Some of this is interesting news to me.
I've smoked pot since I was 11, and so does my entire family. Its not a cultural thing or whatnot but it is indeed a family thing.
In my opinion, I think marijuana being addictive is a bunch of BS. If you get addicted to marijuana you are weak minded. Getting addicted to alcohol is understandable. But I can go months without weed, and never have any withdrawal symptoms, and not crave for it. I would want it but I would never have an uncontrollable craving where I HAD to have it.
Also I believe that alcohol is more destructive than marijuana. Marijuana does not make you have mood swings, or normally result to angering situations. You dont hear about people dying from being in fights, or getting in car crashes, or over dosing on too much marijuana. But when it comes to drinking there are always car crashes, bar fights, results in death from alcohol poisoning, rape, etc.. etc..
Some of these things may happen while smoking marijuana, but how often does it? I guarentee you its not as half as bad as alcohol.
Marijuana may cause obesity and laziness, memory loss and whatnot. But if you dont smoke it every single day or every MINUTE of the day then that shouldnt happen too often. Smoking once or twice a week is enough for someone who doesnt want to lose their mind because they are constantly eating, and sleeping, and don't want to get up.
Yes, marijuana is worse than cigarettes. 4 cigarettes is equal to the ammount of crap you put into your lungs. But seeing how an average smoker probably smokes about a pack or more a day, they're actually getting the worst end of the stick than a normal pothead. Not saying its the same for everyone, but most of the potheads I know smoke at the end of the day, and only smoke up to 2 blunts and maybe a bowl or two as well. (Two blunts is the equivelant to a dub, which is a 20 sack.) Depending on how many people there are determines how much lethal dosage of evil gas you get stuck into your precious lungs.
Now thats looking at it from a rather more semi-formal point of view.
Now coming from a simple potheads perspective, most of them say, "We're all gonna die soon anyways." Most of us just want to live life in peace, and not worry about whether we're going to die or get our butts kicked or not. We just want to sit back and chill. Enjoy the break we get from the stress we go through on a daily basis... some of us. ^^;
Anyways I feel like Im rambling and I know half of you probably wont even agree so Im done for now. Tootles. <3