[lotusss]

I don't think this article has advocated in any way that you should lose your choice to consume marijuana.

Rather, they are advocating that the fundamental conversation around marijuana legalisation--something roughly resembling "it's got no harmful effects and is a magic medical cure-all" deserve re-examining.

Marijuana has been illegal for so long, and the penalties so draconian for the substance, that society has naturally pushed back on that. But it could be pushing back too far--there's all sorts of marijuana discussion that is unwilling to consider whether it has harmful effects.

Alcohol is unsafe, I agree. And that matters. It matters for the car accidents, domestic abuse, and lives that alcoholism destroys. And if the conversation around alcohol involved plugging our ears and pretending it wasn't harmful, then people would routinely engage in unsafe behavior to the detriment of themselves and society.

[esahione]

I think you're reading into my argument a tad too much -- my rights end where yours begin. If I am doing any harm to anyone else, that should be illegal.

Hence why domestic abuse and drunk driving are illegal and should be.

[lotusss]

I think it's the opposite. You're reading too much into the article. Marijuana has a reputation amongst advocates of being a miracle cure-all for all the world's ailments and no downsides.

This article is asking the question--what are the downsides?

You're instead defending against the notion of criminality.

[esahione]

I am, because that's the main issue right now. While you may live in CA, I currently live in TX and can go to jail for years for smoking a plant.

Tell me, how should I react to an article that could be used as an argument against my rights being the same as yours?