More people die each year from carbon monoxide poisoning then deaths DIRECTLY linked to marijuana use EVER. Gang related violence over drug deals gone bad don't count simply because if it were legal there would be no gang related violence over it.

There is a former Sheriff who has joined the fight to legalize it, he goes around doing talks at police stations and asks a couple questions. One being, "How many of you have encountered violent marijuana users", he rarely sees a hand raise. Next is "How many of you have encountered violent drunks?" everyone quickly raises their hand.

Personally I'm two weeks without smoke but thats money issues. If Marijuana were truly addictive would it be possible for me to go two weeks without it? It's listed as more dangerous and addicting then both cocaine and heroine... I hate to admit it but I have suffered through and beat a cocaine addiction, Marijuana more addictive? Give me a moment to die from laughter.

On that note, is it a gateway drug? In its current form yes it is. But not because I get high and think "Oh I should go buy this crack/crystal meth/heroine/powder/LSD because it sounds like a good idea!" It is a gateway drug ONLY because I have to go to the same type(and often the same person) who sells those drugs, these people are salesman, they make their money convincing people to come back and by more of their product. It only makes sense that they would try to push the other stuff on me too.

Schedule I

(a) The drug or other substance has a high potential for abuse.
(b) The drug or other substance has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.
(c) There is a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision.

Speaking to The New York Times in a January 19, 2010 article entitled, “Researchers Find Medical Study of Marijuana Discouraged,” NIDA spokeswoman Shirley Simson said: “As the National Institute on Drug Abuse, our focus is primarily on the negative consequences of marijuana use. We generally do not fund research focused on the potential beneficial medical effects of marijuana.”

And who gives two shits if its not healthy? Who are you to tell me what I can and can't do to MY body? Thats something for me and my Dr. to decide not the federal or even state government.

I agree with everything else you said in this post, so I'll just comment on this.

As long as you are paying for your own healthcare, then of course you should be able to do whatever you want with your body, as long as it does not affect anyone else.

However, once you give up the responsibility of paying for your healthcare, and push that responsibility onto other individuals through the government, they have the responsibility to impose rules on you to see that their money is being spent in a wise manner.