The funny thing is, I disagree with everybody. Unlike EOM or Health, I support legalization, because the drug war is just so harmful and wasteful and doesn’t really seem be reducing usage anyway.
But Heath is right that pot is bad. No one should use the stuff, not even once!
EOM: “How is it worse for us to smoke than to drink?”
There are many reasons:
1) It causes health problems including potentially lung cancer.
2) Harms memory and brainpower.
3) Causes anxiety (“paranoia”), including long-term repeated panic attacks in many people. This is common knowledge and has been documented scientifically ad nauseum.
4) Especially in younger people, triggers major psychiatric problems such as schitzophrenia and psychosis (according to several recent studies).
5) Encourages hedonism because of its sensual effects (munchies, etc.)
6) In Yiddishkeit we have so many ways to get higher — prayer, meditation, Torah, dancing, fasting, alcohol, etc. We should rely on the tried and true and safe.