What I hate most regarding this issue is the hypocrisy and ignorance. In terms of health, alcohol is devastating with no comparison to cannabinol. Yet, alcohol is legal while people have been jailed for using weed. Weed is a walk in the park in it's effects on an individual's life compared to getting sucked into the criminal justice system. That's what's stupid and destructive.
It comes down to the fact, that unlike alcohol, which requires a process to 'create', marijuana could be grown out back with the tomatoes and corn.
The government cannot control it, so the best way to not have their version of a 'Zombie Apocalypse' is to outlaw and/or regulate it.
We all 'know' and believe that it's healthier than alcohol, etc.. We wonder...were people not aware of that before we were born? Are WE the enlightened ones?
Like you said there are way too many people, of all colors, behind bars for dealing/using marijuana. They should all be released. Especially when you can drive across an intersection and suddenly be in a State where it's legal.
It should be legalized and taxed. They could probably pay for Obamacare and lower everyone's premiums.