Reply #40: this is a HUGE issue where I live (Humboldt County, CA)....

[mike_c]

Here, the arguments against legalization run mostly to economic reasons why the local economy might be decimated by widespread production, since growing pot for the black market is the rock-solid backbone of the northern California economy. But no government propaganda or scare tactics hold any water here, where pot smoking is VERY common.

I smoke marijuana frequently-- currently daily-- and I'm a (presumably) respected professional scientist and educator. Many of my friends and colleagues do the same. I know a number of people who have sustained varying levels of physical and psychological damage due to alcohol use, and have seen more than a dozen households destroyed by alcoholism or alcohol fueled domestic violence during my life, but never anyone damaged by marijuana EXCEPT the damage done by law enforcement and the war on drugs.

I have liver disease-- the cause is unknown, although I have had numerous contacts with hepatic toxins throughout my professional life and am a former recreational drinker-- so I cannot safely drink alcohol any longer except possibly in small amounts, infrequently. My stress management drug of choice-- and self-medication is the stress management regime that has always worked best for me-- is good Humboldt bud, smoked as needed.

The prohibition against marijuana is absolutely senseless. It is time to stop that nonsense.