And, Joe, you are not the expert, nor even a valid attempt, in my opinion, as you blanket your statements together, but I’ve not seen any real explanation of your viewpoints. And, no, I’m not wasting money on your book. I’ve not done any scientific studies, but personal observation has shown me myriad benefits from smoking. My grandmother, dying of cancer, was able to eat. My Aunt, with glaucoma, has had her condition improved due to THC. My OWN eyesight, which almost qualified as legally blind 20 years ago is IMPROVING.

I don’t HAVE to smoke, I don’t lie, cheat, or steal to support a “habit”. I spend no more on this than you do on alcohol, Joe, and I bet you have a cabinet full of that.

Oh, and before you start the psychoanalysis, I’ll add: I’m gainfully employed, a successful mother of 2 well grown, well mannered children, and wife of over 21 years. A drug addict cannot say the same.

I will thank you for the laugh. Your responses are reminiscent of the original call for prohibition of cannibis: “The negros will smoke it with your white women, and they will lose control and dance and have sex”. There was an actual poster stating that, along with the lewd drawings that were supposed to make you think the worst. By a bunch of men who thought that “they knew best” for the rest of us.

As an aside, what few people mention is that if you are using marijuana for medical reasons or recreation is that you aren’t supposed to drive. Marijuana has a pretty long half life, so a few joints on Saturday can still get you a DUI/DWI on Tuesday.

I don’t view marijuana as harm reduction for other chemical addictions. The physical, social, mental and emotional issues that led to addiction need to be addressed, not masked with a different chemical.