This is a purely opinion-based piece, and should not necessarily reflect upon those I associate with.
Point #1: Alcohol has been a part of society since recorded history began. I do not understand the precedent behind why the legal drinking age is higher than the age at which an individual is declared to be a legal adult. Upon becoming a legal adult, should you not only have all the responsibilities associated with adulthood, but all the rights afforded to adults as well?
Point #2: Controlled substances - specifically, cannabis. The statistics for personal injury and death due to alcohol are well-known, and yet alcohol is legal. Cannabis is also a mind-altering substance, yet it is illegal. Neither should be used while driving or operating heavy machinery - I think this is common sense. Yet cannabis is still criminalized.
If responsible adults of sound mind are able to make the choice whether or not to intake alcohol (or tobacco, which has clearly been shown to cause cancer), why not cannabis as well?
The amount of money that government-sanctioned cannabis production could produce should be incentive enough for those who seek to take advantage of the profit potential for legalized cannabis.
It would also put a big dent in cannabis-related crime, so that law enforcement could focus their energies on other substances that have been shown to have far worse health effects, and far greater chances of addiction and dependency.
As always, I invite discussion.
I agree that a drug is a drug. Alcohol is a drug and cannabis is a drug. Why the double standard?
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