John Stossel:

I disagree with Stossel’s argument because I don’t think his basic premise–that drug use really only hurts the user–is correct. While adults may have the right to harm themselves, there should be a limit to which their self-destructive behavior can harm others. Drug users are parents, neighbors, and co-workers. When parents can’t raise their children because they are too busy getting high, the state has to step in and do it. When drug using neighbors turn their homes in crack houses, surrounding property values decrease. When “stoned” workers function at less than full capacity, businesses are less productive and the economy suffers. The primary function of our legal system is to discourage people from acting in ways that are detrimental to the public good. Should the government step in and prevent someone from making poor decisions that will ruin their own life? Certainly Not. But when another’s poor decisions negatively affect the moral and economic stability of society as a whole, I say it’s time to legislate.