Well, I smoke, and I think i could fairly say I'm addicted to it. It was my choice to start smoking, I had a down point in my life, and smoking just helped me get through it, calming me down. Now I have friends that dont like me smoking, and i'm cool with that, they dont keep telling me I should stop, or anything like that, and im fine not smoking around them. What annoys me is people telling me I should stop smoking, and actively trying to stop me. I'm not a heavy drinker, I like the odd one now and again, and sure sometimes i'll go out and get smashed (ie, birthdays, christmas, new year).
Now I have friends who do weed too, they say it makes them feel better when they're down or whatever. Now im fine with them doing weed, even doing weed around me (when we're outside), but none of them try to pressure me into trying it, as they know I dont want to (for personal reasons, explained later), and yeah, they are different when they're high. One of my friends is overweight, and quite geeky, but when he's had a bit of weed, he's no longer a shy geek, he's still down to earth, but he's much more confident, and even more of a laugh to be around!
Now on the subject of drugs being dangerous, something related to drugs has affected someone close to me. One of my friends, her older brother did weed for a LONG time. He was totally cool when he was on weed, he didnt get violent (or try and steal my shoes, thanks). But eventually he started getting problems, a big one being schizophrenia (cause by smoking excessive weed i guess). Anyway, the time he had schizophrenia was a real strain on the whole family, and eventually, he died from it. My friend and her whole family were completely torn up, and it was that friend that has convinced me never to try weed. Now before you guys say anything, I know this isnt a common case, but it still happened to someone i know (probably by no-ones fault but himself, but still). So I know how bad drugs can tear family apart, but also can alcohol, and video games (think boy who shot his parents over Halo3). So although personally I dont take them, more the power to people who do, as long as they dont get carried away and can keep it (even a bit) under their control. :]
I agree with you - that is an extreme case, which adds support to the idea of moderation. I refer back to my example about potassium - that and many other vitamins are generally accepted as being great for physical health. But many of them are actually extremely toxic if the level gets too high. The key is balance, just like with fat and sodium intake, etc.
I won't deny that in the early years of my pot habit, I would over do it, and my memory suffered. In the beginning, I tried so hard to compensate for it before it happened, that my memory actually got a little better (it was bad to begin with, so active attempts to improve combined with a lack of immediate problems led to a net result of a better memory). But that didn't last - in the end I was basically back where I started, maybe a little worse. Thankfully, I took a few long breaks over the years, and learned to smoke in moderation - just enough to feel a pleasant buzz, and then I was done for the day. Now my memory is about as good as it ever was.
Of course, there are always consequences and compromises with any decision we make - but that should be up to the individual to decide if the loss is worth what is gained. Some of you may point out that some decisions affect other adversely - but that falls outside of my assertion, since that implies that the others who are affected didn't get to make the decision for themselves. I believe we should have no problem with people who choose to do whatever drugs they want to - what we should take issue with, is when they decide to go out in public with it, for example, the alcoholic who decides that drinking in his own home isn't good enough, so he's going for a drive. In America, we are supposed to be free, to have the right to do as we please. But our constitution also states that we have the right to not have our rights infringed upon by the rights of others. Many people seem to miss that point - either they want to have it their way, be damned anyone that is adversely affected by it, or (as often tends to be the case) they want the gov't to regulate other people unconstitutionally. Some seem to want both - they want to be able to do whatever they wish, while inhibiting what others can do, simply because they wouldn't do it themselves (kinda like people who choose not to drink, and therefore think they have the right to preach to those who do).
One phrase from several posts sums it up nicely - Live and let live.
QUOTE(~Kuraudo's Sword~ @ Jan 24 2009, 01:09 AM) Drugs+Person+EPIC FAIL