Reply #211: Ah, But There Are Plenty Of People Who Are Addicted To Pot [View All]

at least in the 10 years that I spent in my former career working with addicts, I saw plenty of people whose drug of choice was pot, and they were as addicted as anyone I've ever seen.

Addiction isn't really about the physiological dependence, although that is one symptom (that isn't required to make the diagnosis BTW)it is instead about psychological dependence and that is hard to beat.

I've seen many people who had polydrug dependence, including pot. Many of those had a greater problem giving up pot than other drugs. Why? Because the myth out there that it isn't really a drug, that it doesn't cause problems, etc.

Pot at the very least for these people led them back to active use of other drugs that had more devastating effects on their lives immediately.

I've also seen people who had smoked pot for many years and had true amotivational syndrome (google it) of course there are many who argue against it.

Now, with all of this, you might be surprised that I support legalization of marijuana, and really any illegal drug. Why is it the government's business if you choose to fry your brains out.

Legalize, tax, pay for health care, and pay for treatment on demand.

The war on drugs was lost before it ever started. The war on drugs is too much of a war that has the government playing both sides of the war.

Eliminate the illegality question, and you eliminate 90% of the criminality involved.

Then you don't need no stinkin' war!