Bit Hyberbolic...
Didn't say ignore the other drug issues...said weed can be one as well. Don't believe concern about weed addiction is misplaced, given the prevailing attitudes (on display here) and its blossoming use and availability.
Quote from Rand Corp. Study of California:
"Past research provides solid evidence that marijuana consumption goes up when prices go down, but the magnitude of the consumption increase cannot be predicted because prices will fall to levels below those ever studied, researchers say. Consumption also might rise because of non-price effects such as advertising or a reduction in stigma, researchers say.
In addition to uncertainty about the taxes levied and evaded, researchers do not know how users will respond to such a large drop in price. Even under a scenario with high taxes ($50 per ounce) and a moderate rate of tax evasion (25 percent), researchers cannot rule out consumption increases of 50 percent to 100 percent, and possibly even larger. If prevalence increased by 100 percent, marijuana use in California would be close to the prevalence levels recorded in the late 1970s."
I think it is safe to say consumption numbers will increase, thus will the raw numbers of addicts.
Having some concern for this issue does not necessarily take away from other research to any degree, especially if the support comes from the tax on weed sales.
Also with regard to research, I was referring to Treatment options. As you noted, there is no recognized medication to help weed addicts. However as I noted previously, there are ongoing trials to help treat weed addicts with medication.
Interesting you should use the word epidemic. I was wondering about that, so I looked up Heroin, since that one seems to be a growing concern. It appears there are 1.5 million people dealing with heroin addiction up from 700K in 2010. As I mentioned before, this is certainly more serious a concern case by case than weed. But if 8.5 Million (estimated) weed addicts don't rate...can you tell me the number that makes this worth thinking about, because we will be increasing that number...just want to know when its ok? If consumption doubles...17M people enough then?
