Good Morning Penny

That's how you know the economy is really bad when a guy dresses up like his deased mother to gain a buck -wa,wa. Light up those bong's now more pot smoking poltics .Medecine man growing weed for any of your health related issues well if it works whaat's the big deal .It will benefit your healing and for patients to respond better it's used for the right reasons so let the arguements begin .

Thanks for the buzz
Michelle D.

Legalizing Marijuana is an impossible task. I say the american people start standing up and picketing all those court docs that are prosecuting people on marijuana charges and try change the minds of the people by using the power of the people. Who is in charge of this country the people or the government?

Anderson,

We need to de-criminalize pot on a federal level.
I was busted for a small amount (QT) and it cost me over 3k to get out of jail and clear my name. We need to get real here. The time is now.

Patty Rising
South Carolina

It seems like to me that the Iranian government is getting more and more closer to actually attacking these protesters to try to stop this revolution, if you will. Shutting down phones and internet is just their way of trying to shut the rest of the world out of their lying and cheating ways. They don't want the truth known at what is going on. Hopefully the Iranian people will still be able to get out info to us. Since no reporters are allowed to tell anything the people are our reporters now.

Obama is only doing the insurance for gays thing to placate them. He's doing the least thing he can so they will shut up and still like him. The truth is that in lots of states gay couples can already be on each others insurances and such. So Obama isn't doing anything new! In most states where they have bans on gay marriage they have civil unions which gives them benefits, insurance rights, etc. Like I said...Obama is just placating them so they'll still back him. If he really wanted to do a big thing and something new he'd do away with "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" yet has he!? Will he!? NOPE!

This medical marijuana thing is hurt by people who use it just for simple things such as heartburn, like Melissa Ethridge does. It makes people who aren't for it or don't care one way or the other look at it and think they are just using to get high. Now I can see someone who is VERY sick maybe using it but someone with an everyday sickness makes the movement look desperate.

And for those of you harping yesterday that someone who's never tried pot shouldn't be speaking. Well I've never tried cocaine but I can tell you the effects of it and tell you it kills and is bad for you. You don't have to try drugs to know what it does to you. Learn something how about it. And just to shut you up even more...I tried it as a teen so there! It's useless and is as bad as alcohol if not worse. It causes cancers and all types of lung diseases and with widespread use if it were legal the medical problems from it would more than double! You can deny that all you want or even deny that it hurts you but you are not being truthful to yourselves or others. The fact is it has been medically proven and you can't deny that away even though you want to. The same things that's being said about legalizing pot was said about alcohol too and we see what very huge problems that caused our society!

And let me say it once again..I have NO problem with VERY ill people using pot to help them cope but to just use it for heartburn or such is asinine at best.

Cindy...Ga.

i say legalizing marijuana will help the country. From getting drug dealers off the streets to people getting better jobs. Drug test are required for new jobs, so the marijuana user has to start cleaning out their system, or take fake urine just to get in a work place. Once they are in, the go back to smoking marijuana. When others that drink alcohol wont have to clean their system to go get a job. Even the best employees smoke marijuana and still successful at a work environment. legalizing marijuana will help the country by the tax on marijuana. All in all, this will help many americans.

That's right. Overgrow. It is a known philosophy amongst the tens of thousands of geurilla Cannabis farmers in the USA and elsewhere. There is simply no possible way that law enforcement can stem the tide of domestic Cannabis cultivation. If the laws stay the same, they will continue to be ignored. The indoor gardening industry itself is thriving thanks to the many many small scale closet and basement farmers that refuse to subvert to draconian laws and War On Drugs propaganda.

We will overgrow the continued prohibition of this fantastic plant.

I grow pot, and I vote!

legalizing marijuana for medical purposes should be legal in all states as it does provide benefits. Hopefully they will address that aspect first.

I have an “idea” for the U.S. Government. Send a representative to speak to the alcohol industry and see how much they are prepared to pay to keep the drug on the illegal list. Then have a representative speak to the drug cartel and see how much they will pay to keep it illegal. Then Tax the American people to justify the fight against all drugs on the list. You see how this could be an easier way to make tons of money and not make it legal. They cant make it legal now! It would be easier to make money illegal. MONEY is the addiction not marijuana. Therapy is expensive Weed is cheep, what to do? What To Do?

Medical marijuana is fine, let folks use it. I have nothing against it, but it would be really hard to determine blood "pot" limits for DUIs. Is there a threshold below which you are not high? Seriously, is that feasible like it is with alcohol? Also, no smoking pot in public because of the contact high. Too many problems to work out even though it would eliminate crime and raise revenue via a "sin" tax.

Not legalize Decriminalize that way when someone gets caught with marijuana its just a fine and will give the government money instead of taking money from our government by prosecuting and jailing non violent offenders

furthermore the money gained by giving civil infraction fines should be used for treatment of those that pay the fines in order to help people stay healthy , thus saving money on health care

I believe legalizing marijuana would generate a great deal of tax and profit to the country. But there is a downside when, users alter the natural form of the plants to increase their high. It would be a "miracle" to see this come to pass and be regulated here in the U.S. There must be discipline and education.

I am so tired of the argument that legalizing pot will make more pot users. Cigarettes are legal now and it doesn't make more smokers. Alcohol is legal now and it doesn't make more drinkers. Both of those substances are just as addictive (if not more so) than pot and can cause just as much (if not more) damage. I say – legalize it and tax the heck out of it !!!

I had hoped for more objective journalism in you series on legalizing pot. Interviewing Meliisa Etheridge (or any other legitmate patient under a doctors care) represented that side of the debate reasonably. It's too bad that the "rebuttal" portion of the broadcast centered on a person who literally did EVERYTHING wrong. Come on AC, a diagnosed bi-polar who shopped the Internet for a "doctors" recommendation? That is a recipe for disaster whether you are looking for anything from aciphex to zoloft!!! The REAL problem there was the MECHANISM, NOT the medication.

Either decriminalize it or legalize it and tax the bageezuz out of it. It is STUPID to have alcohol and tobacco readily available to adults, but not cannibus. Prohibition didn't work in the early 1900s and it doesn't work now.

It seems that it would make more sense to legalize marijuana,grow the plant then we could use it for many different reasons.Such as fabric, fuel, cooking,paper, and just about anything you can imagine.It would also create jobs here back at home.The money from taxing the plant could help build schools,roads, and buildings.All the while we would be going green.I don't think the government realizes that the answer to all this countries economic problems is growing in California and probaly every other small town or national forest in America.Read the Emperor wears no clothes

I agree that pot should be legalized. To put people in jail just because they enjoy smoking a joint is ridiculus. Our prisons should be used for real criminals, not pot smokers. Also i would rather see someone high on pot rather drunk on alcohol. JMO

Legalize it. There might be huge benefits. My opinion is big pharma is against. Easy to home grow. Not like trying to build your own lab to invent some new medicine. Think big pharma wants us to have easy access to something that might cut into their profits.

What really disappoints me is how Obama was so cordial to his internet friends while running for president, but after being elected is asked about "legalizing marijuana" and all he has to say is "what are those folks on the internet up to," or something to that avail. He should go have another drink with his Hollywood friends.

Though I don't smoke, I feel that it would be best that marijuana be legalized, and legalized for those that have medical conditions that wish not to be medicated into outer space with so called legal DRUGS... I know why they will not do it..Because of the pressure from all the Drug Companies, What share of the profit will they get. NONE! The Government talks about DRUG DEALERS Well the U. S. Government is the biggest DRUG DEALER..HOW you may ask, think about it what does a drug dealer do, regulates what drugs go where and how much to whom. WELL That is just what the U.S. Government is doing. I'll tell you I have never ever heard of a person over dosing on Marijuana, BUT I have heard of Doctors and hospitals over dosing people in Hospitals and their homes.. On So called LEGAL drugs.
What the American people have to do is send letters Faxes, E-mails by the hundreds to the President's office, Congress and the House or Rep. and keep sending them until they do something about it, the American people should become the biggest lobbyist group around. and can be.

