Just some personal views on the issue of Marijuana legalization and use.

Aside from recreational drug use, Cannabis has several industrial and commercial uses. The plant used in making marijuana has tons of alternative uses, including construction & thermal insulation materials, paper, geotextiles, dynamite, composites for autos, and insect repellent. As far back as 1938, Popular Mechanics deemed it the "new billion dollar crop", as over 25,000 products can be made from it. Unfortunately, the lack of legality in the U.S. and other countries has squashed the growth and development of these products. We shouldn't limit the use of such a diverse product because one use is found objectionable by some. Think of all the businesses that could or would be started, should Marijuana be legalized. These businesses would be paying taxes and that would certainly help with the debt the United States is in, not to mention all the local taxes that would be gained as well. I mean Marijuana generally isn't more harmful than alcohol or tobacco if used in moderation, yet alcohol and tobacco are both legal. Even legal substances like pizza and donuts can be harmful to a person if not consumed in moderation. Limiting the use of the drug intrudes on personal freedom. Would you want the government limiting how much coffee you can drink or how much cheesecake you take in? It is proven that Marijuana helps with the pain facing the terminally ill. Street crimes related to drug disputes would be reduced, police and court resources would be freed up for more serious crimes, not to mention drug busts often trap young people in a flawed system that turns them into lifelong criminals. The FDA or others could regulate the quality and safety of drugs. Like sex, alcohol, or cigarettes, marijuana is one of life's little pleasures for some people.