Former top Yank cop says drug war a flop

BubberMiley · April 15, 2006

Stephen Harper was correct to maintain the status quo with drug policy. I shuddered at the Liberal plan to subject the population to government-grown ditchweed from an abandoned mine in Flin Flon. The pure freemarket entrepreneurialism of the blackmarket drug providers has ensured me a consistent supply since I was in Grade 6. Many, many people owe their livelihoods to the current system and, apart from a few casualties, it has worked out very nicely for them.

Don't tax my weed!

August1991 · April 15, 2006

We should watch other countries on how they deal with drug problems. Singapore, for example.
Those with harsh punishments seem to have it under control. I say, concentrate on the dealers...whether they be small-time dealers or big-time.

Singapore is hardly a model of a civilized state.

And Betsy, alcohol causes all the same social problems you list above: broken families, lost jobs, violence, car accident deaths.

Should we forbid alcohol and impose the death penalty for alcohol dealers?

BubberMiley · April 15, 2006

Betsy's argument is prefaced on the delusion that current drug laws actually do anything to prevent use, which is precisely the delusion that the cop was identifying. More people have tried drugs because they're illegal than have stayed away from the because they're illegal. It's fun being an outlaw if it doesn't require hurting anybody, acting irresponsibly, or beng a thief.

fixer1 · April 15, 2006

I am really sick of this Alcohol is the same argument as it is not the same and only those who take it to the excess really believe it is the same. Alcohol is used by the vast majority of people in limits that do not cause the ills of society. So why do we always make arguements for the tiny number who abuse it. Coffe can and will cause the same if it is abused, but we all know that it is hard to get to that level of abuse. Most of those who abuse alcohol would find some other method to medicate themslves, and only the worst of these take it to the level where death is the result.

Drugs on the other hand are mostly about getting you ridiculously stoned and not caring what is happening around them. This is dangerous just as it is when alcohol is used to get the same level. So yes, why not make this illegal and since therev is no way to control the drugs, you then have to control the deallers. Me, I go with the death penalty for all 3rd time offenders for dealing drugs. To me, these guys are as bad as murders and rapists on society. I also believe that all 3rd time drunks that have been jailed over night, should be put into a 60 day dry out period, no matter their social status. the same for drunk driving, but 1st offense 30 days, second offense 1 year, 3rd offence 3years and lifetime ban on driving, where everytime he is caught behind the wheel drunk or not he serves 3 years. Yes that is harsh and sobering but that is what is needed.

Any child caught with pot will have to turn in his suppliers or spent 9 months in training school at parents expense. Any person caught selling drugs within one mile of a school, will get the maximum prison sentence, even on the first offence. I guess you get my drift by now. This is what will get the attention and will reduce the abuse of all products. The trouble now is that everything is just so easily brushed off, so there is no deterent to the use.

BubberMiley · April 15, 2006

Drugs on the other hand are mostly about getting you ridiculously stoned and not caring what is happening around them.

On what research do you base this statement? I'm high right now, but I'm not blasted.

Hydraboss · April 15, 2006

What you choose to do to yourself is your business. What you choose to do to others is everyone's business.

I am the Director of Health, Safety and Environment for an oilfield corporation. When I sit in or conduct employee orientations, I specifically address the corporation's disciplinary policy. I explain that this policy is used when employees disregard the rules. Verbal warning, written warning, suspension, etc... However, I also explain very clearly that any worker (front line, manager, etc..) that knowingly disregards rules or policies that endanger another worker will have their employment terminated on the spot and will be escorted off the property by me personally. All personnel are told in no uncertain terms that there will be no appeal through corporate channels, and I will see them at the Labour Board inquiry (and I have on several occasions, and never lost on these grounds).

No one has the right to endanger another person's life.

Someone asked what crimes would I subject to capital punishment? Any crime that puts the life of another at risk. Period. Drug dealing, murder, rape, any crime involving children, drunk driving. No exceptions, no excuses. Draconian? Uh huh. My best friend for over twenty years had been using every type of drug imaginable for those same twenty years. Mostly pot, but also anything else he was offered. Did I care? Ya, but it was his decision and he never hurt anyone. Then along came meth. Three months and I went to his apartment to clean out everything he owned (and there wasn't much left). I tried to ignore the blood that was all over the walls, the floor and the bathroom (where he had slashed his own arms and neck with a razor blade) that made the place look like the set of Texas Chainsaw Massacre. I also sat and held both his teenage sisters at his funeral (he was cremated because he had mutilated himself so extensively). He was an "experienced" drug user and still did this to himself. What chance does a "new" user have; some sixteen year old high school student that has sparked one or two left handed cigarettes at most?