Legalizing pot could bring in enourmous revenues for the tax payers, especially if it's taxed at a higher rate than alcohol & tobacco.
Today, drug dealers, big or small, enjoy the benefits by getting paid in cash, tax free money & the goverment doesn't get a penny out of that,
Smokers are still going to smoke whether it's legal or not

I just prefer pot to alcohol.

It's like some folks enjoy Chinese more than Italian food. Is that so wrong? Alcohol makes me dizzy and tired.

So many people want it. The demand is there. Millions want it.

Just legalize it and educate parents and schools that it will be treated the same as alcohol.

People are going to do it anyways. There's no reason for this underground culture and blackmarket.

Whats wrong with smoking marijuana? Its OK to have a couple drinks of alcohol and its OK to smoke tabacco. Both of which is far worse. What a backwards society.

Anderson, do you plan to interview Rob Kampia or anyone from MPP (marijuana policy project) for this series?

CNN's posture with this entire pot story line has been hostile and unflattering at best, and biased and based on unjustifiable facts and rhetoric at worst. It is very telling when a social grop tries to subdue another less powerful group. You provide evidence based on the views and opinions of those placed to enforce the law that is being put into question. How are they to be expected to provide a fair and balanced view if in fact they would be adversely affected by a change in the law structure? They will play dumb on one hand by suggesting any increase in flexibility of the drug law would lead to confusion and complication enforcing any kind of other drug law structure. How can we be confident in our legal system if they are unable to change with public will? I think it is clear that marijuana should be free!

Sixty years without parole is the punishment for a third marijuana offense in Mississippi. Even if the first two were for sale of less than 1/4 ounce and punished only by probation. Nonviolent marijuana offendersare punished more harshly than those convicted of rape, murder, armed robbery and other violent offenses. Legislators who privately support changing sentencing laws claim that they would never be re-elected if they appeared to be soft on crime. So they just build more prisons.

dear mr. anderson. i think that marijuana should be legal in the u.s. because it is not that bad but crack caine is the wrost drug there is that stuff makes you crazy. marijuana dont its just give you a mild hi sue wimberly by.

You know,
There are 2 sides to this debate of course. I do feel there are several "addicts" abusing the legal pot (at least in Los Angeles where I live). I however am a medical marijuana patient with no previous use of the drug prior to my condition. I was diagnosed with Chrohn's disease of the terminal ileum in 1999 but suffered from the disease since 1997 as they had less information on this particular disease back then. It took over a year of testing, false diagnosis, and massive (I mean massive) amounts of medication with very severe side effects (some of which worsened my condition). I felt almost as if I was a testing animal and no one had any clue what was wrong with me.

In 2003 I had major surgery (partial bowel resection) which rendered me useless for roughly one year’s time. I was taking 6 different medications including infusions, and massive amounts of steroids (40 mils. prednisone daily- very high dose) upon my return to "normal" life.
I am The Director of Human Resources for a company and the use of these medications did not allow me to work due to the side effects I previously mentioned. In 2005 a friend suggested I try the pot to subside my symptoms which I neglected to do prior to my own research (which there was allot of by the way). I finally read several over seas articles from medical journals which showed a definite positive effect for a variety of diseases and ailments including AIDS and Cancer.

I decided it was time to stop the medications that were causing me pain, sickness, and bleeding. I went to a doctor who actually required my medical history (this is crucial in selecting a doctor if you are genuinely sick). After reading my history he then prescribed a descriptive amount of pot just as though he had written a pill form prescription.

Moving forward...
I know use medical pot daily (after work hours ONLY!!); I work a great job and live well with my beautiful wife and 3 children. My quality of life is 1,000% better than what it was 4 years ago and I don’t have any symptoms with my diet, cutting out hydrogenated foods, high fructose corn syrup, and enriched flours, and the use of about 1 gram of medical marijuana nightly. I eat only organic foods including any meats and have found a new light in life.

I am well educated, contribute to my community, donate to charities, my wife is on the PTA, my children are in sports and theatre. I pay my taxes, dont break any laws short of traffic violations occasionally (I do live in Los Angeles), and dont drive under the influence. Should I be disallowed my right to this medication (yes MEDICATION); or should I be thrust back into a life of feebleness and frailty??

Yes, Legalize it, and Decriminalize it. First it would slow down in the hands of children if it's not readily available, and the stuff on the street now a days is being mixed with embalming fluid. So if you legalize it and tax it the Government would make money, while regulating how it is made. Leaving less petty drug dealers on the street then you can really focus on the hard core drugs being delt, "tax-free"!

I think pot should be legalized for medical reasons. I have MS and beginning stages of arthritis. I take a hand full of pills every day, and I still hurt. Wonder what it's doing to my liver?

They should also legalize pot and tax it, this would help our deficit!

I'm with Travis, Its going to up to the ppl to get this government to see the benefits of this Plant, not like they dont know but if we stand up together and stand united we as a ppl may get somewhere. Just a side note.. My 60 year old father who was a retired war vet was arrested for felony marijuana charge in KIMBLE county texas which is where i live. my father was not harming any one he was not a pot dealer but he did have a felony amount of pot 4.5 oz, he used this to help him with his many medical problems the cops stuck him in the kimble county jail with no one to help him with his 13 medications and 2 weeks after he was released with a 50,000 dollar bond.. yes you see it rite 50,000 for pot...What?? my father died 2 weeks after he was released from KIMBLE county jail before he was even indited you want to talk about CORUPTION IN KIMBLE COUNTY, i know all about it. I could not even get a copy of my fathers autopsy report from the courthouse, i was almost arrested for disorderly because i was demanding it. THERE IS SO MUCH MORE CORRUPTION IN KIMBLE COUNTY THAN YOU GUYS REPORTED ON.. THANK GOD PPL ARE STARTING TO BLOW THE WHISTLE ON THESE "GOOD OL BOYS"

I am a chronic pain patient on high dose opiate therapy.I am prescribed by a Pain Speciaist,480mg of Oxycontin daily.Such a high dose has it's own issues.I vomit several times a day.I also am temprature intolerant.It could be sunny and 85 outside but the breeze on my sweaty body puts me into hypothermia.I lost over 160lbs in 2 years of hell,vomting and not being able to eat anything except Tapioca pudding and Pepsi.So I took matters into my own hands and decided to use pot,against my wife's wishes;who is an RN.It was like a miracle.I could eat and get comfortable enough to sleep,albeit for a few hours at a time.It's better than no sleep at all.I have Fibromyalgia x Myofascil Pain Syndrome and RSD and on top of that IBS/Colitis and Diabetes.Right now marijuana is the nly thing keeping me on the planet.I was a special ed teachers aide before getting too ill to work.I have over 25 years fultime employment,so I was at one point a working member of society.I have 2 kids who approve of my use,because they have seen with thier own eyes what pot does for me,personally.I don't use in front of them but they knew there had to be some reason that Dad disappeared and came back feeling good enough to eat my meal.On top of all my illnesses I am scared to death of getting arrested and my wife losing here RN license.She has never smoked.Please if you have any compassion at all help me and thousands of other folks who are suffering needlessly.Flood our Fed and State reps with e-mails and phone calls.Go to Mpp.org or Norml.com and follow the links.The pot plant is the "Tree of Life" and should be treated as so.Peace and One Love!

Will CNN mention any "pro" marijuana comments on the air? I think we should demand the anchors give us some mention. They mention comments from every other story but marijuana. Is it political oppression? I don’t know, you tell me? I cant put a "Legalize it" sticker on my car, or I will get pulled over.( I haven’t had a ticket in years) Is it political oppression?

