> I get dismayed when people think of drugs in terms of social freedom and opposing government. This is quite frankly a highly liberal view. And not one at all in line with the true definition of drugs. (..)
> Drug users WHO ARE IN CONTROL OF THEMSELVES see rules against drugs as oppressive. But the rules were never made for them! [..]
Frankly, most of the rules never really were about solving actual drug problems in the first place. Rather about controlling certain socioeconomic groups of people that happened to be associated with whatever substance.
At least that's the case for the US, however, most of the world has been influenced by their views and still hold them even when US is starting to change. Many parts of the world that lived peacefully (or even synergistically) with certain drugs now have one of the harshest rules regarding them, and that changed during the past ~50-70 years really.
> Using drugs is like balancing the tight rope, not something everyone can do. And advocates need to understand this.
I would say very few people educated on the matter claim drugs are not an issue at all and advocate their use to everyone. In fact, one of the main problems is - knowing the risks associated to drug use, and the fact that it's just gonna happen in the "real world" - how to minimize the harm? (i.e., education and treatment over punishment and rejection)
> Lastly comparing illegal intoxicants as similar to legal intoxicants is a poor justification. You try to stretch people’s benign feelings to one form of drugs onto another.
I'd say the main reason for making comparisons is to draw attention to the inconsistencies of people's judgements. When the statistics show how much more harmful alcohol (or pain pills) is to the mind, health, and society than almost any other substance, both relatively and in terms of prevalence of abuse, I just don't see how one can with a straight face claim it's right to send a kid to a cell for "smoking a joint", but have no desire to have any changes regarding the "normal" drugs.
Inconsistencies is what points you towards flaws in your thinking. Some may ignore it because it's easier to assume you know everything about everything. Some will use the opportunity to investigate.
> Drugs are an intoxicant. They destroy minds. They destroy health. And they can make addicts lose control. Not to mention destroy communities. There are laws on the books specifically for this reason. It affects society. It does not just stop at the individual. There is a reason why neighborhoods around bars fall in value. While those around coffee shops rise in value.
Don't want to be snarky, but these are just talking points. There are a lot of comparisons with other situations that could be drawn here, but as you've pointed out that's not necessarily the best tactic. However, if so, we should also have a "conversational rule" against throwing around three-word claims that are supposed to prove something but are clearly meaningless _without going into more detail_.
P.S. Nothing in life is black or white, it's all about balance and overall well-being.