You raise some hard questions. Agreed, the abuse of these chemicals one and all due to the escape from life is the root. And just like raising kids, when they can't see the way to doing what's right, they need to be "incentivized" to find their way. That can be done though negative or positive reinforcement, which is exactly what I think responsible leadership should be doing to disincentivize drug abuse and incentivize responsible living.
Obviously anything can be abused to the point of detriment, and that includes weed. And based on national obesity statistics, also includes food/drink. We will never control free citizens daily lives, not the minds of obsessive individuals that can't display self control...we're human.
