I’m sorry, but I’m on the cops side on this. I never did drugs of any kind as a kid. And I grew up in San Francisco in the 60’s and 70’s. That in itself might be why I abstained. I saw the effects of it first hand. I had an uncle that was probably the supplier to every hippie in the city. He had friends in all the bay area rock groups, as well as the sports teams. They all knew where to get the good stuff. Good ol’ uncle Ralph. He passed away in his early 60’s from lung cancer.
I also didnt drink alcohol for the same reason. Growing up I saw the effects of it first hand. Dad, Grandpa, both alcoholics. I could never understand why someone would want to ‘dull’ their senses in that way, not for recreational use. I can understand medicinal use, but please, I know dozens of people that get it for “medicinal reasons” but they admit its just easier to get it that way so they can get high.
Yes, I judge alcohol in the same group as marijuana. Even then, I understand the want/need to have both of them as a social use drug. That’s fine. I agree what a person does in their own home is their business. Keep the G’ment out of my private life. But when it effects others directly, like having an inebriated driver on the road, I think our laws are just a bit too lax, should be treated more like attempted murder. THAT ALCOHOLIC made a choice to drink that booze. He could have drove home sober, and decided not to. My personal opinion, first time offense DWI/DUI should lose their drivers licence for a year. Second time offense, permanent ban with any vehicle on public roads, including non licensed vehicles like scooters, golf carts, bicycles. You see, I’ve seen what happens first hand when someone drives drunk. I’ve been in the Neurological ICU at LLUMC to visit my wife (exwife) and saw kids that… well, lets just say it’s been 25 years since then and it still gives me nightmares. You cant unsee certain things.