<p>I don’t think kids should much spend their time on TV or videogames, either. I absolutely agree that young people (any people) can get just as addicted to videogames as they can to pot. The point is that the time of young people is very valuable. A lot of things that seem frivolous are worthwhile–chatting with friends, daydreaming, doing crafts or playing music or drawing, shopping, biking around aimlessly, taking walks, even sleeping. Because while all of these activities or non-activities are going on, young people’s minds are working. They’re working on negotiating social issues, developing their ideals, learning what their own authentic interests and passions are, understanding their feelings. I can even see the value of a LITTLE bit of social gaming, TV watching, etc., because it can provide a playful bond between people. But when people take drugs or drink, what they’re doing is checking out of full consciousness. Even if you can do some activities while taking drugs, you’re losing part of the value of that activity, some of the mindfulness, because you’re choosing to give part of your mind away to a chemical substance. Whatever it is that you could do on drugs, you could do better without them, and get more value from them. Everyone’s time is valuable, but just as teenagers’ muscles can grow more quickly than adults, their brains can grow and change more quickly than adults. Taking drugs dulls that incredible edge.</p>