The time for legalization is here. My friend who suffers from severely debilitating arthritis has recently been on a medical marijuana regimen, and the results are amazing for her. She is able now to do everyday tasks that were before impossible. There are no side effects and the relief is immediate. Lets decriminalize and tax this drug and put an end to the failed drug war on Marijuana.

The good thing about the free marketplace of ideas is, despite the best efforts of prohibitionists and their propagandists, the truth (eventually) prevails.

That's what we're witnessing right now, with the tidal change in public perception of marijuana -- both as a medicine and palliative, and as a recreational drug.

Everyone who has personal experience with weed knows it isn't at all what the ONDCP will tell you. Everyone who has a family member or acquaintance who has used or is using medical marijuana knows that the herb works wonders in improving the quality of life for seriously ill people.

People who know the truth about marijuana are chipping away at the wall of denial, of misinformation, of fear and prejudice and superstition that has held us back for so long. Vive la revolucion.

I beg to differ with your opinion on medical marijuana.
You are incorrect not everyone using medical marijuana DOES NOT IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE. But rather it has done the complete opposite in my daughters life. I am a eyewitness to her lifestyle and wrong choices in medical marijauna users. Medical marijuana is destroying lives. My daughter went from a 3.85 GPA student to 0 GPA student and wants to drop out of school. Her life has completely transformed to the worst. No longer does she smile, sing, and love life in general. She has disconnected from disant friends and family. Medical marijuana users are pathetic loosers, sit outside and watch the kind of characters that go into the clinics. In fact, I should video tape it and put on the news.It is killing the youth to prosper,instead they are making the clinics rich while they go from one clinic to the next. There is no regulations on RX refills.

mm, maybe the problems your daughter faces are your own. try to be a better parent for once.

this isn't the weed's fault.

A profound statement nevertheless. the gateway of choice for this poor woman's daughter was, apparently, marijuana. It's possibly true that in the absence of marijuana the resulting outcome would have been the same. I can certainly empathize mom's feelings and understand her contempt.

If marijuana use is legalized, it should be done so in a manner that restricts access to minors, as with cigarettes and alcohol. In the interim I implore those of you with a propensity to do so to pray for this grieving mom and her daughter.

"No longer does she smile, sing, and love life in general. She has disconnected from disant friends and family. Medical marijuana users are pathetic loosers, sit outside and watch the kind of characters that go into the clinics. In fact, I should video tape it and put on the news."

Your ignorance is appalling! Change the words "medical marijuana and clinics" to "booze and bars" and you can make the same half-assed argument for making alcohol completely illegal too. And to judge all medical marijuana patients as pathetic losers is incredibly insulting. Just because your daughter cannot hang in life doesn't mean cancer patients shouldn't get the treatment they deserve. People like you need to realize that just because your daughter has no personal responsibility does not mean that everyone should be punished.

How old is your daughter? What is the age limit for medical marijuana? If your daughter is away at college...how do you know what she does? What does she have that got her the prescription? You failed as a parent, admit it. You've given me a headache, and there's only one thing that takes that away...

Having a troubled child does not mean a parent is a loser or a failure. Most people who have raised kids have spent many hours worrying about whether or not they will make the right choice when confronted with potentially dangerous options. I can think of few things as devastating as watching a loved one, particularly a young child drift away.

Advocates for legalization of marijuana need to remain cognizant of the devastating effect it, like other mind altering substances, can have on certain individuals. This, however, should not be an impediment to the development of beneficial uses of marijuana. Many people have benefited from the medicinal qualities of the plant. I suspect far more have benefited from the social and recreational uses of the drug.

Even nonusers of the drug pay a terrible price, via increased taxes and diversion of law enforcement and judicial resources consumed in the apparently failed attempt to enforce laws against its manufacture and distribution. These laws appear to benefit the large well organized and armed cartels responsible for much violence across the country and on our Southern boarder. Instead of paying money, a lot of money, in an attempt to eradicate this drug, we should be collecting taxes and using the proceeds to provide better education and substance abuse treatment.

Steve Elliott is correct. Neither advocates or opponents of legalizing marijuana for medical or social use need fear the truth. It will set us free. California Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger's call for an open, honest and thorough public discourse on this
subject is long over due. This discussion needs to be fair and balanced. Advocates need to listen carefully to the concerns of opponents and opponents need to keep an open mind and be empathetic to those who suffer needlessly while the debate continues.

Valid medicinal value, it’s a victimless crime, the War on Drugs WAY too costly, too many arrests for simple possession, tax it and use the money to pay for health insurance and to reduce the deficit…Need I say more?

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