Did POT destroy my life? I am a single father of two. My oldest son suffered brain damage during the birthing process using a fetal extraction device that starved my son of much needed blood which caused a portion of his brain being starved of blood and oxygen. (did the dr. smoke pot?) My father died in 2002. (did my father smoke pot?) My wife left me for another man in 2003 (did my wife smoke pot?) in 2004 the divorce was final. In 2005 my employer of 11 years laid me off because the company sold to another provider (AT&T and SWB) I am pretty sure AT&T was smoking pot. In 2006 I lost my best friend my dog of 8 years to a car accident. (Was the driver smoking pot?) I have had 2 jobs since and both were the worst jobs in the industry because of the management staff. Since 06 I have lost my house and had to sell pretty much everything I own and have to utilize the support of friends and family to survive. I feel like a great burden to society. I think I will start smoking some pot. I am depressed. Therapy is expensive Weed is cheep. I have no money so I have to find my own way to survive in this materialistic society.

No, its not ok Tom. Not in the least.

After reading other comments I must add this.

How many of us know how to make scotch, brandy, vodka, or rum?? I dont.
But we all know how to plant a seed and let it grow. This is the main reason alcohol is legal and pot is not. Lobbyist's for the alcohol industry have repeatedly shut down the leagalization of marijuana by campaing contributions and pay-offs to our various politicians who control these issues.

Makes you think doesnt it?

The enforcement of marijuana laws entails many social costs. ...These include the use of controversial policing tactics, the erosion of civil liberties, court over-crowding, the diversion of treatment dollars (when recreational marijuana smokers are required to participate in mandatory drug treatment programs), racial inequity in the application of the law, [and] ... a loss of faith in the judicial system" among those charged with pot-related offenses.

Allen St. Pierre

I am not a regular smoker of marijuana. However, when I was throwing up every two minutes from the effects of chemotherapy three years ago irregardless of all of the anti-nausea drugs the doctors had prescribed to me, a marijuana cigarette was the ONLY thing that made it stop. Had I been caught smoking marijuana, I would have been arrested. How ignorant is that??? Marijuana not only has medicinal qualities PROVEN in many studies, it has a multitude of other uses. Fiber, paper, energy... etc., etc. If America legalized marijuana, the economy would turn around and the black market for it would disappear. Release all of the non-violent marijuana related prisoners and we wouldn't have murderers being set free due to overcrowding where they almost always re-offend. So many pros to legalization....

I've been writing a weekly column on marijuana for the Tufts Observer and for my final story of the year, I wrote about the underground economy at Tufts alone.

The fact that marijuana is illegal causes several dozen students every year to become drug dealers. That number spike to a few hundred if I include everyone who has helped a friend find a bag of pot. By the time my class graduates, I'd estimate over to 85% will have tried it and many people will still smoke. To accommodate all of these smokers, between 5-10% of the class will have sold pot. These numbers will hold true at almost every top school in the Northeast including the Ivy's (see the recent murder of a marijuana dealer at Harvard).

You want a reason to end the war on marijuana? How about that a not insignificant percentage of the top students in the country break the law on a daily basis by smoking and selling marijuana.

I totally agree with what Gina said, that there is not going to be more people using marijuana if it is made legal. Cigarettes are legal and I would never take up smoking cigarettes and alcohol is legal and I don't drink enough to ever become an alcoholic. I think the people that are against it need to research why the drug was made illegal in the first place to understand why it should be legalized now...

If pot was discovered today, it would be proclaimed as the new miracle medicine. But because of the nasty stigma it has, most of the people in power thinks its all a ridiculous joke.. lets get rid of the ignorant law makers so that the poisionous attitude will go away. So many people agree that these laws are senseless, especially towards the sick people who need it.

i grow pot- right in between my hyrdrangeas and japaneese maple in the back garden. Its a pretty plant. and no... theres no need to refine it..or add chemicals, i just pick it like a tomato.

Where is all the nay saying??Oh yeah, there isn't any...that's because people are tired of it being illegal and want it to be legal.

People want to make it legal because they think it will help with drug crimes. Many of these people don't think about the criminals that sell pot, what are they going to do now? That's right sell a different drug to keep makong their money. There is a big drug war going on in Mexico right now and the people involved aren't going to stop because they made it legal to use they will just being a frig that's worse into this country then we will have to spend more money to get that one under control. To me it seems like people in this country want to take the easy way out, by making stuff legal instead of fighting it.

First off let me say I have never smoked pot or anything else for that matter, as I am a soldier and do not want to end up in jail. Second marijuana should be legalized as I have seen people get high on pot, and yet I have never seen anyone beat or kill someone else while high, but I have seen plenty of news stories about drunken driving. Legalize pot and tax the hell out of it. It is not nor has it ever been the responsibility of the government to decide what is good for the people. If people want to smoke it, vaporize it, or eat it that is fine. The rules are simple.

1. No driving or operating machinery
2. No smoking around children.
3. Pay the required tax.

That's it. There are many soldiers who are returning from the Middle East with Post Truamatic Stress Disorder (PSTD). I bet you that if they were prescribed marijuana even with its side effects (Cause lets face it smoking is not good for you regardless) I am sure that the number of prescriptions for antidepressants would decrease. Why do I think this will never happen, because Big Pharm has too much money to lose. If they can find a way to charge for home grown plant then they'll support it.

Legalize marijuana or not? Thought question. I would say that probably 80 % of American population is using and getting it illegal way anyway. I have anti drug/tobacco/alcohol personality but I would definitely give OK to go with medical marijuana. As far as teenagers use of it I am against it. I think that they are not mature enough to deal with it. I do understand that they smoke and drink alcohol under age but if you put mix of marijuana in that I think will be devastating. I understand older more mature people wouldn’t have a problem with that and will know when to stop or when is enough and probably feel better using that then drinking but I am still afraid for younger nation. Someone said to educate parents and schools how to approach this but I’m still not so sure that will be enough, we are educating our kids to have safe sex and results are half or even more of them get pregnant in their teen years. Can you imagine with use of marijuana then??? It is just so twisted. I have friends that are using and they love it but when I take a look at my kids it’s so scary even to think about it.

Yes, legalize pot. Considering that there are plenty of drugs out there, especially ...... legal..... ones, like oxycotin (sp?) that has millions of Americans addicted, why not marijuana, whose effects are similar to alcohol.

Alcohol, is a drug, anything that addicts someone, can be considered a drug, i.e., Coca Cola, Pepsi, energy drinks, cigarettes!

What's funny is that the far-right who opposes legalizing marijuana, was upset by Congress giving the FDA control of the .......drug..... nicotine!

Legalize marijuana, and stop crowding our prisons with people who have committed not crime!

I have som pictures from protests in iran.How can I send this to you?

98% of the problems I see regarding marijuana are a direct result of our policy of prohibition, not from the use of the substance.
Everyone with any interest in this issue, please educate yourself by doing these three things:
1) Look up the complete encyclopedia of marijuana, "The Emperor Wears No Clothes" by Jack Herer (free online), especially the chapter on the roots of marijuana prohibition (you will be outraged). For some reason it has never been mentioned on any TV documentary that I've seen. (Herer spent 17 years of his life doing all the research for you, news guys. Why aren't you using it?)
2) Look up "Jury Nullification" to be aware of your power as a juror.
3) Urge your congressperson to support H.R. 1866, the "Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2009". Industrial hemp, a non-psychoactive hardy annual, is a potential raw material for most of America’s paper, fiber, and bio-fuel needs, thereby reducing deforestation and oil dependency while adding billions of dollars to the US economy. Still, the Drug Enforcement Administration insists on classifying hemp as a Schedule I Controlled Substance, prohibiting our farmers from growing it and our scientists from researching it, even though we can legally import it. Passing HR 1866 will correct this mess.

