re: #157 garhighway

I would respectfully suggest that this is the wrong test. We should let people do what they want to do unless there is a compelling societal reason to forbid the behavior. Because there IS a compelling societal interest in favoring personal liberty.

So the test isn’t “does it make you better?”, it is “Does it so damage you that the violation of your liberty interest is outweighed by the damage we’ll prevent in outlawing the behavior”.

For pot, I think the liberty interest prevails, like it does for alcohol: forbid it for the underaged, for drivers, etc…, but otherwise it ought to be legal.

(And note: I recognize that you end up in the same place, so we are not arguing here. I just think it is worthwhile to explore the principles involved.)

I agree and this is an issue of personal ownership, imo. I completely support and advocate that I can do whatever I want with my own body as long as I’m not hurting anyone else. I can rock climb, skydive, drive NASCAR and eat triple quarter pounders legally and I should be able to ride without a helmet, use whatever substance I want, participate in assisted suicide or anything else and it’s no one elses business.

(Damn I used “I” a lot in that blurb.)