But drug users only affect themselves, right? His meth dealer wasn't hurting anyone, right? My friend did this to himself so it should be legal, right?

Give me ninety seconds with that dealer, and I'll do what society is too gutless to do.

Drug dealers kill people, and they don't care about age, sex or race. Only the color of the money.

In war, you usually know what the enemy looks like and where they are. And when you find them, you kill them.

This should be a war.

BubberMiley · April 15, 2006

The war on drugs is much like the war on terror: the harder you fight, the more enemies you create and the more you lose.

Hydraboss · April 15, 2006

Unless you put them to death when you catch them. Your enemies will decrease if they have no chance to reoffend.

Death penalty = 0% revitisism

You have to set a rule, determine a punishment, and then follow through with the punishment...each and every time. A rule that is not enforced is a guideline.

I don't advocate capital punishment for possession or use. Only for trafficking. My kids are going to grow up in this world. If I have to take care of the ugly business so they don't have to, so be it. That's my job as a parent.

BubberMiley · April 15, 2006

I think you would be better off teaching your kids the values of personal responsibility and moderation, rather than teaching them that if they don't exercise self-control it's their dealer's fault and he should be killed.

betsy · April 16, 2006

Drugs on the other hand are mostly about getting you ridiculously stoned and not caring what is happening around them.

On what research do you base this statement? I'm high right now, but I'm not blasted.

What substance are you on?

betsy · April 16, 2006

The war on drugs is much like the war on terror: the harder you fight, the more enemies you create and the more you lose.

So if you can't lick em, join them?

betsy · April 16, 2006

I think you would be better off teaching your kids the values of personal responsibility and moderation, rather than teaching them that if they don't exercise self-control it's their dealer's fault and he should be killed.

I couldn't disagree with you about the importance of teaching your children about the dangers of drugs and being responsible. However, we all know that that is not enough. What's it like being a kid these days? With all the peer pressures...plus all the cool stuff they see from doping adults (whether it be simple weed or the serious stuffs).

Drug dealers are using children to get to other children.

It is the dealer's fault, no question about that!

BubberMiley · April 16, 2006

What substance are you on?

I smoke moderate amounts of pot all the time. Does that sound like a paradox? Perhaps it is, but I average about a gram a week smoking a pinch here and there throughout the day. I find this to be an extremely pleasurable way to maintain a jolly mood and function at a completely acceptable level.

GostHacked · April 16, 2006

I am a long term marijuana user. I rarely drink. Alcohol makes me a very angry and bad man. There have been times I have blacked out and not know wtf I did the night before. I have yet to experience that with weed along with hangover, memory loss, and the sense of being out of control. I can control the buzz with weed on my own, alcohol does not let me do that. Mushrooms do not allow me that control either. Weed is the least of your worries when it comes to drugs. But people say that pot heads are unmotivated and are loosers who do not have a job or on welfare. I know more people today smoking pot as adults than I ever did when I was a kid. Even in college.

The war on drugs is lost, there is more drugs. The war on poverty was lost, there is more poverty. Simply the governments approach does not work anymore. Time to rethink things and start being more progressive and interactive at the same time. How many MPs use drugs? Some do, and if you think they don't? You are only fooling yourself. And some of these MPs are making money on it. I totaly support legalizing all drugs. If you want to waste your life on it go for it. If you can do things in moderation, it will not overall affect your life in any way shape or form. You must have control over it.

Tax that stuff and make some money for the government and use that money to improve our overal daily lives. OH but you say that won't work? Well as it is, the government is always budgeting for this and for that, cash is limited and some programs get axed. If the weed industry in B.C. can generate 4.2 billion dollars of revenue for those crooks. Bring them into the envelope, the loop, and this way you get a closer look at what is going on and there fore MORE control and REAL drug control. The joke is that coke is a 'controlled substance'. Uh huh, sure that makes sense. The money you can dump back into society for better schools, better hospitals, better law enforcement. Better everything.

You might also find that alot of illegal gang activity would vanish along with the murders and crime that goes along with that.