I say make it legal.If people need it medically then there should not be a problem with it.god put it here just like any other plant that helps us medically.I think that it would better law enforcement to work harder on missing children,robberies,and murder cases.and the government could have more money for fixing social security,rising insurance costs,and to help people that really need it.that way they could make more taxpayer dollars,and tax marijuana and make taxes off that as well.I dont use the stuff myself but if it helps people then im for it.

So far this year, more people have died from P

So far this year, more people have died from PEANUT BUTTER than in all the history of marijuana.

Ladies and gentleman...I understand that most people have not tried it, so you would not understand. Look at the facts, it is HARMLESS. Please open your eyes, the only damage being done is by prohibition itself.

pot is thowt by many,to be gate drug,ones that brings you down to harder ones such us cocain,in my eyes,its a gate crime,one that makes you get use to brake the law,and ithink that exept the helta effects,with ristriction on advertisments,-all the bad will go away when it is legalized.
i dont belive-that in western socciaty,their is anything else,that around 20$ of the people want to do,in does not harm anyone else,and it is not legal,its kind of an absurd,even it is worse than eating a big mac a day-citizens are adults -not kids that need some one to tell them whats bad and whats good,we have the internet for that...
does it not bother you,that some people think that they know so much beter-they can make it elegal for you to make their choice....

It would benefit us all financially and health-wise to legalize pot.
As a non-pot smoker, I still see the advantaged to legalizinng it. -It could be taxed, which our economy does need. Also, our farmers could benefit from growing this legally, along with valuable hemp plants that we can make clothing from. And from what I understand the hempseed oil is one of the most nutritious substances to consume. (Lots of minerals and vitamins/amino acids.)
It would help us keep our prison popuation from mass expenses that are created from housing those who choose to be consumers of this product. Better to put the sex offenders in there than a guy that smoked a joint or two.
As for the hemp plant that is NOT pot, (there's a difference,) our naval ships are tethererd to shore with ropes that are made with durable hemp fibers we have to import form Canada. This is a waste And we have to pay millions of dollars for import taxes! Why pay import taxes on something we can grow here?
I say we should put the same rules/laws in place for pot that we have for alcohol. Tax them both. When a person is caught driving under the influence, they should, of course, be arrested for DUI. Otherwise...for those that are OK to have an occaisional joint in the living room and then stay home, harming none, to watch a TV show (Say..Anderson Cooper?) and eat a few M&M's or other munchies, really, what IS the harm? More harm comes from not letting our farmers make a living, not letting the taxes come from the sales and..it is HORRIBLE that family members that could have relief when terminal and cannot get pot to help them.
My sister had throat cancer 3 times! She did not smoke pot, was 6'1" tall and got down to 90 pounds because she was too sick to eat. We begged her to smoke pot. She gave in, recovered and could eat and not be sick and has now been cancer free 11 years! HOW can we deny this to the sick? Right now an uncle is dying. He should have this relief. Tis is cruel for him to suffer like this.
Let the pot be taxed and regulated! Let consumers have it. It is like the Prohibition Times..you will NEVER stop people from drinking. Criminals are made from this, also. Pot prohibition causes crime, not the smokers. Allow the pot smokers to come home from jail and let's start paying attention to our economy. Growing pot here stops the Mexican border issues and pulls the rug out from under the drug lords.
Hey..good enough for our presidents to grow and smoke..how hypicritical not to allow the comman man/woman to have it!
..Just my own opinion. I don't smoke it, but have NO problems with those that choose to!

Why is it that every time a debate about cannabis starts, the debate ends up being about whether it should be in our societey. That was decided by our ancestors thousands of years ago. The only real debate is about who do we want controling this substance, we have a choice –violent gangs, crimminal organizations, terrorists– OR THE PEOLE (govt.) End the violence End Prohabition

Regular marijuana smokers are people that don't have anything better to do with their lives, I know that because I've been there. The life style choice is a unhealthy one. It will cause physical harm to your body in the long run and it is addictive. Think about the words associated with it. DOPE, STONED.

Anderson – are you going to say how many of these comments are FOR legalizing pot versus not? Maybe put it to a vote.. this series is usless unless you give an idea of which side of the debate the American people are on.

legalize it!

It would be easier to make alcohol and cigarettes illegal than to legalize marijuana – for everyone to use. And I fail to see how marijuana being illegal forces people to become drug dealers. That is absurd. People don't need marijuana or other mind altering substances to exist. They crave them to make their psychological existance easier and more pleasant. These folks need to visit a psychiatrist and find out why they cannot function and find any pleaseure in this world without using.

As for medical cases, that is entirely different. Marijuana can be dispensed and used medicinally and legally. But, the goverment is going to have to make it themselves or allow pharmacutical companies to do so.

Thank you for the opportunity to voice my comment about the legalization of marijuana. One comment that I read on your site stated that marijuana cause cancer. There was a study done in Boston during the late 80’s that found that not true.

Until America gets a handle on what to do with pot, I agree with the position of jury nullification of anyone caught with simple possession as long as there is no violence or weapons involved. The costs involve in our courts, law enforcement and incarceration is not justified. Law enforce should be focused on violent offenders and white collar crimes that cost every American.

When was the last time anyone heard of someone smoking pot (thereby becoming paranoid) and robbing a bank.

Regina–you have a very narrow understanding of the predominance of Cannabis in our soicety and in the history of humanity. Conservative estimates indicate that more than 1/3rd of the entire US population has or does smoke Cannabis. If you were correct, then our unemployment rate would be closer to 40% nationally.

Further, it is the propagandists such as yourself that use derogatory terms for Cannabis such as 'dope', 'burnout', 'pothead', etc in an attempt to deride that which they do not understand.

I work for a Fortune 1000 company that refuses to drug test its employees, because they realize that they'd have to lay off more than half of the company.

For anyone compaining about the unhealthy aspect of /smoking' Cannabis–there are such devices known as vaporizers and water pipes that remove most, if not all toxic effects associated with smoking.

You have no ground to stand on. The Government has been lying to you. Do the research. Anslinger and Hearst got us into this mess. Follow the money. Cannabis doesn't kill–Prohibition kills.

Let's end this war on Marijuana!! It is just not worth our tax money to keep up this war going! All this money spent "just on pot" to keep this PLANT not legal! Just put it to a real vote! And see how many non voters come out and get reg. to vote..It would make your heads spin. Thanks Coop!!!

As Mr. Kampia explained last night – Cannabis activists would love nothing better than for FDA testing of Cannabis. Doctors in 12 states already prescribe cannabis for their patients. If M.D.'s believe it has medical value in those states, how does that value cease to exist at the state line?

For parents concerned for their kids, worried that legalizing cannabis for recreational use sends the wrong message, consider this:

Kids surveyed recently said it's easier to get cannabis than it is to get a six pack of beer. The same was true 20 years ago, when I was a kid.

The message I got when I was a kid, as it is as an adult, is that the government would rather continue to pursue a failed puritanical policy than be pragmatic and practical.

What kind of message is that?

It would most certainly NOT be easier to initiate prohibitions against alcohol and tobbaco, rather than legalize Cannabis! The War of Drugs hasn't put a dent in reducing the usage of Cannabis for ANY age group in the USA, in SPITE of the Billions of $USD spent trying to do just that. In the meantime, a narco-war has developed to our South, reputable financial reports indicate that the USA's banking system is in part shored up by vast amounts of narco-money, an entire indoor gardening industry has thrived, 13 states have introduced MMJ programs or reduced penalties for possession, and numerous politicians have called for the issue to be discussed.

You don't like Cannabis? Don't smoke Cannabis. Myself? I'm of the opinion that I was born to exist in a natural world, surrounded by the flora and fauna that co-evolved with human beings. My system is far more in tune with and prepared for imbibing in Cannabis than it is sitting in an office 50+ hours a week. You're a fool if you cannnot reconcile that.

Cannabis should be legal, plain and simple!

Only uneducated people think it should not be!

If anyone really cared about keeping it out of our kids hands they would support legalization. This statement of being worried about our children is simply a lie or a confusion of the truth.

