Maggie's Farm

As others have noted, it is NOT a victimless crime. It is usually young men who want to smoke weed without being harassed by the cops who make the most "fuss" about drug laws. Those lucky enough to have governors for fathers, see the drug laws in their states liberalized after they (the kid) have been repeatedly arrested for drugs and drug related crime.

Pot smokers driving is impaired (in different ways to boozers, but impaired nevertheless) and this makes them a hazard on the roads.

Parents and spouses whose loved one is zoned out may prefer a fully present person in their lives. Of course, if the person is a jerk, they may like them self-medicating. Kids of potsmokers are likelier to smoke and do less well in school. At least in my kids' high schools, the losers smoked and NONE of the Talented and gifted did (except possibly a couple of normal teenaged rebellion experiments to discover they didn't like it).

The smoke in weed has substances in it that are far more damaging to the lungs than nicotine cigarettes (unfiltered too). Its second hand smoke is worse for those around the smoker than that of regular cigarettes.

Studies have looked at the links between regular pot smoking and earlier incidence of first episodes of schizophrenic psychosis and bipolar disorder (tho self medicating to calm oneself, may muddy the stat).

I agree that criminalizing drug use (like Prohibition) had some awful inintended consequences, and my conservative spouse and I have long argued for legalization, but with huge reservations.

It's important to distinguish between drugs, and the ways that different populations using them support their habits. Because those issues won't go away with legalization. A spoiled white kid with lots of money may seem to be using drugs in a victimless way because he doesn't have to mug someone (possibly maim and kill them) to supply their habit. But they can kill people in car accidents, destroy relationships, cost their parents or the state thousands in extra medical care, and diminish themselves spiritually and intellectually. A poor kid would still mug someone to BUY LEGAL stuff, because an addict is an addict, and drugs would never be cheap.

Also, one could argue that heroin would be victimless if legal because it makes people happy vegetables who won't fight for their political or economic interests, and who won't protest injustice (the conspiracy theory argument for drugs being pushed in the 1960s on angry young minority men).

But other drugs like meth make people irritable, angry and often murderous on the drug or off it. Just ask the people around me in NH why they need their guns. It isn't only for hunting, it's to protect themselves and their property from the meth heads (ah, capitalism, the only way rural losers can start a business is cooking up meth).

While some people are able to be moderate in their habits, and they can probably use drugs recreationally and safely, all alcoholics and drug addicts started out as "normal" users. It's a spectrum.

Obviously, my boring opinions are just those of a mom who told her kids she'd kick them out of the house if they ever did drugs or drank underage (they obeyed my rules, as I'm a velociraptor mom). And we can't prevent people (except our kids, sometimes) from doing things that are harmful. I am NOT for a Nanny state. But don't tell me drugs are victimless...that makes me see red. In the name of liberty, we allow horrible vice to survive (think gambling, or arresting prostitutes rather than the immoral johns patronising them for example). That doesn't make me say give up liberty, but don't tell me vice is harmless.

So, tho I think some drug laws should be liberalized, it's for the same reason abortion should be legal. Sometimes an evil, harmful thing that destroys the children of God must be legal to avoid further evils. And because God gave us free will to choose the good over evil. But it doesn't mean we should pretend the things (abortion, drugs) are anything good. Also, I think it is wicked that rich white kids get off the ones we have now (with Daddy's expensive lawyer) while poor minorities get stuck in jail for the same offence. The inequality bothers me, in our system of all the justice that money can buy.