I'm of the opinion, that there is far too many regulations by the federal government as it is. What people chose to do in their own homes, is their business--- as long as it isn't harming anyone else. However, I will say this, concerning marijuana. The plants these days, are not the plants of the 1960's and prior. It is a proven fact that the cannibis is far more potent and powerful than it was in those times; and what was once a harmless plant, has over time become an addicting one with dramatic costs to ones health.
Then again, maybe I am biased, I am not a big fan of alcohol either. Not to say I don't have a drink now and then, but I am of the opinion that if you want a drink, then you ought to pay for it and at a higher cost. The government taxes the holy hell out of cigarettes, but I can argue that there are plausible equal number of deaths (if not more so) in relation to alcohol abuse which include automobile accidents, liver and kidney disease, dehydration, domestic violence which alcohol was involved, etc.
So in my eyes, at least, you want to drink alcohol, want to smoke dope, etc. then you ought to pay more for it. A six pack of the cheapest beer, is roughly $8.00, and maybe it ought to be $10. I don't know the cost of marijuana these days, as I haven't touched the stuff since I was in early highschool, but let's say a pack of marijuana cigarettes was $20. Maybe it ought to be $30. Maybe if the price of these things were higher, then there wouldn't be as many accidents, or drug dependencies, etc.
However, I am aware, that if history tells us anything, its that laws don't necessarily help matters. When alcohol was outlawed in the 1920's and 1930's, all it did was create a generation of criminals. One can argue, if alcohol and marijuana was taxed to death--- people would just grow their own, purchase illegal alcohol and marijuana at cheaper prices, etc. but something needs to be done (in my view) because I cannot see how making this substance legal, will in any way, shape or form teach younger people the value of ethics or morals, and by making wise choices.
Maybe, the right answer, would be to raising the legal age again. Make marjuana usable to those who are 25 years old, or older. Cus lets be real, this generation to come isn't like us, or like our brothers and sisters, or like our parents, etc. the young people today, simply have an indifferent attitude to everything and feel they are entitled to everything. Rather than get more mature as time passes, it seems that in their 20's they still have the same mentality of when they were teenagers. Unlike us, we were forced into being adults and having to face the world head on and be responsible (for the most part) unlike the younger generation today.
So, really, the question ought to be 'Who is adult enough, to smoke marijuana, responsibly?'
