I think Marijuana should be legal to grow and use at all levels, not just for industrial purposes.
Many people each year are arrested for simply possessing a small amount, over crowding our prisons.
http://www.google.com/search?q=percentage+of+arrests+related+to+marijuana&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a
The FDA refuses to declare marijuana holds any medical applications, even though doctors throughout the country prescribe it.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&hs=Oq3&q=medical+marijuana&aq=f&oq=&aqi=
By legalizing it we would reduce the black market effect. Marijuana users would not have to be exposed to street drug dealers that may also be offering harder drugs such as Heroin or Cocaine thereby defeating the aspect of marijuana being a “Gateway Drug”.
Also, it is apparent that the government is very much in need of extra revenues. By legalizing it, we would create jobs, and have something all new to tax. Marijuana is a bigger cash crop than corn, why not reap the financial benefits for our country instead of sending drug money to terrorists and crooked drug lords.
Deforestation is an ever alarming issue. Marijuana is has over twice as much cellulose as a tree, and grows at a much more rapid rate. By switching the paper industry to hemp, we would be saving vast amounts of forest relieving the planet of the greenhouse effect. Also, wood can be produced from hemp just the same way as composite wood is made from bits of trees. You may not be able to directly cut a hemp plant into a 2X4, but you can make 2X4’s nonetheless.
Those who use marijuana will continue to do so, legal or not. Those who do not use it will also continue to not use it should it be legal. Certainly restrictions must be in place to keep people from driving while under the influence and being on the job while high, but we already consider ourselves responsible enough to handle the privilege of alcohol. Why Not Marijuana?