Now this is an interesting one today! Let me say up front that I enjoy an occasional "Red Beer" (here's to you Harley) and an occasional wine with dinner. I'm not an alcoholic and I don't smoke. I know people who use both in excess and I've seen the dangers of both. My mother died of emphysema and my father of lung cancer...they both smoked for many years.
Now, my opinion of the other drugs: I think marijuana should be legalized, not because I use it, but because I've seen needless arrests made of people in possession for personal use. I have also seen studies in which medical marijuana has helped people cope with pain from terminal illnesses, and can diminish seizures. I believe there are a lot of beneficial properties in marijuana.
The "war on drugs" is a failure and a waste of money. Adults should be free to make their own decision about consuming drugs, just like they do with prescription drugs (another debate for another day) If drugs were legalized they could be regulated just like tobacco and alcohol AND taxed. That tax could be used for rehabilitation and education for those addicts who are going to use the drugs whether legal or not.
