So this really has nothing to do with anything....

but I wanted to voice my opinion about it, so here it is:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delirium_tremens

^^^^^
This, is absolutely terrifying. And I have seen someone go through it firsthand, with my own eyes. Watching someone literally seize from alcohol withdrawal is very scary. I can't even imagine how horrible it must be to go through.

The more I learn about alcohol, the more I begin to question the drug war in the US. Alcohol kills people. We know that. Not only does alcohol cause a myriad of health complications for the person(s) imbibing, but it also causes reduced decision making capacity without necessarily causing a person to be less active. Think about it: so many people drink a few drinks, and think they're perfectly ok to get behind the wheel of their 3,000 pound car. Or to start a fight with so and so... It causes things like black esophagus, severe liver failure, brain damage, and causes many different kinds of cancers, etc. If you've never read about the dangers of alcohol, I urge you to seek it out, and watch a few episodes of Dr. G. A huge number of her caseload comes in the form of completely preventable alcohol-related deaths.

In addition to all of those things, withdrawal from it can be FATAL.

This is one of those things that makes me wonder... why is this horrible toxin legal when so many other things aren't? Take pot, for example. Here is a substance with some degree of medical value. It is highly beneficial for nausea & vomiting, and can restore appetite in those who have lost theirs. It even has some pain relieving properties. That's what we've proven so far. I highly doubt that pot has ever directly killed anyone. When people get stoned, do they go out and kill people for their next "fix"? No, in fact; marijuana withdrawal has very few symptoms at all. It is not thought to even BE physically addictive.

Do people decide they are in fact, ok to drive their car, and cause thousands of innocent people to die in fiery crashes after partaking? No, they eat potato chips and watch cartoons.

Does it cause significant brain damage? No. Unlike alcohol (esp. see chronic effects: http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/aa63/aa63.htm ).

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not some hippie pothead. It's really not for me. If it were legal, and I'd been unable to eat for a while, I probably would. But the high is of no interest to me. However, I find it disturbing to say the least that something so completely benign is illegal, while something as damaging to society as a whole (alcohol, for clarity) is perfectly legal. What the hell are you thinking, people???

Look at the damage this shit causes. Seriously. Compare and contrast. Alcohol is related to more deaths in this country than every other street drug combined. Why bother making everything else illegal when this one is ok?