I would have no problem with legalization for medicinal or recreational use, if they could devise a test that conclusively shows that you are currently under the influence. The tests now can say that you have metabolized cannaboids recently, but there is no level of intoxication. If you could firmly set an upper limit, as is done with alcohol, you can keep drug users off the road (hopefully). To my knowledge no such thing exists or is in the works. Until then I don't think marajuana should be legalized. There are processes for producing cannaboids without the intoxicating effects, but they are currently not able to make it in a resonable quantity. That is more likely where the medical side will go, the legalization argument always comes back to recreational users.

I agree with teamrn - it should definitely be legalized. How many patients have I know that had AIDS or Cancer, and they were using it illegally. This definitely needs to be legal and out in the open.

I was told years ago by a "hippie" (former recreational user) that the main reason marijuana isn't leagalized hasn't got as much to do with it's effects, but more (again) with the government's hunger for profit. There is not an effective way to monitor growth, harvest, and taxation, so it's illegal. I don't know for sure how true this is...hippies do a lot of speculation, and don't care a whole lot for government policies...

I agree with ctrum6414 completely. I read somewhere recently that marijuana was originally deemed illegal because tobacco farmers were afraid of the competition( or something to that effect).

I think marijuana should be legalize to decrease the on going drug violence. It would provide an alternitive drug to herion and other dangerous drugs. During my "Hippie" days, there seem to be less violence with the use of marijuana. It was affordable. No was robbing you for a nickel bag of weed. You could always find someone willing to share their stash.If you were thrifty you saved the seeds and grew your own. No one was losing their homes, cars or life trying to get it. You spent more time talking, listening to music and being mello. There also seem to be more focus on getting along, understanding the difference in one another, loving and respecting indiviulality.
On a medical tip, it lowered blood pressure for those suffering from HTN. It has many medical benefits, as well as adverse affects, much like alcohol.
However, if it could some how be controled, I think that it would be a good thing to have legalized. The government could tax it along with the other sin tax. (cigaretts, alcohol,...)

I knew a kid who suffered from cancer... he could not take the Marinol because the chemotherapy made him so sick that he would throw up the medicine and couldn't hold food down. Smoking marijuana was a great comfort to him in his last days. I also know women who swear that marijuana cured their bulimia: it increases appetite and decreases nausea. Anything that relieves pain without the physically addictive qualities of narcotics (and there is substantial evidence to suggest that cannabis is only *psychologically* addictive) is o.k. in my book.

As for govt. profit, I think it also has a lot to do with the pharmaceutical companies wanting to make millions of dollars off of medications they've spent years of time and money development. But as it is, the War on Drugs is a massive failure and is keeping age-old remedies out of the hands of people who could desperately use it. That is wrong.

I also think it's weird that there are suggested medical benefits in marijuana, but it's illegal... alcohol and tobacco have absolutely no social or medical benefits, and are perfectly legal.