Posted by Walker on July 06, 1998 at 12:12:35:
In Reply to: Where do you draw the line and why? posted by rpcman on July 06, 1998 at 00:28:10:
: Should all substances that have side effects be illegal then? What about fatty foods or other unhealthy snacks?
Can't we make a distinction between those things which impair judgement and those that don't? Having known a pot head and an obese man, I'd trust the obese man's judgement any day.
I'm inclined to legalize the drugs that can't be controlled anyway, tax the hell out of them like tobacco and legislate against the drugs which impair judgement like alcohol. Aren't the stiff penalties for driving drunk working?
Let's not fight it for the sake of fighting. Some battles can't be won. You can't force people to live sensibly.
My good pot head friend recently wrecked his truck and has extensive brain damage. He can't talk but he is learning to walk. Part of his skull has been removed for the swelling. I take my daughter to visit him. I tell her he made two mistakes. 1) He got addicted to drugs. 2) He didn't wear a seatbelt.