exactly, it's the degree of effect. for example, if you take the same amount * (not sure how to level or calibrate this for all alcohol, smoking and serious drugs); the effect would be the worst for drugs on the taker, not alcohol nor smoking. that's what I mean. it's the severity and likelihood of the affects of serious drugs that I reckon warrants the death penalty, for feeding that to society. of course you have long-term smokers who will die of lung cancer, or alcoholics and liver disease; but surely you cannot compare that to the effects of say heroin on a person?