Marijuana

[Dotard]

They resembled zombies. Now, I know not all people who smoke it live like this. I know that hard working people may choose to smoke the odd joint...

Issue #1. You are 'glad' it is illegal based on your experiance with a couple few users even though you freely admit not all users are like them. It's like me advocating a ban on rope because out of the 1009 that were purchased today three of them were used by people to hang themselves.

I am a frequent user. I smoke pot for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I have now for about 26 years. I know ALOT of other frequent smokers as myself. Every single one of them, including myself, get up everyday and go to work. A majority have families and a lot more responsibilities than I and we all lead productive lives.

...the health risks associated with even minimal use of marijuana is something I take heed of.

Issue #2. Yet you do not pay this same 'heed' to the health risks associated with even minimal use of alcohol. Actually I may need to retract that statement because I don't know if you drink or not. I'm assuming you do. If you do not then you are heeding and I shall retract that statement.
You may not bat an eye if alcohol was declared illegal tommorrow, but would you be just as "glad" as you are concerning marijuana?

...mental illness that may have been caused by marijuana...

No, you're not gonna slip this one past me. I don't claim to know everything but as far as all my personal research (and I've researched the hell outta this over the last 26 years) no direct link has been found for marijuana being the causation of mental illness.

Are you saying that alcohol taken as part of a meal in small amounts is dangerous?

I am saying the dangerous effects associated with minimal use of alcohol far out-weigh the dangers associated with minimal use of pot. Again, the dangers of marijuana abuse are what? After you answer that question then please answer; The dangers of alcohol use are what?