i've smoked marijuana for the last 20 years, and recently quit.  It is not addictive in the sense that anything can be addictive, even chocolate. During the 20 years that I smoked, I went to collage, got a job, got married, got a better job, all while living in a foreign country, which one could call challenging.  It hasn't been a negative in any way in my life, quite the opposite.  Now with new vaporization technologies one can vaporize tobacco or marijuana without getting the tar, which is a major breakthrough in application and reduced health risks dramatically.  It should also be noted that one smokes marijuana at rate much less than tobacco. Watching the video, I'd say that that Congressman is a hack that is way out of touch with the times.  I guess he thinks it sends a better message to young people by putting them behind bars.  I hope the good people of the state of Virginia have the good sense to retire him come election time.