Sistersteel
04-13-2009, 01:15 AM
If you've read my last thread you'll know that this is an artificial question anyway. But if - just as a game - we were referring to cannabis or alcohol as 'soft' drugs and heroin or cocaine as 'hard' drugs, the answer will be a resounding
. . . NO!
We simply can't say that any mood-altering drug is less harmful than any other - each carries its own particular set of harmful consequences. That includes alcohol or cannabis or 'magic mushrooms' etc. - as well as the traditional so-called 'hard' drugs like heroin and cocaine.
We all know alcohol is very dangerous - think of drunken drivers - and the deaths they cause; think of the individuals who have suffered violence at the hands of a drunken partner; think of the children neglected by alcoholic parents; think of fights outside the pub; think of the alcohol addict who has lost everything - family, friends, job, self-respect.
Obviously, alcohol's not less harmful than other drugs.
Heroin is often thought of as the most dangerous drug, because it is addictive and people die from heroin overdose. But it's not unique in these respects! Alcohols's the same!
Cannabis is often referred to as a 'soft' drug, but cannabis users can become addicted - it can and does ruin their lives and the lives of people around them.
People die as a result of cannabis use - Oh, you didn't know that? Well they do.
It's estimated that many fatal car accidents each year are caused by drivers intoxicated with cannabis - up to 30 per cent of all road deaths may be caused by cannabis use.
The bottom line is that we cannot say that any mood-altering drug is less harmful than any other. Each has it's own set of damaging consequences for the user and for other people.
. . . NO!
We simply can't say that any mood-altering drug is less harmful than any other - each carries its own particular set of harmful consequences. That includes alcohol or cannabis or 'magic mushrooms' etc. - as well as the traditional so-called 'hard' drugs like heroin and cocaine.
We all know alcohol is very dangerous - think of drunken drivers - and the deaths they cause; think of the individuals who have suffered violence at the hands of a drunken partner; think of the children neglected by alcoholic parents; think of fights outside the pub; think of the alcohol addict who has lost everything - family, friends, job, self-respect.
Obviously, alcohol's not less harmful than other drugs.
Heroin is often thought of as the most dangerous drug, because it is addictive and people die from heroin overdose. But it's not unique in these respects! Alcohols's the same!
Cannabis is often referred to as a 'soft' drug, but cannabis users can become addicted - it can and does ruin their lives and the lives of people around them.
People die as a result of cannabis use - Oh, you didn't know that? Well they do.
It's estimated that many fatal car accidents each year are caused by drivers intoxicated with cannabis - up to 30 per cent of all road deaths may be caused by cannabis use.
The bottom line is that we cannot say that any mood-altering drug is less harmful than any other. Each has it's own set of damaging consequences for the user and for other people.