Legalize it!

[jsarno]

Originally Posted by Sheriff Gonna Getcha

Would you also say that the Government should ban fast food, mandate exercise, and tax fat people? Because cardio-vascular disease attributable to poor diet and lack of exercise has become the #1 killer in America and the single greatest reason why Americans have such poor health and pay so much for healthcare. That sounds like an awfully socialistic, paternalistic point of view - the people are too dumb to decide for themselves, the government must do it for them.

Or, as long as we are talking about social utility, what about guns? Guns have social utility only insofar as they can be used to protect against others with guns. Should people have the right to possess weapons that can kill, but not have the right to possess marijuana?

Very good point SGG. Also, the government should ban sex since STD's are rampant in our society, and since we as a society are too stupid to stop ourselves from self destructing, might as well let the government stop us.
It's a slippery slope, if we allow the government to pass laws to stop us from doing anything, we are in trouble as a society. Sure, we as a society are collectively stupid, but it's our choice to be so, that's the ugly side of democracy. The problem is (sorry to turn this into slightly political debate) the government has laws in place to help those who don't want to help themselves, and certain political parties have felt it was their responsibility to protect the self destructing human nature. Self responsibility needs to be taught, and demanded. If you want to smoke weed, then go ahead, but do it in moderation and with some forethought to your fellow human beings. I don't know how exactly we have become a society that could care less about others, but it's getting to be a huge problem. I could care less if you drink yourself stupid, but do so in your home and don't drive. Don't take a chance on hurting me or anyone other than yourself with anything you do.