B. Basher,
I understand what you're talking about but I just don't rate mj use in the same category as alcohol or cocaine dependency. Those are substances that cause actual physical addiction. If a person says they are addicted to mj it isn't the same. It's a mental dependency, a crutch. When you are dealing with that sort of scenario I think the major change has to come in your way of thinking. I would never tell someone who believed they were addicted to weed to "relax and smoke another joint." I would tell them that they need to walk away from smoking until they can get a better perspective on their situation. That includes admitting that they are screwing up their life. Weed isn't the cause. It may be a contributing factor, but the main problem is their state of mind. No weed isn't completely harmless, I never said it was. However, I do believe that it is far less dangerous than alcohol, cocaine, and even cigarettes. As for the loser remark, true it sounds harsh and may be out of line, but it's my opinion that a person who refuses to take responsibility for their actions is a loser. How do they lose that stigma? By taking control of their life. Just my opinion on the subject. I'm not the brightest person in the world, nor an expert when it comes to chemical dependency. I'm an average person, and a smoker. I love the people of the community, but have little patience for people saying they have a cannabis addiction. I'm sorry if my opinion offends anyone.