Normally,I would avoid topics like this,but I'll chime in.
I live in California,SF Bay area,and can not speak for what's going on in other nations.15 years ago I was an activist working on prop 213.The first "compassionate use"law to allow certain medical patients to use marijuana as an alternate pain medication.The biggest opposition we faced other than the federal goverment,was KING BOOZE,(17 billion$ in profits last year).They funded every opposition group we had to fight.Cristian fundelmentlists,psuedo scientific studies,add campaigns and buying every politician they could find.They were so blatant about it that it backfired in our favor.
A little history,Franklin Roosevelt has just been sworn in,prohibition has been over for a short time.King Booze is back but there is competion.While his majesty had been dethroned many people had found a legal alternative,Mary Jane.Now this little upstart tramp was a problem.Anybody could grow her,she was prettier(fewer acts of violence,no blowing chuncks all over Cristmas dinner to name a few).Some farmers were even expermenting with it as a cash crop.You could smoke the leaves and make rope out of the rest,and frankly,a lot of people had discovered they preferred Mary Jane over His Majesty.
King Booze was not pleased.As any Monarchist can tell you,Kings do not suffer competion.King Booze had powerful friends,though.Men who had made all or most of thier fortunes in the alcohol trade(who cares if it was'nt legal when they made thier money).What's more,these men were very powerful in one of the political parties.So these powerful and rich polticos went to the new president and said"Yo *****!You like these shiny new digs?All the bling and people treating you like your the second comming?Well we paid for it all,and it's time to sread your legs.Get up and dance in front of congress,blow a few senators and get this Mary Jane ho put in her place or the only "New Deal" will be the guy we replace you with.
Thus it was that King Booze managed to cast out his enemy and all was profitable in his realm.His powerful servants became richer,branched out into the other political party and elected thier children as presidents.Even as his cousin Tobbacco's empire began to crumble,King Booze only waxed more powerful.
But wait.
Mary Jane was'nt gone.Despite being made an outlaw(we americans love our outlaws)despite all the poorly made propaganda(Reefer Madness)she and some of her lovers survived.She began to gain popularity.Now she is out of hiding.Last Nov,four more states passed compassionate use laws,bringing the total to 15(?)roughly.In several western states thier is talk of decriminalizing marijuana.
Now I don't advocate the use of drugs or alcohol.I'm not against it either.How you slide on into hell is up to you.Whether(sp?)it be by drugs,booze,listening to country music or playing video games,I don't care.I will not stop you.
I will not help you either.You have to do it all by your self.
Now excuse me.I have to go to the clinic and get some pot.Then I have to go in for my twice a week chemo treatment.I have throat cancer.After the treatments I smoke pot so I don't spend the next twelve hours dry heaving in the toilet.