Now, marijuana doesn't have the added chemicals that tobacco has, but I believe it is not as benign as most want to believe. I think it does have medicinal properties in some cases, but I also believe in can be addicting. The brain ' feel good'receptors and all that. It still is smoke and damages your lungs. Plus there really hasn't been a lot of in-depth LONG term studies on the negative effects.
Proponents of this say it will regulate it, make it safer, better quality control, keep it out of minors hands but allow adults to have more access instead of feeling they are doing a back alley drug deal. Basically currently the proponents say easy for Jr and high school kids to get, hard for adults to access. I agree with that thought. It will also reduce blackmarket and street sales, reduce crime, and of course bring HUGE revenue into the state, which a large portion going towards education. That remains to be seen...remember the lotteries?! Schools are financially in the toilet, but the lottos are doing very well. That's another story.
Opponents feel the revenue (again) will go to special interest groups (probably), big corps and the tobacco companies will take over the farming, cultivating, selling etc and squeeze out the small independent farmers ( which I agree and hate to see), driving accidents will rise, and we'll have a nation of stoners, that crime will increase. One of the largest opponents of legalization, is the growers. I understand the growers concerns and fears. Last thing they need is more gov't intervention and Phillip Morris, RJ Reynolds etc squeezing them out.