Yes, there will be more people using and it will now be out in public. People don't care about anyone else as it is and they will be smoking it all over the place saying "its legal, I can do what I want".

I'm severely allergic to pot smoke. So much so that five minutes in a room filled with it sends me crawling on my hands and knees with my head pounding. In an outside space, it starts to make me cough and my eyes water uncontrollably until I can leave the area. as quickly as possible.

But no one cares about that because they'd rather get high.

Instead of just thinking about yourselves for a change, why don't you try thinking about other people? I'd rather actually live than die because someone got it up their butt that they wanted to smoke pot whether it had the potential to kill me or not.

Sick of American selfishness.

Who has marijuana ever killed,of course you know this Anderson.How many Americans are in prison because of the high demand for the better alternative to tobacco and alcohol.Anderson,all those people pro-pot you interview are probablly high you just cant notice as much as they think.Now,go try to interview a drunk man and have him try to tell you why alcohol should stay legal,you'll probablly feel very diffrent if it was that topic right now.

Legalize say the American people!

@ Melissa

"...they will be smoking it all over the place saying “its legal, I can do what I want...Sick of American selfishness."

With all due respect to, what I'm sure are, your impressive powers of prognostication, I beg to differ Melissa. Laws are in place to prevent public intoxication/drinking/ smoking tobacco,etc. Cannabis would be no different.

As for 'American selfishness' – Your hypocrisy is truly impressive – You are trying to dictate how I choose to live my life.

Seriously? Perhaps you should, maybe, stop going into rooms in which there is a lot of Cannabis smoking going on?

And if this is your argument, then you aren't very convincing. Have you ever seen a No Smoking sign? Have you seen what happens when someone tries to light up a cigarette in a non-smoking facility or location? Need a little help here? Right. They are asked/told to extinguish their cigarette/cigar/pipe.

That wasn't so hard to navigate, was it?

Cindy in GA if you were paying attention, Melissa Etheridge took pot because she had 2nd stage breast cancer, Not because she had simple heartburn. Please get the facts straight.. Not in the history of mankind has 1 death been attributed to Cannibas. Can we say this about tobacco and alcohol??? I think not. Case closed.

I'd say 90% for legalization just in this short blog.Mellissa-why if you are allergic would you hang around folks who smoked? It sounds as if you are the one not making the intelligent choice.USA lies have made this an issue that can be debated for hours.My thoughts are when kids smoke it and finally know the thruth about pot,that it isn't the Devils Weed,then they will automatically assume that the USA is lying about meth,coke and heroin.Its a teenage mindset.We need to stop the outright lies about pot and educate them that it isn't a wise choice to use pot until you are old enough to know the conciquences.Its been proven in Holland that the amount of tennage users diminished once it wasn't a crime to use it.Its all there black and white.The owner of a cannabis shop in Amsterdam refuses to sell booze at his establishment on account that booze=violence and since he serves pot only he has not had a fight or violence in 25 years of owning the business.All of you who use the words "stoner" and "pothead" really need to do some research.The net has all the resources you need to find out the truth.Jack Herers Emporer book says it all.I think there may be a free download so you can read it w/o spending hard earned $$.Half the reason pot should be legal is the amount of $$ one has to spend to have it.Absurd amounts of $$-take out the black market,allow folks to grow a limited ampount of plants and tax its use.If I were told I had o pay 1000$ a year to use-where do I send the check?? Peace and One Love

Melissa – if that is the only problem you have with marijuana then i think it is you who are being selfish. Marijuana is not like cigarettes, it doesn't kill many thousands of people do to its burning, in-fact there hasn't been a single recorded death due to marijuana.

The medicinal, and spiritual benefits that marijuana has are so vast that you should consider what you are saying. This plant has actually helped cancer patients through their struggles by dealing with pain. I think that your small reservation regarding the smoke of marijuana is much more selfish then a cancer patient wanting to "just get high" to deal with pain.

Bottom line if you don't like marijuana then stay away from it, as for everyone else let them think for themselves

Harms of Marijuana–Kempia is wrong–marijuana can be addictive, especially to teenagers–and studies have shown a withdrawal syndrome. It also causes lung damage. A new study out of England shows that it damages DNA and potentially causes cancer.

Medical marijuana should be regulated and controlled through the FDA. In California it is being prescribed for everything and anything. I believe only a small % are legitimate patients with serious illnesses for whom sidestepping the FDA might be appropriate. Many are young adults who just want to get high. The so-called pharmacy showed is more like a candy store, just like undercover marketing to kids.

I've looked at research on both sides and I still don't feel comfortable about my kids smoking marijuana–or tobacco, like Teen use? above. (By the way, Teen use?, the % of monthly users is 5%, not 80%, with the highest age group of users 17-24). Kids are already drinking and smoking and legalizing marijuana will give a stamp of approval. Legalizing will cause use to go up and law enforcement will have to police driving, kids using, secondhand smoke, all the issues we have with cigarettes and alcohol and the health care system will have to deal with addiction and health issues.

The idea that people go to prison for possessing small amounts of marijuana is also incorrect as David Evans says. It is miniscule. That is just a ploy of Kempia's lobby. As many people get pulled over for speeding tickets in a week as get arrested in a year for marijuana possession, and we are not calling for an end to speed limits. The penalty for pot possession in California is a fine less than the fine for a speeding ticket. People in prison are traffickers. And people have a choice if they want to avoid the risks.

Obama may have smoked it, but he also smokes cigarettes, which Michelle doesn't like. I can bet Michelle would not want her kids to smoke marijuana. Let's put it to the Obamas and get them on the record, Anderson.

i think legalizing pot is the best thing america could do we have freedoms here like guns beer and porno why are we not able to buy pot it is an example that freedom is not going to come unless we have an all out civil war as in the same way other freedoms are won in this country we have asked for it for 75yrs and all we get is spit in our faces we have to fight if we want freedom !!!!!

@ Melissa
Your allergy to pot smoke sounds the same as my allergy to tobacco smoke. So why is tobacco still legal, or, why is weed still illegal? The laws limiting smoking in public should (will) be enforced in either case.

I add my voice to the overwhelming majority of comments in favor of legalizing marijuana, or at the very least, decriminalizing it.

Well Melissa. It is a non toxic herb. I am sure there will be Non-Smoking places where you can go as there is with tobacco smoking. I kinda think it is you that is being "Selfish"

If we legalize marijuana for everyone to use as they please, then we have to decide what the legal limit is for the idiots that will smoke and drive and put our lives at risk. So, now pot smokers are going to be put in jail, only not because it is illegal. I have no problem with it being used for medicinal use. I don't know how much it helps pain but I do know that ill people use it to give them an appetite so they can eat to sustain themselves while undergoing medical treatment. I don't see anything wrong with that either. But getting high because you can't have any fun otherwise is insane. Is being sober all that painful? All pot does is make people lazy and unable to function at a productive level. Obviously people are going to use it whether it is legal or not and they don't seem to mind taking the risk. Gee, maybe if they didn't smoke so much pot, they'd care a little more about themselves.

The pro-prohibition slant to this story is so typical and obvious. Why won't CNN let its reporters cover this issue from an objective i.e. rational angle? Why must they continuously frame the cannabis issue in a negative light, when a vast segment of society thinks otherwise?

If I'm using Cannabis in my own home, and not driving around. Let me be.

Cannabis is a much better and safer alternative to Alcohol. The prohibitionists think that it will compound the problems caused by booze and cigarettes but they don't account for the millions who already use it.

Don't they think for one moment that Cannabis could be the SAFER alternative over Alcohol?

And what of HARD DRUGS? Legalize Cannabis and lets get these people off of substances like Cocaine and Meth.

Just look at factory workers and truck drivers that get drug screening. They are recreating with Coke, Meth and Alcohol because Cannabis, the SAFER alternative is illegal and easy to detect over a much longer period.

