It amazes me that people such as Eric Swankoski can live in such ignorance where everything is so cut and dry. Yes I have seen this evidence from so called "reputable" journals. And yes, I also know that many of these "reputable" journals are funded by the government. I also agree that you can draw some sort of conclusion that most hard drug users have used marijuana, but thats where the connection ends.

And yes, I'm sure some of marijuana users have tried other drugs, but I can also say that probably 99 percent tried alcohol first. So are you saying that marijuana should get all the blame, not alcohol? It is so funny that this country lets people get wasted off of alcohol every weekend, which leads to many of society's problems, which include driving under the influence charges, violence and ruined marriages, while weed smokers are sitting around the television, and eventually fall asleep.

I also found it funny that Swankoski wanted to talk about the effects weed smoking has on the economies of South America. First, a good percentage of weed is grown right here, in the United States. Second, it is easier to criticize a drug dealer in a Third World country when you have everything you need. These people are trying to put food on the table for their families.

Granted, there are extremes such as Pablo Escobar, but I guess extremes is what you like talking about since, in your eyes, smoking a doobie is going to lead to nothing but a life of waste.