[freedomben]

Agreed, but even some physical dependency seems to be acceptable, though surely only because they're grandfathered in. For example caffeine

[fingerlocks]

I’ve always been skeptical about caffeine’s alleged physical dependence. I’m a two or three cups a day consumer, but I’ve quit many times and never felt any different. This has been entirely by accident, like forgetting to pack coffee on a 2 week back packing trip, or purchasing decaf coffee by mistake, and didn’t even realize I wasn’t drinking for several days

[inigyou]

"I've quit many times" is a telltale sign of chronic addiction

[card_zero]

OK, but you didn't apparently read the post you replied to, which says "by mistake, and didn’t even realize".

[hack1312]

Caffeine’s physical dependence is well documented, you’re by definition an outlier.

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00213-004-2000-x

[kevinmchugh]

If a drug is compatible with a healthy social or productive lifestyle it would seem unreasonable to ban it. Danger of withdrawals might be a consideration.

Caffeine is pretty safe. The withdrawals, for those of us who experience them, are safe if unpleasant.

There's prescription drugs that cause dependency but are widely prescribed. Gabapentin is a good example?

Alcohol is the drug that best fits the "grandfathered" idea, since it's for many folks not compatible with a healthy lifestyle and the withdrawals can be fatal. Alcohol is impossible to ban, though, because the precursors are in every grocery store on the planet and grow on trees

[inigyou]

There are many prohibited substances that are more "compatible with a healthy social or productive lifestyle" than legal substances. The actual criteria for a ban seems to be if it isn't alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, or prescribed by a doctor.

[cataphract]

Caffeine withdrawal symptoms don't last more than 1-2 weeks. And we're talking about headaches, feeling sluggish... not dying, like other drugs.