"Marijuana unlocks the ability of my mind to think in new and creative ways, takes me to new heights of ecstasy in the appreciation of music and art, and provides a catalyst for the exploration and deepening of my relationships with others. When marijuana prohibition is ended and the experience of marijuana becomes more free and open, I believe that our culture and society will benefit more from the creative ways of thinking and the more intimate ways of interacting with others that are encouraged by the use of marijuana."

I personally use marijuana for a number of reasons. Marijuana unlocks and opens up parts of my mind and psychology that I otherwise would not be aware of, and encourages me to think in new and untested ways. Sensory stimulation, in the form of music, food, sex, and the like, becomes more vivid and pleasurable. The combination of new patterns of thought with more vivid sensory stimulation leads to an enhanced appreciation of art. I sometimes get high and spend my time simply enjoying the experience of listening to music or browsing a collection of artistic works.

While marijuana is, in fact, remarkably free of toxicity, the consequences of annually arresting 300,000 mostly young people were not. Once I grasped the absurdity of this prohibition, I became devoted to the cause of changing these laws.

Against: Marijuana is a doorway drug to harsher more dangerous drug use Pot makes you stupid Crime rates will increase It will make the drug readily available to our country's youth Marijuana is dangerous and causes lung cancer For: Marijuana creates pacifism and is a stress reliever Will decrease the crime rate if the herb is readily available. It will eliminate the need of an underground subculture Marijuana has medicinal values No one has ever died from smoking marijuana Pot enhances creativity

Historical : During the 1930s, the American media propagated numerous false stories as marijuana facts and depicted weed as an extremely dangerous drug, thus marijuana and hemp were effectively banned in 1938. Hemp has an estimated 50,000 non-drug commercial uses including paper, textiles, fuels, food and sealants, but these uses are also banned by existing laws. Medical Marijuana Facts: No one has ever died from marijuana use. Marijuana does not lead to physical dependency. Marijuana is less dangerous than tobacco and people smoke less of it at a time. No independent government panel that has studied marijuana has ever recommended jail for users. Marijuana leads to non-violence and pacifism. Marijuana for medicinal use is also gaining renewed recognition. Marijuana is a medicinal herb that has hundreds of proven, valuable therapeutic uses - from stress reduction to glaucoma to asthma to cancer therapy, etc. Marijuana was a major active ingredient in 40-50% of patent medicines before its ban. Marijuana could replace at least 10-20% of prescribed drugs now in use.

The argument of utilizing marijuana as a herbal remedy and naturopathic solution for sufferers of various serious and often chronic illnesses has overshadowed the previously dominant picture of marijuana as a drug primarily used for recreational highs. Recent organizations who picture marijuana with medicinal properties that should be supported and advocate legal access to marijuana include. AIDS Action Council American Academy of Family Physicians American Bar Association American Public Health Association California Medical Association California Legislative Council for Older Americans California Pharmacists Association California Society of Addiction Medicine Consumer Reports magazine Lymphoma Foundation of America Multiple Sclerosis California Action Network National Association of People With AIDS New England Journal of Medicine Plus state Nurses Associations like California, New York and Virginia The public's picture of marijuana has been greatly influenced as evidenced by ballot initiatives that have received a majority of votes in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, the District of Columbia, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington state. The picture of marijuana is now a changing and improved landscape that holds much promise with growing public as well as professional support.

Fact: Medicinal marijuana alleviates the chronic symptoms of many diseases such as Fibromyalgia, AIDS wasting, spasticity from multiple sclerosis, depression, chronic pain, and nausea associated with chemotherapy. The current debate over medicinal marijuana use is essentially over the value of its medicinal properties relative to the risk posed by its use