Why Are Drug Abusers Looked Down Upon by the General Public?

Question by taddy: why are drug abusers looked down upon by the general public?
intelligent answers only please
if a person chooses to spend their hard earned cash on cannabis, cocaine or whatever else, why does the general public have a low opinion of them?
we dont look down on people who play golf or ride horses, why do we look down upon those who take recreational drugs?

Best answer:

Answer by michele
Vast government resources (e.g., DEA time and $, police, prison space) are funneled down a black hole due to their choice to engage in illegal activity. Those resources could be much better used elsewhere.

My tax dollars are going to support the consequences of THEIR choice (paying police salaries, maintaining prisons, paying for Medicaid sponsered rehab, paying for the foster care system when they lose their children).

Frankly, if drugs were legalized, and my tax dollars weren’t used to pay for the consequences, I would have no problem with it whatsoever (for adults). Adults are free to make myriad other foolish choices, why should consumption or sale of chemicals and plants be any different?

If drug use were legalized, not only would we save BILLIONS of tax dollars, we could also TAX the sale itself, and actually use what already exists as an ASSET. The government taxes cigarettes, why not marijuana?

For good or ill, however, at this point, it’s a crime.

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!