Anderson,
If cannabis had no medical value why do you think the US Government would hold not 1 but 5 patents on it? Go to the US Patent Office website and search Patent # 6630507, Cannabinoids as antioxidants and neuroprotectants, obtained 10/7/2003. The first paragraph clearly states medical properties for cannabis. On page 6, you can see the numbers of the other 4 patents our lying government holds on this plant.

Our government has been giving marijuana as medicine to citizens for over 25 years with no harmful effects to any of them. One is a stock broker in Florida and legally receives over 300 marijuana cigarettes per month.

It is time our government leaders let science and truth guide them, not politics and propaganda. Cannabis has been used by humans for medicine for over 5000 years with no a single death nor case of toxicity. We can overdose from water but not cannabis, where is the question of safety?

I think cannabis should be immediately legalized for medical purposes and for adult recreational purposes as well. It is safer than tobacco or alcohol and less addictive than your morning cup of coffee.

It is time to do the morally, constitutionally and fiscally responsible thing and allow cannabis to be utilized by American citizens.

it would take 900 jionts in one sitting to overdose, so you know knowone can do that, it is impossiable to become addicted to it, if some one acts stupid from smoking it is because they were before they smoked and it is a bet they arent any smarter smoking cigarettes or drinkigg booze, they're are so many people that are successful from smoking marijuana, its made to believe all are stupid from this drug, we seemed to be still like cavemen not quite civilized enough yet, centeries from now man will look back at prohabition and laugh at it saying how stupid man was for not understanding, remember we only use 1/10th of our brain, so how do we know the good of this drug, as the govnment puts it, being ignorant doesnt excuse us. look at all the money we hand out for taxes that gets wasted by putting non-violent marijiuana users away, some had good jobs and lost it, so then the tax payer gets to pay $30,000-$40,000 a year for per person. so i know of someone who murdered her own daughter and got 25 yr. less than someone who was happy on weed and got his life ruined by going to prison longer than a murderer. the govn could make more money fining someone, taxing this plant, and getting smart about its use, people arent going to run out to start smoking just because its legal, just like people choose not to smoke cigaretes or dring liquor. this is one of the reason i will not vote and i know many that wont, because the ones that are being voted into office are afraid to open there mouths about it, the other reason i wont vote is my husband who is successful and works hard, got it for a sm. amt of marijiuana, never sold anything, and will never be able to vote, non-violent felons in the usa. are consider worthless till the day they die, as the probabtion officer put it even good people go to max. prison and that is sick to say that someone harmless has there life ruined when they never had a mean bone in ther body. we need to wake up and smell the coffee, oh yea another drug.

I think that pot should be legalized and taxed. It would create space in the jail system. it would save money by not having to arrest and prosecute pot smokers. Also all the revenue generated by taaxing it would greatl benefit the economy. I don't think we can afford to keep pot illegal. Hopefully the goverment will realize that before it's to late.

@ Leah

"...But getting high because you can’t have any fun otherwise is insane. Is being sober all that painful?"

Is allowing me to make my own rational adult decision regarding whether I prefer cannabis to alcohol that painful?

I like to think that America still believes in the ability for individuals to decide how to live their lives.

Organizations like NORML and MPP and LEAP exist because there are a great many of us who feel that way.

It is time NOW to end Marijuana Prohibition in the United States. Marijuana Prohibition is a failed policy which costs federal, state and local governments billions of dollars per year in ineffective enforcement efforts, not to mention the immeasurable human and social costs attendant upon criminalizing a large segment of the citizenry. Aside from being an obscene waste of ever more precious taxpayer dollars, marijuana prohibition has perpetuated the black market, which serves to divert billions of dollars annually from the legitimate (i.e. taxpaying) economy into the hands of drug cartels and illegal organizations.

Marijuana Prohibition in the U.S. is a policy which was born in racism and vested commercial interests. Prohibitionists initially justified their cause by identifying marijuana as “the reason all Mexicans are lazy and stupid” and warning the public that “reefer makes darkies think they’re as good as white men”. Marijuana Prohibition in the United States began at around the time that alcohol prohibition ended. It has evolved from the demagoguery of “Reefer Madness” to the current status in which the government seeks to criminalize and punish its citizens who choose to use marijuana.

Marijuana Prohibition has been perpetuated upon notions that marijuana is a dangerous and addictive drug that causes criminal and antisocial behavior. These notions have been thoroughly and universally disproven. Yet while we no longer prohibit the use of alcohol, and have never prohibited tobacco use, our government continues to spend billions attempting to enforce marijuana prohibition in spite of overwhelming scientific evidence and public opinion to the contrary.

In a nation which places great value on individual liberties, each citizen has the right and responsibility to decide for himself or herself whether or not to use alcohol or tobacco, eat red meat, practice birth control, and yes, smoke marijuana. We the people should not tolerate, let alone encourage, any government to make these decisions for us. Prohibition, this time of marijuana, has once again become a national boondoggle and an unwarranted infringement of personal liberty in a country which calls itself the Land of the Free. This is the fundamental reason why marijuana should be legalized, altogether aside from the economic arguments.

President-elect Obama has said that our elected leaders must work to restore faith and trust in government. That purpose will be frustrated if we continue to waste taxpayer funds and resources on a prohibitionist policy that is now almost universally recognized to be without intellectual, moral or economic justification. The now well known practices and tactics employed by government in attempts to enforce prohibition continually diminish the credibility and character of those governments. These practices range from the militaristic assaults by heavily armed federal DEA agents upon medical marijuana dispensaries in California, all the way down to the local county sheriff who stages a big marijuana sting operation 2 weeks before an election.

Truth and reliable information are what we must demand from our government, not continued stubborn adherence to wrong-headed policies.

Mr. Obama has also recently said that he and his staff are going to have to look at “every line on every page” of the federal budget in light of the current economic crisis. Funding for many programs may have to be cut or eliminated. Ending prohibition now will eliminate billions of dollars of waste from the federal budget, and will be a positive step in rebuilding our belief that our government tells us the truth, acts rationally, and respects the rights and personal privacy of all of its citizens.

CNN- i am really excited that you guys are covering this issue because it is 72 years overdue. I would just like to say however that, i wish you would stop being so biased regarding this topic. Maybe instead of getting so called "experts" to argue on your show, why don't you have an online poll open to all the American people. I think it is more important to hear what the majority of America has to say. Clearly this is an important topic to many people and it needs to be decided upon in the democratic way.... Vote on it!!! i think everyone will be surprised when well over half the country will advocate for its legalization.

As for the other bloggers if you agree with this proposal, mention it in your posts... VOTE ON IT!!

In Michigan where we passed the Medical Marijuana law by a 63 percent. We are aloud to have a caregiver grow up to 12 plants for your medical needs. My wife is disabled from the chronic pain of arthritis. There is an oil that is made with olive oil, marijuana,and a couple of other natural ingredients that only costs the caregiver $10 to $15 for a months supply for her pain. You do not smoke it , it does not get you high. You just rub it on where it hurts and the pain goes away. Sense using this oil my wife has stopped using [4] four different prescriptions that her doctor had prescribed for pain. The prescriptions made her dizzy and she fell several times and could not sleep without taking sleeping pills. Now she sleeps most of the night without taking any of those pills. A friend of mine got His Dr. to prescribe Marinol, the prescription drug with THC from marijuana and they charged the insurance company $2400.00 for a three month supply. You can see why the drug companies are against having people get medical marijuana without a prescription. They are taking advantage of the insurance companies and people that need relief from pain and suffering. You do not have to be a pothead to get the benefits of medical marijuana. My wife does not smoke anything. Most people think everyone that uses medical marijuana, smokes it ,so not true. We pay less for the oil than we payed for the co-pay on the prescriptions that she stopped getting. that alone saves the insurance company a lot of money.

