Every functioning adult knows that life is full of tough choices and trade-offs. We must often give one thing up to get something else we want or need.

For millions of Americans, however, the “tough choices” aren’t about wants — they’re truly about needs. Does an elderly couple on fixed-income buy groceries this week, or pay their utility bills? Does a promising, low-income student pursue their academic dreams or get an after-school job to help their parents with household bills?

In many of these scenarios the choices before people are heartbreaking to consider — that’s what moves so many to volunteer time and resources and build programs that can offer them help.

Far more rare are instances in which policies and programs actually force people into these trade-offs.

But that is exactly what is occurring when it comes to medical marijuana and federally-subsidized housing in Butler County.

Last week Butler Redevelopment Authority board members unanimously voted to approve a lease addendum prohibiting people who use medical marijuana from using the authority’s 12 federally-subsidized housing units.

Let us be clear: this is not the fault of the authority, which seems to simply be protecting the program’s interests and abiding by federal law — which is wise, since these apartments are subsidized using federal money.

However, it is the most recent and homegrown example of how the government’s draconian and antiquated stance on marijuana continues to inflict harm and pit state and local officials against those they should be helping.

If anyone needs a refresher, this revolves around the Drug Enforcement Administration’s classification of marijuana as a Schedule I narcotic — a category reserved for drugs like heroin, cocaine, LSD and methamphetamine, which have no accepted medical applications and a high potential for abuse and addiction.

Marijuana clearly does not belong on this list, and its inclusion has created issues that reach beyond HUD housing snafus.

Recall revelations in January that people who register for Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana program effectively lose their Second Amendment rights, according to state police?

The government’s excesses in this matter are clear and mounting.

Federal officials are more than happy to abuse people’s constitutional rights, trample on states’ rights, and force patients to choose between their health and having a roof over their heads — all to preserve a policy that is opposed by the majority of Americans and is built not on science and fact, but hysteria and antiquated, bureaucratic dogma.

How ridiculous and abusive must this state-of-affairs become and how many more people must be hurt before common sense prevails?