sit on a couch all day watching TV for the better portion of your life, fie upon you.

[Big_Sam]

O.K. I’ll just throw in my 2 cents here. I’m not going to quote anybody from earlier post, because frankly, the whole discussion is running around in circles.

First off, drugs can be addictive, but only to people with addictive personalities. I know a guy who has spent more money this year jumping out of airplanes for a “buzz” than I have on pot. To me, jumping out of an airplane on your own free will is rediculous, but that’s his cup of tea. Some people get their “buzz” from a feeling of accomplishment like getting a promotion or something.

Second, I’d like to quote a song by Cinderella (yeah I know, 80’s hair woohoo)

“For some it’s a needle,
for some it’s a pill,
some people read the Bible
cuz it’s giving them a thrill…”

“We all need, a little shelter,
a little helper, to get us by…”

I don’t care who you are or what you do, everybody has something they do just for the pure FUN of it.

Third, there are different levels of drugs. Crack and heroin are bad. I don’t think anybody will argue that. But saying that any illegal drug is the same as the rest is stupid. It’s like saying driving 10 MPH over the speed limit is as bad as shooting a guy in the face. Both are illegal, but I think we’d all be better off if everybody just drove too fast.

And lastly, I’d like all non-users to stop refering to a person’s state of mind while on drugs. If you haven’t used them, you just don’t know. Stop getting your info from books. If you think hard about it, most of their case studies in those books are people that DO have a problem. They were either arrested or put in rehab, whatever. Either way, they do or did have a problem. I don’t have a problem. I work not 1 but 2 jobs AND pay all of my bills on time (rent, car, heat, etc.). I am also an active member in my communiy. I don’t think like the “animals” in your books. I’m just an ordinary guy who smokes and drinks when I hang out because that’s how I have FUN.

[They_Call_Me_Sneeze]

I dont know why everyone doesnt just decide to mind their own fucking business.

If I want to do drugs, fine.

If I want to stay up all night drinking Jolt and posting on the SDMB, fine.

If I want to eat only vitamin supplements, fine.

Unless I am doing something that directly affects you, shut the fuck up or go to hell.

And yeah, if I shoot up and then go for a joy ride, I am potentially affecting you - that is bad. That is against the rules, and so it should be against the law, kind of like drinking and driving. If I am shooting up and then having sex with my signifigant other, then MYOB, cause unles you live in the next apartment and are bothered by the sound of leather on flesh, it doesnt affect you one bit.

And yeah, if you end up cleaning up my puke and babysitting me while I go tripping on LSD - then I am affecting you. Then you can tell my I should stop using drugs, because I am affecting the people around me. But what about my roommate, who uses drugs and stays in control? Why should she be punished for my mistakes? This thread is full of people posting that they are able to use drugs resposible, without negative affect to their personal or professional lives. It’s just like alcohol - if you can’t handle it, glue your ass to the wagon.

Sorry for all the fucks.

Love
sneeze

[DeadlyAccurate]

*Originally posted by MFS *
**I do indeed differentiate between the two. The abusers I have absolutely no respect for - they made their choice and have fallen into its grips.

As for users, regular or “recreational”, well, I still have very little respect for them, but it is more of a feeling of disappointment. For one, it saddens me to think that people need various chemicals to make themselves feel better or whatever. This simply violates one of my personal philosophies, and although I admit that I cannot, nor will I, force my beliefs on anyone else, I still feel a certain amount of disappointment whenever I find out about people’s drug use. No matter how they rationalize it, I simply cannot understand how they think it somehow benefits them to do so.

And there you have it. **

I’m with MFS on this one, and that includes legal prescription drugs like Prozac. I know that there are occasional real needs for drugs like that, but too often, they’re used as crutches, just as illegal drugs are. I feel very good without the need for drugs and it saddens me to think that other people are incapable of feeling the same way.

For the person who compared meditation to drug use: no one has ever given a blow job for meditation and no one has ever gone into rehab for it.

Let’s get real here. You’re trying to justify your drug use because right now, it’s not a problem. And it may never be. Some people aren’t predisposed to addiction and you may be able to do all the drugs you want for the rest of your life without a problem. Good for you (really). I have less respect for people who do drugs, but I don’t think I’m a better person than them.

And for those who quote the statistics that alcohol causes more deaths/problems than any other drug, I have to ask you as someone who understands the value of statistical manipulation, is that because more people use alcohol than other drugs?

[Steve_Wright]

Hamadryad:-

*Originally posted by Hamadryad *
**Steve Wright said: “Because, unless you’re living as a hermit somewhere and never interact with other people, your use of drugs can affect the people around you, sometimes in negative ways.”

“…your use of a hot iron…”
“…your use of a motorcycle…”
“…your use of an ATV…”
“…your use of skydiving equipment…”
“…your use of an automobile…”
“…your use of a razor…”
“…your use of a hotplate…”
“…your use of your computer…”

**

Well, many of these things are regulated to some extent, and, by and large, we agree that such regulations are necessary. (For example: any motorcycle users got a problem with keeping to the speed limit and riding on the right side of the road?) How much regulation is acceptable in any given case - that’s a different question, and one that’s highly debateable.

