Should marijuana be legalized?

Who here is arguing that narcotics should be legalized? The only thing I'm defending is the right for an adult to use and grow a virtually harmless plant; a plant that happens to carry the chemical THC (which by the way is only considered a narcotic in the United States.) I'm not arguing that it is healthy for you or good for society. My only argument is that it is an unnecessary and in my opinion ineffective law that does infinitely more harm than good.

The question shouldn't be "what is the justification for legalizing marijuana?" it should be "what is the justification for any specific law that limits personal freedom?" I think if you did some research you will find that in the case of marijuana (because this is obviously not the case for all drugs) the laws were not designed with public health in mind, only private profit. If you want to believe that blatant propaganda, fear tactics, and racist innuendo are justification for marijuana's current legal status (because these things were the only justification used to pass the first marijuana law) then be my guest. If you honestly think marijuana is so bad for you, then I strongly advise you not to use it. I hate the thought of you or anybody else making that decision for the rest of the world though, and that is pretty much what it comes down to. We clearly just see the world in two very different ways. 

The US government mislabels marijuana as a narcotic (and many other "sleep inducing" drugs as well) as a way to designate it as an illegal substance. The term is mostly used in miseducation campaigns, and if you look at the official DEA scheduling list, you will see that marijuana is officially considered a "non-narcotic." A narcotic is actually just any derivative of opium. This demonstrates how easy it is for truth and fiction to be turned on their heads in this country. If your statement is any indication, I would say you have fallen victim to these distortions. I don't blame you though. Do some research. 

He does, actually, although he acknowledges that it wouldn't work.

Did I not just say in my post that everyone chose the wrong people to root for in '08 (that includes McCain's camp)? I just mean the progressives should be especially pissed because their guy one, and followed through on very little. 

And politics in their current state don't work, but we have to believe that things can be changed for the better, or else what are we doing complaining, here? 

I know why we complain, but if we honestly think nothing with change in politics and things will never get better, we shouldn't bother complaining. To speak out against something is to show the will to change it, I think. So, just be more optimistic, is all I'm saying. 

I agree with you on the two party thing, but when was the last time Independents swept the votes? I honestly am too ignorant on the system behind all of that to even know if or how it would be possible to start federally recognizing more parties. We seem to have a lot of biased laws in place against possible viable third parties, which shows just how un-democratic that aspect of our government is. Plus, if you think congress is divided now, whoo boy . . . 

I'll admit that I've never experienced a hallucinogen, but I am pretty sure this is hippy bullsh*t.