Excellent points. Criminalization of marijuana is completely hypocritical. Why are highly addictive and lethal substances like alcohol and morphine legal, yet a natural herb that has killed no one is taboo? Because people believe propaganda.

First, when I first saw you on C-SPAN maybe 2 or so weeks ago, I liked where you were coming from. Of course, that overrides point of view. For me, generally, if the argument is well presented I can more appreciate another point of view even if I disagree with it.
For many years I've disagreed with the view our Federal government has allowed that criminalizes marijuana by convincing the vast population (remember it took a majority to elect Dubya - and twice! Give me a break!) of ignoramuses that marijuana is a gateway to hell. You note that over half of Americans have tried it at one time or another. So, where are the body snatchers? Get my drift? It's time to turn the table around. Make no mistake about it. This is not a promotion for psychoactive drugs. Frankly, it's a perspective on ridding our great country of the evil which prays to fear.
Thanks again.
PS for more facts on marijuana try: http://cannabisconsumers.org/reports/drugwarfacts.php

Sir;...You may be correct that weed has killed aproximately no one; but it has caused many bodies to be thrown into jail... And; as this article points out, from the Hilton Sex tapes or the Phelps bong shot, we have become our own spies... Give a kid a camera, and they will send personal porn to the whole school district; and everyone has a phone.... We can't trust big brother...In fact, we can't trust us... Who can we trust??? Where can we hide??? We might want to roll up some big fatty and get so stupid we might never get straight; but how can we do it alone??? We want it social... Stoned is nothing, and the social experiance of law breaking- by taking charge of your own consciousness together, is everything; and no one can do it because no one can trust that some one with a camera won't find the bluish green hue and mindless grin on your face fit for internet... So far, the Phelps photo has resulted in eight arrests... That is a hellova price to pay to wreck the fame of some world class athelete.... But there is a lesson there... Every idiot with a camera is more dangerous to social liberty than all the cops in the world on the prowl for pot heads.... They can't get into every life unless invited; and invitations are sent out wholesale.... Here is a picture of me and my buds stoned to the bone and beyond... Come and throw a net over us, because we are stupid and here is the proof... That is the crime... Smoking the dope should not be illegal... Getting caught should be... Life is an intellegence tests end on end.... Those people who set traps for stupid people serve a public purpose even if it is pointless and cruel.... Sooner or later, stupid people will be taken out of shackles or cuffs and out of cages, and will be harnassed to a plow, or put on a treadmill to generate electricity..When they are done with the system they will not have energy left to breed.... No one except but by their own actions can be legally discriminated against.... I do not think Pot provides just cause for such legal discrimination, but until people can manage their lives, and their behavior in such a way that they do not get caught, they will never be in a position where they can change the law... Do you see what I mean??? In fact, people who smoke have better things to do than seek the power necessary to change stupid laws... So the writing of laws and the enforcement of laws and the punishment of people on the basis of laws will always go to those who are warped by their normality as defined by never having been cool even once for a while... Thanks...Sweeney