Obviously there were huge miscalculations on the part of legislators, regulators, banks, home builders, mortgage lenders, bond rating agencies, real estate brokers, appraisers and consumers fueled by greed, ignorance and complacency. There's plenty of blame to spread around.

I did every sort of drug when I was young - I'm 60 yrs old now. I smoked pot/hash, took LSD, mescaline, was addicted to cocaine (injected) & sopers/quaaludes, addicted to amphetamines... was one of the first to take MDA/Ecstasy back in 71. I don't like to take drugs if I can avoid it but I take Celebrex for an arthritic knee (2 operations) and take supplements and vitamins to stay as healthy as I can. I still drink alcohol occasionally and I tell myself it's good for me because of the beneficial effects on the heart although I know it's probably killing brain cells.

The legalization of drugs is an interesting question to me. Drugs have a very powerful effect on the body/brain and I believe most users are ignorant of the health effects. I believe we should focus efforts on health education to combat drug addiction. Unfortunately we live in an extremely stressful society and drugs are a way to deal with it.

I do believe pot should be legalized. The quality and distribution would then be regulated and controlled. I believe that would also reduce the availability of other more addictive/unhealthy drugs i.e. crack.

Everything we do, every breath we take has a ripple effect on the universe. We cannot ignore the fact that when we light up a joint from Mexico that some cartel may have murdered dozens of innocent civilians to get it into your hands. I'm not saying a pot smoker is directly responsible but there is a connection. I don't want to impose my beliefs on others and I have no Idea how I would feel. I could blame the law but I know that my actions are my choice and that the law didn't force me to do anything.