I dont think long term or short term effects of pot is worse than alcohol. As for short term, people make much worse decisions while drunk, unprotected sex, driving, fighting. In general, I feel much worse and dumber after a few beers than no matter how much pot I smoke. I think it is illegal only bc you can grow it yourself, and the possibilities to make money from it are endless and it would one of the best cash businesses bc of its many benefits (cloths,food,building,medicinal). In my opinion, alcohol, tobacco, and anti- depressents are THE 3 worst drugs, with the least benefits, but are legal and very widely accepted. If you research LSD and psilocybin, among other psychedelic drugs, they have provided many benefits to people, including religious experiences, for many many generations. I think the key to drugs is research. If I may, I suggest the book Food of the Gods by Terrence Mckenna.