Having volunteered to counsel adolescents getting out of jail the last ten years or so IMHO the drug can be devastating to children. For some adults its a terrible addiction that robs their potential.

Even with these facts I think legalization clearly outweighs continued criminalization. Legalization removes the forbidden fruit motive for use. Legalization hurts the criminal cartels bad. Legalization allows us to use our precious criminal justice resources for violent offenders. Legalization stops the conversion of those who screwed up selling drugs into violent criminals via incarceration. Its effectivly legal in Colorado right now and I dont see spiky hair mutants roaming the streets ( well maybe at the boulder mall)

Forum members who might be tempted to use marijuana by Colorado's quasi legal status should be reminded that federal law prohibits marijuana users from possessing firearms. If the addiction potential of the drug doesnt keep you from using it, potential loss of the right to own firearms should be considered. I wouldnt trade my right to own firearms for a semi of the stuff.