I think the dichotomy between what is right (morally or even socially speaking) vs what is legal is increasingly interesting. Laws are really guidelines to in a sense save us from ourselves to a large degree, and also to provide grounds for punishment of deviant behavior. But consider the relationship between marijuana and alcohol. Given any one of a number of changes in the history of society, even one small one (not that this is a lecture on the history of drug legislature), their roles could easily be reversed- alcohol made on the sly, 1920's style, in people's basements, or overseas, smuggled into the country any number of ways, meanwhile marijuana bars flourish across the country and are most notably frequented in college towns on Thursday nights and in big cities on Friday afternoons. Really take a closer look, and what are the implications?

Is there such a vast difference between the physical effects of drinking vs. smoking dope? Both damage your memory. One damages liver, one lungs. One carries a physical addiction, and in fact is the only "drug" that you can die if you don't detox your recovery correctly. Thats ALCOHOL. One makes people hostle, loud, sometimes violent, the other sedates and fosters acceptance and mellow happiness. This is no argument for legal marijuana (or maybe it is?) but consider for a minute all the social effects of this legal drug freely sold to anyone over 21. Of course the social repercussions of now trying to deny people that drug would be monumental.

But the point here is that, think for yourself for once, don't let the government do it for you. I don't think its fair to judge those who choose to smoke weed (though the legal implications of being caught are a problem) and I think its hypocritical to judge them and yet barely frown at someone who choses to get piss-ass drunk on a regular basis. How many people find that they feel its okay to try weed in Amsterdam just because its legal? Thats the extent to which most have become social lemmings and passive couch potatoes whose only activity in their government is watching it on TV.

That is why I will continue jaywalking at will and yet denounce abortion- because my government doesn't tell me what's right. But that doesn't mean I'm not generally law-abiding- but after all, they *are* only guidelines. Read Crime and Punishment. But then his conscience gets the best of him........