Legalize it. And prostitution. Regulate it all and tax the hell out of it. Watch the National Debt get paid off in a week.

I've met a number of paranoid pot heads, especially on strong skunk (and usually drunk as well). And yes, they do get angry when they get illusions of being threatened. I've seen it many times (though pot is mild in this regard compared to hard drugs and heavy alcohol abuse).

Don't be fooled by claims that pot is 'not addictive'. It isn't strictly a chemical addiction, but some definitely get pretty hooked psychologically (much like with gambling, porn, shopping etc). Tobacco in spliffs is also chemically addictive.

I've met a few who claim they can't get to sleep or wind down without a J. (Yet long-term heavy pot use increases anxiety).

Some would steal for their fix, no matter how otherwise 'out of character' this is.

I've met some with exceptionally bad memory and concentration.

And yes, I've met someone in her 40s who has been a regular heavy user since her early teens. She has developed all of the symptoms of schizophrenia.

She has developed illusions of having personal links to many celebrities and royalty.

When her teenage kid started stealing her pot, she went into a rage attack at some friends of his - accusing them of "putting the idea into my angel's head".
Sectioning may well be on the cards.

Granted, most people who take a bit of pot do not get fucked up by it.

However, it CAN and DOES happen - which should at least put pot heads on their guard, and encourage a bit of responsibility in usage.

The link with schizophrenia seems to affect only a minority of users who are pre-disposed towards such things.

But dropping out of school or college (or getting worse grades), apathy and lack of motivation, problems at work, car accidents, etc., are more common with heavy use (especially mixed with alcohol).

The problem seems largely that many people who experiment with drugs lack the maturity to do so responsibly, and are often ignorant of the dangers presented to them with their own personal disposition.

LaVey put it well: "Indulgence, not compulsion."

IMO, if a person feels they 'need' a J to relax, to sleep, to feel good; that they are going to have a crap time and be unable to chill without one; and become obsessive about their next fix - that's crossed the line from responsible usage.
Time for a break...

you're mistaken noc. The only reason why marijuana isn't notorious for causing cancer is because much more people smoke cigarettes then marijuana.

It has been proven that the burning of marijuana releases tar, carbon monoxide, and cyanide... all of which are highly poisonous and aren't natural in the sense that they don't belong in your lungs.

tobacco is just as "natural" as marijuana and people have been growing and consuming tobacco,not to mention poppy seeds(opium, heroine, and other highly addicting and deadly drugs), coca leafs (cocaine/crack), alcohol, and many other drugs as far back as history can trace.

in fact, most of the only completely man-made drugs are hallucinogenic and not any more addicting then cannabis.

i'm not saying that marijuana or any other drugs (illegal or not) are necessarily bad, because they're not, but perhaps if you want to convince people of this you're better off using a more intelligent argument than "everyone else is/was doing it, so it's okay."
just my thoughts on the subject.