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Not all humans view drugs in the same manner. In some locales, it is accepted to use drugs recreationally. Other places deem that same usage unacceptable. If you look at the similarity in the gov'ts that deem that usage as unacceptable, there's a common overall belief that is not scientifically based.

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Some sort of drug is usually acceptable culturally. Alcohol, very widely. Cannabis, more recently. Mild drugs like coffee. "Prescribed recreationals" like xanax in some circles. In many places Hashish or opium are still seen as traditional/acceptable.

I grew up in Israel, where qat is legal, seen as equivalent to coffee and culturally acceptable. It's fairly common as an ornamental plant.

Giving your cat whiskey would cause an uproar, but I guess catnip gets a grandfather exception.

As far as anyone knows, catnip is completely nontoxic to cats, but ethanol certainly is toxic. Cats also simply don't like the smell of alcohol.

Eating very large quantities of catnip can give them gastrointestinal discomfort though.

Sure, I wasn't recommending it. I'm just pointing out that it's culturally acceptable to give cats catnip. Culture happens, and sometimes it's rational. Sometimes it's not.

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