Seeking Common Ground #1: Marijuana & Minors

[IdaBriggs]

Poll question: Seeking Common Ground #1: Marijuana & Minors

We've got an incredibly long thread going on with a huge discussion of whether or not marijuana is a "safe" drug, or simply an over hyped victim of bad press and stupid governmental policies. (I am paraphrasing with some exaggeration of both opinions on purpose.)

So, in this thread, let's look for some common ground on areas where we can agree. I suggest the first point of discussion be something simple: Minors.

Question: Should people who provide alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, cocaine, heroin, or other "recreational" drug to anyone under the age of eighteen be prosecuted?

Point of discussion: Should it matter if the person "providing" is a parent or guardian? What about a fellow adolescent? Should there be varying degrees of penalty for different quantities? Should tobacco / alcohol be treated the same as heroin? If so, why? And why note?