>>>>Jerry,
>>>>
>>>>Basically, I agree with your assessment. Please note that I was just commenting on what I understand is happening in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, not praising it! I am not sure whether such a strategy (of allowing what is now illegal) will be effective or not; but it does seem strange to permit drugs, with the intention of thus lowering drug consumption!
>>>>
>>>>BTW, in my faith, use of both alcohol and drugs are strictly forbidden. Our Holy Writings speak up against tobacco, too, although the prohibition is not strict (the reason, pressumably, is what you already hinted in your message: while tobacco is very harmful for health, it doesn't immediately cause erratic behavior).
>>>>
>>>>Hilmar.
>>>
>>>Hilmar;
>>>
>>>I have to agree with you on that but have noticed an area of “predictable behavior from smokers”. An example of this is on the freeway with a driver in front of you who is smoking. He or she is going 70 mph and then takes a long drag on that cigarette. The vehicle then slows to about 55 mph and stays there for about 10 – 15 seconds. Slowly the vehicle speed increases to 70 mph once again. This continues for as long as the person is smoking. :)
>>>
>>>Tom
>>
>>Interesting observation! I feel a need to watch the next smoker I see while driving down the interstate to see if that behavior is general.
>
>Jerry;
>
>I have observed this activity for the last 33 years in the San Francisco Bay Area. It makes me laugh and when I am with my wife I tell her, "Look at what happens when that smoker takes a drag"! My wife cracks up and so do I - it seems to be a given what a smoker will do under such conditions.
>
>Tom

Like I say, I am going to watch the next time I take a trip on the interstate. Most of the drivers here in Nebraska, except for Omaha, drive like that anyway (slowing down, speeding up, for no apparent reason), or they drive just over the lower limit and scowl at everyone who drives by them...