Some will abuse the drug anyways. Inevitable, and unavoidable. Take away the appeal of consuming an illegal drug and later on it is not a thrill anymore. Do you all remember how you used to sneaka drink here and there or a beer when you were underage? Remember the fun you had knowing it was wrong and you could get into alot of crap? Take that away. Problem is not hard to solve. Society is not going to go down the freakin tubes if we go this route.

Amsterdam is a wonderful place I am told.

Naci Sey · April 17, 2006

With respect, Hicksey, a good deal of obesity today is showing up in the lowest income group. The deeper the poverty, the higher the incidence of obesity. It's not easy feeding oneself or one's children healthy foods if virtually all your income is going to housing. So people turn to the 'welfare diet' (whether or not they are on welfare). That diet is chockful of carbohydrates. This is also why we're seeing an increased incidence of Type II Diabetes.
A great many people with subtance addiction were driven to it by despair and circumstances beyond their control. E.g., young people who escape to the streets from abusive homes are ripe to be caught by the wrong crowd and fed drugs to get them hooked.

The things you list are just excuses people tell themselves to justify the behavior in their own minds. They are not even good excuses. I used to think that there were other causes to my obesity, like my completely inactive thyroid for instance. But if you look around many people with the same problem as I have are healthy and a relatively 'normal' size. It takes an honest look within (not easy ... trust me) to see what really happened. It started as soon as i was out on my own. My meal choices were what I wanted to eat instead of what was good for me. I did this to myself through my choices in life. It doesn't matter what other lies I want to tell myself, I did this. And with congenital hypothryoidism (not just underactive, inactive from birth) I have what a lot of people would consider a good excuse. But what most people don't know is that with proper treatment (ie. hormone replacement/control) I should live as any other person--weight gain/loss included. You can blame poverty all you want, but I guarantee you each of these people know in their core that its not true. And with an honest look within they can even tell you why. That people aren't responsible for their obesity is nonsense. In my battle today, I am making much better decisions and making slow progress because of it. With help I've learned how to make good food choices. Because of how I programmed myself to eat before they are hard, but I still make the right decision. Without consequences or responsibility for one's actions how would they ever know to turn it around? I was 350 pounds because I made bad decisions. I am 335 and losing now because I saw the consequences of my actions and those if I continued as I was. And part of that was taking responsibility for my own well-being instead of making excuses as to why I shouldn't have to.

That you've been able to choose to lose weight and follow through on that choice is great, Hicksey. It would be wonderful if everyone else in your position could do the same. But no one else is in your position. Arguments from individual cases to entire populations don't work.

Imagine that each of us was born into and raised in identical situations, even identical families and communities. No two of us would have identical options, since no two of us are the same. We each have our own set of talents and weaknesses, and this will affect what our options are.

Taking the original scenario further, imagine that not only are we born into and raised in identical situations, but that WE are identical - i.e. we're clones of the same person. Even so, philosohers would argue that because we each stand in a different relation to all the others, our experiences will not be the same.

As to this: "You can blame poverty all you want, but I guarantee you each of these people know in their core that its not true."

Tell that to the mother of four children, one special needs, a woman who has fled a life-threatening situation. Tell her, as she and her children leave with nothing but the clothes on their back, that she has the same choices you do.

uOttawaMan · April 17, 2006

Unless you put them to death when you catch them. Your enemies will decrease if they have no chance to reoffend.
Death penalty = 0% revitisism

You have to set a rule, determine a punishment, and then follow through with the punishment...each and every time. A rule that is not enforced is a guideline.

I don't advocate capital punishment for possession or use. Only for trafficking. My kids are going to grow up in this world. If I have to take care of the ugly business so they don't have to, so be it. That's my job as a parent.

I think you mean recidivism.

The death penalty has been shown time and again not to provide any deterrence, nor have any effect on crime rates.

Time to find a new approach.

Hicksey · April 17, 2006

With respect, Hicksey, a good deal of obesity today is showing up in the lowest income group. The deeper the poverty, the higher the incidence of obesity. It's not easy feeding oneself or one's children healthy foods if virtually all your income is going to housing. So people turn to the 'welfare diet' (whether or not they are on welfare). That diet is chockful of carbohydrates. This is also why we're seeing an increased incidence of Type II Diabetes.
A great many people with subtance addiction were driven to it by despair and circumstances beyond their control. E.g., young people who escape to the streets from abusive homes are ripe to be caught by the wrong crowd and fed drugs to get them hooked.

