[Relambrien]

aperson, you seem to think that the general consensus among the populace is that "Drugs are bad."

I have not met a single person who believes this.

Everyone I have ever talked to about the subject, even only a little, realizes that all the things you mentioned in the OP are drugs. Drugs as a group are not inherently bad; I don't know anyone who thinks they are. Caffeine, Tylenol, they're all acceptable because they provide a physical benefit (energy and painkilling respectively) at a low physical cost (as you've outlined).

The reason things like marijuana are illegal is because they provide little to no physical benefit. You've said yourself, essentially, that the mental effects (hallucinations, etc.) are the positives from marijuana. In return, however, are physical effects that the government has deemed not worth the mental return.

In short: drugs that have beneficial physical effects like Tylenol, at a relatively low physical cost, are acceptable. Drugs that serve only to induce a high or trip at some physical cost are not, except in certain situations (laughing gas is comparable, I guess). This is because the physical well-being of a person is more important than the mental ecstasy. As an example, would you rather be a quadriplegic with a constant high or a fully-functional person with depression? I don't know about you, but I'll take being the latter.

Also, it's late so I may recant some of my statements here if I wake up tomorrow, look at this, and go "...What the heck was I thinking when I said this?" So forgive any stupidity on my part.