Leah–you couldn't punch your way out of a paper sack with the quality of your arguments. Our last 3 presidents smoked Cannabis. That guy that just won 8 gold medals at the Beijing Olympics? Pot-smoker! This could go on for a long long list Leah, but it should be enough to note that over 100,000,000 Americans have smoked pot, or currently do smoke pot–and that is a conservative estimate. According to you, that would result in over 1/3rd of our nation being stupid and lazy. And yet. This isn't the case, now is it?

Further–and I don't expect you to believe this, because you are obviously proud of your ignorance–there are studies in which the conclusions are that drivers that are solely under the effects of Cannabis actually drive better–as they are more attentive, more cautious and drive slower. This does not mean that I am advocating anyone driving under the influence of anything, including pharmaceuticals, but it does mean that you have made no effort to support your propagandist positions.

And like a good propagandist parrot, you use another straw man argument by accusing pot smokers of fearing sobriety. These states of consciousness are not mutually exclusive honey. I am sober for 164 of the 168 hours of any given week. But when the weekend comes around, and I've finished all of my housework and yardwork, if I want to relax with some fine organic, homegrown Cannabis–I'm going to do it. And I'm not going to feel guilty about it. And my wife of many years supports this. And my friends and professional colleagues support this. And I shower daily and brush my teeth AND floss twice daily.

What else do you have to say Leah?

I think you have to make a distinction here between uppers and downers. Most people don't use both....although some do. Pot is a downer, a depressant while meth and cocaine are uppers and give you energy. So, while they are all drugs, it's kind of like comparing apples and oranges. If I had to choose, I's rather be in the company of pot and alcohol users than meth and cocaine. Users of any of them put society at risk while driving and also not driving as the uppers can cause people to go nuts and want to fight and do extraordinary thinks they normally wouldn't, like commit armed robbery. There are many people who can and do use alcohol and pot recreationally and don't consume more than they can handle. It isn't these individuals that I am worried about. It is the ones who think they can handle themselves but cannot.

Penny Manis!,
Anderson Cooper!

could you set up a poll to show America what americans really think! take away all the political correctness, and show them raw stats about this issue!.. get the word out.. show it on CNN

Leah – all of the pot smokers I know are some of the most productive and creative people around, and who are you to say what they do with their free time? This is America, remember, a "free country." Pot can give you an open mind and clarity, its a natural substance, remember, if you're religious God created it. Pot smokers tend to be the most accepting people out there, and just because they live laid back and judgement free lifestyle doesn't mean they're lazy. Yes, life is good sober, but fun high too, are you going to judge everyone who drinks too?

If you disagree, when pot is FINALLY legalized, don't smoke it!

Depression has always been a part of my life as far back as I can remember as a child and growing up. I’m 50. My question is why was it the first time I got high I felt my depression melt away. I have quit several times any where from a few years to a few months and in between. My depression always comes back. Sometimes it takes longer sometimes not. Sometimes worse sometimes not. But as soon as it comes back to a point, I break down and take my life and future in my hands in hopes the law won’t catch me. This is the only way I’ve been able live a “productive” life. I don’t want the pharma depression pill. I had a certain instinct telling me to hold off on that. Boy, glad I listened. Side effects don’t look good. The thing is, God provided a plant to help with this and so much more. Who are they to tell me, or worse yet tell God I can’t use this plant to help me and many many more. Legalize it!!!

What I don't get about the pot debate is the fact that we use prescription drugs for stress, anxiety, depression, and in my opinion pot helps with these same problems and pot is natural, not manufactured. People say that the use of medical marijuana is just a way for people to get high but what is alcohol for if not to chill out, relax and yes, get high. I've never seen anyone who smoked a joint go home and beat their wife, crash their car, or die from liver disease. I truly think the only reason it is not legal yet is because the government has not figured out a way to control it's use like it has with alcohol. Once they figure that out it will be, the almighty buck out weighs all concern for peoples health and any moral issues that go with it.

Those of you who don't think cannabis should be legal and want to make a quick $100,000 go to Jack herer's web site, he wrote "The Emperor Wore No Cloths" and take his challenge;
If all fossil fuels and their derivatives, as well as trees for paper and construction, were banned in order to save the planet, reverse the Greenhouse Effect and stop deforestation;
then there is only one known annually renewable natural resource that is capable of providing the overall majority of the world's paper and textiles; meet all of the world's transportation, industrial and home energy needs, while simultaneously reducing pollution, rebuilding the soil and cleaning the atmosphere all at the same time...
and that substance is the same one that has done it before . . .
CANNABIS HEMP!

No one has been able to prove him wrong and never will. The lies by Anslinger, DuPont and Hearst are still used today by those less educated. Anslinger even lied to congress, finally J.F.K. thru him out. Too bad he didn't get caught suppling morphine to Joseph McCarthy, which he admitted in his autobiographical book, The Murderers.
The reason it's illegal are dark and dirty. Do the research.

I think that if more people knew that there was a topical oil that uses medical marijuana for pain they would be more inclined to use it because you just rub it in where it hurts and it just blocks the pain. It does not get you high. They claim that it even works on migraine headaches. You just put it at the base of your neck and on your temples and your headache goes away. You do not have to smoke it to get the benefits. of medical Marijuana.

Marijuana prohibition is so 20th century. Today, we have real problems to address, like terrorism, energy shortages, global warming, world hunger, violent crime, improving health care and education, to name a few.

Time and money spent enforcing marijuana laws is nuts. Numerous civil rights have been lost while pursuing this misguided war on marijuana. Billions of dollars in marijuana prohibition profits fund criminals and terrorists. Legalization removes this large cash cow for criminals with the stroke of a pen, frees police resources, and supplies needed tax money for domestic projects.

As to Marijuana's purported health health concerns, most are smoke and mirrors. After 40 years of government funded studies, cannabis smoking hasn't been shown to induce cancer, while government testing in the 70's tied cancer to tobacco in about 2 years. Cannabis is basically non addictive and death through overdose is unknown. Thousands of years of cannabis use by humans has produced no apparent negative health effects. Typically, users are non aggressive and overindulgence usually results in sleep.

Medicinally marijuana is safe effective medicine. Our country's laws should not intrude into the doctor patient relationship. Antecedal reports of cannabis' benefits abound.

Legal marijuana provides substantial tax income while reducing payments to organized crime. Legalized cannabis (hemp) empowers small local farmers to profitably produce paper, fabrics, medicine, oil, fuel, and building materials as they reduce our consumption of oil, cotton, pesticides, and trees.

In short, removing an ill conceived 1930's law, involving a victimless act, will provide enduring benefits for Americans, our children, and our American way of life in the 21st century.

legalize it!

You miss the point Brian. We don't want to legalize it to hurt the cartel's business, thats just a happy coincidence. We want it legalized because there is no good reason for it to be illegal we enjoy it, and we don't want legal or societal stigmas placed upon us for our choices in recreational drugs. It doesn't happen to alcohol drinkers or tobacco smokers and there is nothing fair about it happening to us. If the cartels bring in a new drug some people will use it yes, but after 30 years of smoking pot I never felt the need for another drug.

Regulate marijuana. Age restrictions based on the States. 18-21.

Take away the billions from the drug cartels now!

I want to be TAXED.

It's a sad day when CNN starts to censor its bloggers. I left a blog last nite about the pot issue. 20 minutes after I posted my comment my blog was removed and yet I've read all the above blogs and the stories above were not much different than mine. CNN isn't any different then the haters in North Korea that are trying to censor its people. SHAME ON CNN. You've lost all creditabity with me.