The things you list are just excuses people tell themselves to justify the behavior in their own minds. They are not even good excuses. I used to think that there were other causes to my obesity, like my completely inactive thyroid for instance. But if you look around many people with the same problem as I have are healthy and a relatively 'normal' size. It takes an honest look within (not easy ... trust me) to see what really happened. It started as soon as i was out on my own. My meal choices were what I wanted to eat instead of what was good for me. I did this to myself through my choices in life. It doesn't matter what other lies I want to tell myself, I did this. And with congenital hypothryoidism (not just underactive, inactive from birth) I have what a lot of people would consider a good excuse. But what most people don't know is that with proper treatment (ie. hormone replacement/control) I should live as any other person--weight gain/loss included. You can blame poverty all you want, but I guarantee you each of these people know in their core that its not true. And with an honest look within they can even tell you why. That people aren't responsible for their obesity is nonsense. In my battle today, I am making much better decisions and making slow progress because of it. With help I've learned how to make good food choices. Because of how I programmed myself to eat before they are hard, but I still make the right decision. Without consequences or responsibility for one's actions how would they ever know to turn it around? I was 350 pounds because I made bad decisions. I am 335 and losing now because I saw the consequences of my actions and those if I continued as I was. And part of that was taking responsibility for my own well-being instead of making excuses as to why I shouldn't have to.

That you've been able to choose to lose weight and follow through on that choice is great, Hicksey. It would be wonderful if everyone else in your position could do the same. But no one else is in your position. Arguments from individual cases to entire populations don't work.

Imagine that each of us was born into and raised in identical situations, even identical families and communities. No two of us would have identical options, since no two of us are the same. We each have our own set of talents and weaknesses, and this will affect what our options are.

Taking the original scenario further, imagine that not only are we born into and raised in identical situations, but that WE are identical - i.e. we're clones of the same person. Even so, philosohers would argue that because we each stand in a different relation to all the others, our experiences will not be the same.

As to this: "You can blame poverty all you want, but I guarantee you each of these people know in their core that its not true."

Tell that to the mother of four children, one special needs, a woman who has fled a life-threatening situation. Tell her, as she and her children leave with nothing but the clothes on their back, that she has the same choices you do.

We all have choices to make in life. I don't think poverty is an excuse for not making good ones. I've been there and if I'd continued to make those decisions I'd still be there. In this world today there are many many helping hands extended from the government and many other charitable organizations that you can take advantage of to help you out. I used one to get trained as a truck driver. If those people in poverty you are talking about don't like the situation they are in and the choices they are forced to make as a result there are plenty of opportunities to change it, but they have to want to work for the change. If they don't then their decision to sit on their sorry butt is not society's fault, but their own. I've been where they are and I can attest that it can be done and that it is not rocket science. If you want to work for it, this is still the land of opportunity.

And the woman in your example has support not just from the places listed above but women's shelters as well. If she just went there and asked for help and how to get started they'd point her out and all she would have to do is show up to get help. Poor people have an avenue out of their problems, and if they don't take it its not our fault. Its really not hard at all. Ask questions, follow up. You'll find plenty of help. OHIP will even pay for her to see a dietician if that will help. Wefare can arrange for daycare so she can look for work and help her secure some funding to deal with the special needs child. Do not tell me these people have no recourse. That's absolute nonsense.

Hicksey · April 17, 2006

Unless you put them to death when you catch them. Your enemies will decrease if they have no chance to reoffend.

Death penalty = 0% revitisism

You have to set a rule, determine a punishment, and then follow through with the punishment...each and every time. A rule that is not enforced is a guideline.

I don't advocate capital punishment for possession or use. Only for trafficking. My kids are going to grow up in this world. If I have to take care of the ugly business so they don't have to, so be it. That's my job as a parent.

I think you mean recidivism.

The death penalty has been shown time and again not to provide any deterrence, nor have any effect on crime rates.

Time to find a new approach.

That's just nonsensical.

If one can possess it, how can they come to possess it without someone selling or growing it? You're saying that you're going to make it illegal to sell something that its legal for the purchaser to own? That makes no sense at all.

If you legalize possession you have to legalize the methods of obtaining it as well or you've achieved nothing. And if you legalize it you better damn well regulate and tax it to pay for the health problems to come because people who don't need drugs to survive ought not have to pay for it.