As someone who spends too much time on the net myself, I can sympathize with you about your computer. But there is a difference between computers and drugs, as you illustrate here:-

Originally posted by Hamadryad *
** I have recognized this behavior and am changing it… now I play on the Internet some, but if I find myself telling a kid to wait while I finish up an INTERNET thing, for chrissakes, I bitch-slap myself and tend to the kid FIRST.*

The difference here is that drugs can very well impair your ability to recognize and deal with a problem behaviour. Would you recognize the problem and deal with it if, say, you were drinking a bottle of Scotch every night? (Although that would be just as legal as using your computer… we do need to take a long, hard look at our attitude to drugs.) Hence, I would argue that drugs require a higher level of regulation than computers. Of course, they currently get a much higher level of regulation… so much so that there is a legitimate case for relaxing it. (But not, in my opinion, abolishing it.)

And I’d add;-

*Originally posted by Hamadryad *
**
My stepson has spent the last couple of years knowing that his dad and I smoke out occasionally. He has learned:

• Never go to work high; they’re paying you for your ability to work SOBER.
• Never drive while altered in any fashion…you are qualified to drive a vehicle SOBER.
• Never get high OR drunk in front of the kids…there is an appropriate place and time for everything. (As a side note…I find absolutely nothing wrong with blowjobs either…but they’re unnecessary and I would never do it in front of my kids. For this, should they be illegal?)
• If anyone hands you something you don’t recognize and says, “Eat this,” DON’T.

Does DARE teach him this? No. DARE taught him that All Drugs Are Bad All The Time. But you can go have a beer as soon as you turn 21. And that’s okay. But no, we’re not hypocrites! Believe us! BELIEVE US!!!

**

I agree with you on this. It is a good thing that people should be educated about drugs (actually, it’s a good thing that people should be educated, full stop). And it is necessary, in educating people, to present people with facts, not hysteria.

[Nacho4Sara]

For the person who compared meditation to drug use: no one has ever given a blow job for meditation and no one has ever gone into rehab for it.

I’ve never done either. And you’re also making an erroneous comparison. The sensation of being high is like the sensation I feel when I reach a deep meditative state. I wasn’t referring to the purchasing and negetive effects of drugs, just the sensation.

And again, we have false negetive stereotyping. Drug users give oral sex for drugs. Drug users ultimately end up in rehab. I guess we can thank the War on Drugs for this brilliantly deceptive misinformation.

For the love of pete, anyone who has ever actually smoked pot once has got to be laughing at this bullshit.

[mouthbreather]

Nacho, please don’t make light of a serious situation.

Sure, I thought I could control it. A few hits off of a joint at a party once in a while.

Then things changed.

Nowadays, you can find me on the corner of MLK and 48th. I knocked out my front teeth to be more attractive to my clients.

Yes, my name is mouthbreather, and I suck dick for nickel bags of weed.

::bursts out sobbing::

[grayhairedmomma]

quote:

Originally posted by mornea
I could never understand why people who don’t know how their body will react and don’t have a medically compelling reason to find out, would put something in their body that they know will drastically affect their brain chemistry and has the potential to do great harm to them.

Yeah so… we should make skydiving and downhill skiing illegal as well, make sure our children don’t become involved with people who participate in such activities, and hunt them down and them jail if they do.

WTF? Well gee and by your same parallel logic I guess no one should ride a bike either. How can you equate someone jumping out of an airplane or skiing with someone taking drugs? First of all, you have to take lessons to do those things - which provides you with a safety net. There are precautions taken every step of the way to help ensure that the activity is as safe as possible. How many initial drug users take precautions against damaging side effects? When you first started using - did you get a physical? Did you tell your doctor that you were thinking of using a certain substance and ask if there were any medical conditions that could be aggravated by this or any potential clashes with other medications? Did you really do in depth research about how this would affect you? Did you look into your family history to check for addictive tendencies among family members? I sincerely doubt that the majority of illegal substance users do this kind of research.

There are people who can use various substances and don’t suffer any immediately noticeable consequences. But there are quite a few who do. My point as I already stated is that I feel the risks of injesting, without any compelling medical reason, a substance which I know has the potential to cause great harm to my mind and body vastly outweigh the benefits.

Life is indeed full of risks. This is one I can and choose to avoid.

Furthermore, nowhere have I stated that I believe people who use drugs should be “hunted down and jailed.” I think the D.A.R.E. campaign was flawed in its methods and message. As I stated earlier, I believe that there needs to be a massive reeducation of our youngesters about the real risks associated with using illicit drugs, especially marijuana. I don’t think marijuana is evil (although I still am against using it) and might support it’s legalization-if only to remove some of the non-violent offenders from our jails and reduce the burden on the criminal justice system.