It was my understanding from my college days at a trad college that the problem with smoking pot (unless medically necesarry) was that 1) the purpose of it was to take one outside of the real world, and 2) it is addictive and considered to be a starter drug for other drugs whose use are definitely not allowed as they go against the "thou shalt not kill" commandment, so it could be considered at the very least an occassion of sin. And with regards to alcohol, that there is nothing per se wrong with drinking alcohol, but all things in moderation, and one can't use it to get drink or "use" it really for anything. One should enjoy it, for its merits, not for how it can affect the human brain - so a wine specialist is going to have a greater appreciation for alcohol then the wino, and the specialist has the right of it.