The graphic above (found at the blog of
Yellowdog Granny) is pretty funny, but there is also a lot of truth in it. All of the drugs listed above, with the sole exception of marijuana, are legal (either over the counter or with a prescription) -- and yet, marijuana is the only one that cannot cause death because of an overdose. Why is the safest drug the only one that is illegal? Does that make any sense at all?
Why is alcohol legal except while driving? Alcohol is more harmful physically and more addictive than marijuana. There is no LAW (that I know of) against driving while under the influence of any of the drugs you have listed above. Could it be because of the Big Pharma lobby? If Big Pharma could sell marijuana as a licensed drug it could be prescribed by physicians. But because it can be home-grown, it cannot be controlled and regulated and taxed. Just sayin'...
ReplyDeleteActually, there are laws against driving under the influence of those drugs, because the "dui" laws typically include any mind-altering or physically incapicating substance. The problem is defining what constitutes an incapacitating level of those substances, and laws are indeed remiss in that respect.
DeleteSeveral states do have medical marijuana laws which permit doctors to perscribe it, California being one of them, but federal law rather insanely refuses to accept the validity of those state laws. Additionally, there is no defined permissible level below which operation of motor vehicles is deemed safe.
It's all pretty incoherent.
Well, add to that alcohol, which is highly addictive and is the only substance known to man that can cause death from withdrawal. Withdrawal from others is painful and uncomfortable, but withdrawal from alcohol can cause death. And alcohol is almost totally unregulated. This country is indeed wierd.
ReplyDeleteThere are several studies showing that drivers who have smoked marijuana aren't any more dangerous than drivers who are not high on anything (completely sober).
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