There is multiple criteria for deciding how harmful a substance is. A recent British study into the effects of the most commonly used drugs ranked cannabis way below tobacco and alcohol - incidentally the chief scientist David Nutt was sacked shortly afterwards as the government didn't like his findings!
You not only have to take into account damage done to the individual but to society as a whole. Its estimated something like 75% of all theft and burglaries are committed to fund serious drug habits like heroin and crack. Not to mention the damage done to families and friends of an addict.
Drug addiction really is a scourge on society, and just locking addicts up without dealing with the root causes is just dooming them to repeat the cycle. I've known people to spend their lives in and out of prison, they go in, forced to get clean them soon as they are released its back on the gear. Something needs to change! But as I said earlier, drugs (specially class A drugs like heroin/cocaine) have an immoral and evil image and no politician has the balls to stand up and suggest something radical for fear of being ostracised.
You not only have to take into account damage done to the individual but to society as a whole. Its estimated something like 75% of all theft and burglaries are committed to fund serious drug habits like heroin and crack. Not to mention the damage done to families and friends of an addict.
Drug addiction really is a scourge on society, and just locking addicts up without dealing with the root causes is just dooming them to repeat the cycle. I've known people to spend their lives in and out of prison, they go in, forced to get clean them soon as they are released its back on the gear. Something needs to change! But as I said earlier, drugs (specially class A drugs like heroin/cocaine) have an immoral and evil image and no politician has the balls to stand up and suggest something radical for fear of being ostracised.
The truth may be puzzling. It may take some work to grapple with. It may be counterintuitive. It may contradict deeply held prejudices. It may not be consonant with what we desperately want to be true. But our preferences do not determine what's true - Carl Sagan