Hydraboss · April 17, 2006

Unless you put them to death when you catch them. Your enemies will decrease if they have no chance to reoffend.

Death penalty = 0% revitisism

You have to set a rule, determine a punishment, and then follow through with the punishment...each and every time. A rule that is not enforced is a guideline.

I don't advocate capital punishment for possession or use. Only for trafficking. My kids are going to grow up in this world. If I have to take care of the ugly business so they don't have to, so be it. That's my job as a parent.

I think you mean recidivism.

The death penalty has been shown time and again not to provide any deterrence, nor have any effect on crime rates.

Time to find a new approach.

That's just nonsensical.

If one can possess it, how can they come to possess it without someone selling or growing it? You're saying that you're going to make it illegal to sell something that its legal for the purchaser to own? That makes no sense at all.

If you legalize possession you have to legalize the methods of obtaining it as well or you've achieved nothing. And if you legalize it you better damn well regulate and tax it to pay for the health problems to come because people who don't need drugs to survive ought not have to pay for it.

Hicksey, were you referring to me? I certainly don't want possession legalized. I just think that capital punishment should be reserved for those that endanger others.

uOttawaMan, I apologize for the spelling error.

The people and "studies" that try to prove that capital punishment is not a deterent are basing their arguements on what they choose to. Much the same as every study ever done, on either side. But ask yourself this: How many dealers put to death have ever reoffended? How many would-be-dealers decided not to go into business for fear of capital punishment?

Kinda hard to prove a negative, isn't it?

As for legalizing it, who will pay for the billions it will cost to take care of all the addicts created when you can stop at the 7-11 and pick up Canadian Classic Cannabis Lights? Remind you of smoking? That is legal and rates of smokers are rising...or falling...or something. But the "thrill" of it has not disappeared. I know. I have been smoking over a pack a day for 20+ years. And one day, you will all be paying for my chemo. Does the government (all levels) really want us to quit smoking? And lose all those billions in tax dollars? I don't think so, Len.

Now let's add a whole plethera of new, taxable items to the mix. That way my kids will never have to worry about their retirement or the CPP in their future. They won't have one.

BubberMiley · April 17, 2006

As for legalizing it, who will pay for the billions it will cost to take care of all the addicts created when you can stop at the 7-11 and pick up Canadian Classic Cannabis Lights? Remind you of smoking? That is legal and rates of smokers are rising...or falling...or something. But the "thrill" of it has not disappeared. I know. I have been smoking over a pack a day for 20+ years. And one day, you will all be paying for my chemo. Does the government (all levels) really want us to quit smoking? And lose all those billions in tax dollars? I don't think so, Len.
Now let's add a whole plethera of new, taxable items to the mix. That way my kids will never have to worry about their retirement or the CPP in their future. They won't have one.

I think the rate of kids smoking would decrease considerably with a legalized system just because the black market would disappear. Kids find it much, much easier to buy illegal drugs than legal ones. As for adults, I don't think anyone who chooses not smoke weed does so because it's illegal. Would you take up the habit if it were decriminalized? Probably not. So just as overall consumption went down after the end of alcohol prohibition, consumption with weed decriminalization, what with the reduced access to minors and loss of "forbidden'fruit" status. If we decided to make your blessed tobacco illegal tomorrow, organized crime would make billions and kids would suddenly be able to buy it at school. So your argument that you're worred about the children is crap. You just want to be able to continue to oppress people because it gives you a sense of moral superiority as you kill others with secondhand tobacco smoke.

Edited August 27, 2010 by BubberMiley

betsy · April 17, 2006

I'm high right now, but I'm not blasted.

That's what the drunk driver said: "I've had several pints....but I'm okay. I can drive."

Then you read about them in the papers. And you hear about the people they've maimed or killed.

betsy · April 17, 2006

I think you would be better off teaching your kids the values of personal responsibility and moderation, rather than teaching them that if they don't exercise self-control it's their dealer's fault and he should be killed.

Teach them about moderation?

"Junior...if you're going to shoot up heroin, remember to be moderate about it. If you'll snort coke, make sure to know your limit."

If you'd like to teach your kids about staying away from drugs....you would be much, much better off teaching them to stay away from the one popular "starter kit" for would-be addicts of the future: MARIJUANA or weed...or cannabis!