Frank

Leah, all my smoking buddies and I are software and hardware engineers working for high tech communications and computer companies in a high profile industrial research park. We are all in our 40's and 50's and have smoked for decades. We aren't stupid people, in fact I'd put us at the top of the scale on the average. We all maintain our jobs, some of us are married with families, others not. We are no more or less lazy than anyone else. As far as a reason for getting high, yes, its because we enjoy it, but no not because its the only way to have fun. We are golfers, kayakers, skydivers, motorcycle riders, skin divers and fishermen. Most of those activities can be accentuated with judicial use of a litle weed. Weed will not make you stumble, or slip, or slur your words, its only real impairing effect is an increase in reaction time, a condition that is offset quite nicely by a total lack or urgency getting where you're going. As for it being insane to want to get high, I wonder do you feel the same way about alcohol. Whether you do or don't doesn't reall matter though. There will always be self-righteous facsist creeps that believe everyone should share their opinions about any issue.

its bout barn time.

Dont you?

I'm concerned that there is not enough time being devoted to the heart of this debate. CNN's resident doctor also didn't seem to acknowledge the difference between a physical addiction and habituation.

There has been no mention of the studies showing marijuana's minimal impact on driving or affect on productivity though those questions were raised.

I am glad to see these reports lack the typical cliches and giggly references to marijuana that frequent mainstream media reports on the issue.

Please...less on the peripheries and more on the substance of the debate.

At the moment I am neither anti nor pro marijuana legalization as I haven'e made up my mind if this will have a negative or positive impact on our society. I can't help but wonder if those of you that are pro legalization have thought about how this would work should it be legalized. Do you all fantasize that the government is going to just say ok, go for it. Keep buying from your dealer[s] and nothing else will change. Do you envision being able to go into a bar or restaraunt and order a blunt to go with your Perrier, Diet Coke or God forbid, your Bud Light or Crown and Coke?? Frankly, I don't see either of those two things happening. If they legalize it, the FDA is going to have to conduct a formal study that should take no more than 20 years. They will have to specify it's ingredients, and how much. There will have to be a dosage amount and you may noe even get it in the traditional tobacco form. By the time you are able to legally ingest it, there likely won't be much to give you even a slight buzz. Then there is the income tax that dealers are going to have to start paying. That means the tax cost will trickle down to you in the form of an increase because I don't see dealers willing to take a pay cut, do you? Think also about all the legal ramifications that will have to be worked out. The legalization of pot isn't likely to happen in our lifetime, if ever.

It is begining to look like a waste of time Big Pharma has greased the palms of so many Government officals,that it will never be even given a fair chance.I am growing weary of fighting this 24/7 when anyone with 1/2 a brain can see the obvious.Marijuan should be legal for anyone 18 and over.But lets face it this country is so messed up that kids 18 who are dying in Afghanistan and Iraq cannot even consume a beer.Its almost laughable.This conutry is for the rich and your'e screwed if your not.Plain and simple.Shame Shame on all of them.Corruption is part of everyday life here in America.Our founding fathers are rolling in thier graves.

AC I appreciate your no bias reporting at least you are showing both sides of the story. I think you should include how many people have been hurt by this prohibition (over 20 million so far). I for one was arrested for 23 grams of marijuana in 1999 and went to jail with a felony which has hurt my employment and still does to this day. In Florida possession of over 20 grams is a felony, sucks to be me right. Also in 1975 I got arrested for smell of marijuana on my breath in San Diego, California. I was not found guilty but it still caused me hardship and had to live on the streets for several months because it cost me all the money I had to get out of jail.

Pro Pot. It is completely unconstitutional to ban pot.
There is nothing the forefather wrote , and the fact that some used pot for all kinds of things and the story of anti-trust with dupont the corporation being sole responible for the criminalization of it, shoudl be enough to force the gov't hand on this very simple , nothing to get confused abotu issue.

The gov'y will have to admit defeat on their extortion war, i dont think they will, it could make it far, the congress votes it in, then obama being a banker frontman, will be ordered to veto it and when congress or the justices which ever have the veto power over Obama, will be told by the bankers that if they pass it, there will be marshal law.

This is how they got the bailout money. Why not do it here?
This country would have benefitted from letting those suckers go down. I imagine there would be alot people not getting forclosed on.

Think about it, we got dealt 2 blows by the bankers, with the help of the gov't, namely Obama. First the bank got their bailout instead of failing, and the homeowners getting their debt wiped clean. The Gov't helped them out , so they could buy up the competition. Seconds Gov't let GM fail, knowing many retirees are now not going to get their pensions. 2 big blows by bank boy obama directly to the guts of americans.

So my point here is Obama has to follow his masters orders and the corporations will have the ultimate say so weather 100% of us want it or not.

We need a MILLION TOKE MARCH on Capitol Hill, at least a million bong march, else the national gaurd will be there to violate posse comatatus, saying that the supporters of terrorism is marching to DC.

Remember, they said this is your brain, and if you buy drugs you support terrorism, so to them a million whatever march will be like a full fledged terrorist attach with people who are stoned out of the reason.

hey idiots,there was no such thing as marijuana until 1937.that was a name they used to get it banned.everybody knowed at that time what hemp was(same thing different name)and would'nt have took it what they said seriously.they slaped another name to it,said that black men and migrant-mexican workers were getting white women with it and front of an all white congress.how did that go for the hemp farmer"not too good".it was real good for the oil men that cornered the market pushing all there black death.nylon,rubber,plastics and chemicals that has been killing us and our planet.they bought it and so have the american public.there is nothing hemp can't replace that we get from petro , cleaner. it also can use 5 times as much carbon dioxide as what is supposed to be in our air.some strains grow 30ft tall in one season(it takes15 years for pines)and 5times as much pulp for paper.not to mention fuel gas deisel and oil that would only take 3 percent of our farmland to grow enough fuel to power every car truck lawnmower and boat engine we got for a year.10 percent of land a year is 3 years,you do the math.I FIND IT SO HARD TO BELEIVE THAT A BLACK MAN THAT I VOTED FOR,HAS LET THIS RACIST PASSED LAW SLIP RIGHT PASSED HIM!! thomas jefferson would have flipped his wig about this.he wrote the dec of indepenence on paper made from hemp our first flag was made from hemp ,he grew hemp and smoked it,it's in his diary.washington ,adams all of our founding fathers did. so all you pot-fearing-haters know all this there will be sanity and soon. because you can't hold back the truth for ever.one day the american public will grow brains and do something about all the lies that were told to them and the people that sold them.keep tok'in and don't back down. peace out!!!!!!

Derrill is right on. There was no such word as marijuana until the guys who wanted it illegal, Harry Anslinger, Wiliam Randolph Hurst, and the Dupont dudes got together and attacked an innocent plant because why? Henry Ford had just produced a car made with hemp materials for the upholstery, the interior was hemp, dash, etc. the body had hemp fibers in the metal and it would not dent, and it ran on hemp fuel.
And the hemp break had just been invented which would make paper production out of hemp very easy, earth-friendly, environmentally friendly and would be a self-sustaining crop which would grow yearly.
You could get 5 times the amount of paper from the same acreage of hemp over 20 years that you could get from pine trees!
That's why, the money-grubbers!!!!!!

That the most stupid thing I have ever heard of. They hav e it to where no one can smoke cigerates but want to get people on pot! Pot causes lung problems to, not to say that your kids will all be buzzing from second hand weed smoke. Now how screwed up is that I ask you???
Ruby......TN

Marijuana is almost legal now in CA. Doctors will give it away to anyone for any reason at any time. Just pony up the money and a fake illness and bamm you got your recommendation to smoke pot. Legalize it already so doctors do nto profit from it!

I watched marijuana inc. about growers in california and yes they do pay taxes. It has boosted the economy in the northern parts so much the police dont bother the growers for that reason. Sure it has its drawbacks but so does the legal stuff called alchohol. My father lost his life to a drunken college girl in the 80's. I dont drink alchohol. Its just not my thing. I smoke marijuana instead. It helps me relax. I dont like the feeling that i could be incarcerated for smoking marijuana at anytime. I am a very responsible smoker and dont sell it or try to force it on anyone..