Exciting times? IMHO, the last thing we should celebrate is new ways to get a buzz on.
There should be more discussion about how to minimize the incredible damage caused by drugs and alcohol.
Me too.
> My cousin died from overdose.
Mine too (and my wife's).
> I've got close friends who killed themselves with drink.
Thankfully this doesn't apply to me, though not for lack of trying in some cases.
But still, this is something to celebrate. Even if it only reduced the impact of drug-trafficking and related gang violence in one South American country, it would be worth celebrating. If it allows countries to de-militerize their police forces, it's a good thing. If it allows countries to save or raise tax money and spend it on social services or return it to taxpayers, it's a good thing. If it stop the selective enforcement of petty laws against outsider groups, then it's a good thing.
Getting back to those who themselves suffer from drug dependencies, if legalization of cannabis defunds black-market dealers of other drugs, then it's a good thing. If a users dependency issue is brought to light and treated earlier (which is an explicit aim of the Uruguayan experiment), then that's a good thing.
I'm not particularly interested in celebrating "new ways to get a buzz on", but as both our experiences testify, there is nothing new about "people getting a buzz on", even to an extreme, debilitating and deadly extent, what is new is how we deal with that existing reality.
So yes, let's celebrate, and support this movement to a more evidence-based response and hope we can move society's approach to these problems forward, even if only one little step at a time.
I know plenty of people who do not drink or smoke (cigarettes), despite how legal it is. They have their own reasons (health concern, religion, etc).
Laws surrounding intoxication won't change. Intelligent will make the best decision for themselves, whether that's total abstinence or situational abstinence. Those who won't are probably making those same bad choices today, only the costs are greater.
That's debatable and irrelevant anyway (coffee is addictive, should we ban it?).
you may not see it as such, but that's exactly what's going on here.
Legalization and Education should be done together.