My mom scared the hell out of me in my pre-teen years by explaining in sordid, explicit details how addiction can ruin my life. That it all starts with simple marijuana. You can say it was a brain-washing she did on me...but I must say, it worked! No one could even make me smoke pot...not even my boyfriend (who ended up apologising to his friends for me when I was the only party-pooper). So you can say mom' s tactics was more powerful than peer pressure.

And when I've reached adulthood, I tried it once....and it must be psychological...that I felt (or imagined) it unpleasant! So when I happen to be among folks who pass it around...I just say "no thanks, it has a negative effect on me."

uOttawaMan · April 17, 2006

Unless you put them to death when you catch them. Your enemies will decrease if they have no chance to reoffend.

Death penalty = 0% revitisism

You have to set a rule, determine a punishment, and then follow through with the punishment...each and every time. A rule that is not enforced is a guideline.

I don't advocate capital punishment for possession or use. Only for trafficking. My kids are going to grow up in this world. If I have to take care of the ugly business so they don't have to, so be it. That's my job as a parent.

I think you mean recidivism.

The death penalty has been shown time and again not to provide any deterrence, nor have any effect on crime rates.

Time to find a new approach.

That's just nonsensical.

If one can possess it, how can they come to possess it without someone selling or growing it? You're saying that you're going to make it illegal to sell something that its legal for the purchaser to own? That makes no sense at all.

If you legalize possession you have to legalize the methods of obtaining it as well or you've achieved nothing. And if you legalize it you better damn well regulate and tax it to pay for the health problems to come because people who don't need drugs to survive ought not have to pay for it.

Hicksey, were you referring to me? I certainly don't want possession legalized. I just think that capital punishment should be reserved for those that endanger others.

uOttawaMan, I apologize for the spelling error.

The people and "studies" that try to prove that capital punishment is not a deterent are basing their arguements on what they choose to. Much the same as every study ever done, on either side. But ask yourself this: How many dealers put to death have ever reoffended? How many would-be-dealers decided not to go into business for fear of capital punishment?

Kinda hard to prove a negative, isn't it?

As for legalizing it, who will pay for the billions it will cost to take care of all the addicts created when you can stop at the 7-11 and pick up Canadian Classic Cannabis Lights? Remind you of smoking? That is legal and rates of smokers are rising...or falling...or something. But the "thrill" of it has not disappeared. I know. I have been smoking over a pack a day for 20+ years. And one day, you will all be paying for my chemo. Does the government (all levels) really want us to quit smoking? And lose all those billions in tax dollars? I don't think so, Len.

Now let's add a whole plethera of new, taxable items to the mix. That way my kids will never have to worry about their retirement or the CPP in their future. They won't have one.

When you ask how many would be dealers decided not to go into business for fear of capital punishment, not only can you not prove that in the positive, you're making an assumption that they would, because that would be a rational thing to do, but the fact is, anyone who commits a crime is not thinking about the punishment when they do it. They feel that they won't get caught.

The death penalty is a purely retributionist method of punishment, that soothes the public's concern about "getting tough" on crime, whatever that is supposed to mean.

Riverwind · April 17, 2006

Teach them about moderation?
"Junior...if you're going to shoot up heroin, remember to be moderate about it. If you'll snort coke, make sure to know your limit."

It makes as much sense to say that as 'when you smoke make sure you only smoke one cigarette a day'. Society does not need to accept the use of a legal product - just look at how social attitudes towards tobacco have changed.

If you'd like to teach your kids about staying away from drugs....you would be much, much better off teaching them to stay away from the one popular "starter kit" for would-be addicts of the future: MARIJUANA or weed...or cannabis!

100% of heroine addicts started off drinking alcohol. That must mean alcohol is a gateway drug that should be banned.

You can say it was a brain-washing she did on me...but I must say, it worked! No one could even make me smoke pot...not even my boyfriend

I suspect you Mother's abililty to influence you on drugs was because she earned your respect as a teenager in a million different ways. Many other teens exposed to the same stories just laugh at their parents.

BubberMiley · April 17, 2006

I'm high right now, but I'm not blasted.

That's what the drunk driver said: "I've had several pints....but I'm okay. I can drive."

Then you read about them in the papers. And you hear about the people they've maimed or killed.

But I'm not driving anyway. I'm just posting on the Internet. It's a stretch to say I shouldn't get high on weed because someone drunk on a very, very different substance doesn't know how to use their discretion.