How To Quit Smoking

So I've been doing a little research and found that a 2008 survey of 8th, 10th and 12th grade students discovered there are more 10th graders smoking pot than cigarettes. To me, this is great news, as the MPP.org article I read this from points out towards the end, "Lsat year over 775,000 Americans were arrested for possession of marijuana while zero were arrested for possession of cigarettes. And yet it's teen cigarette use that's dropping." It's not that I think high school students should be using pot. If you ever read the stuff Dr. Mitch Earleywine writes you'll know that teenage intoxicant use can affect a developing brain, so it's probably best for teenagers to stay away from all intoxicants. I just think that legalizing cannabis and enacting laws that put it on the same level as alcohol will make it harder for teens to get, therefore, harder to use. Adult use shouldn't be hindered in any way. If someone wants to take a drug, any drug, then they should be allowed to do so, but if that drug use leads to them committing crime, then the crime they committed should be punished. Much the same way drunk drivers are prosecuted for the crime they committed, even though alcohol is a legal intoxicant. The only problem I see is that law enforcement will never go along with this until there is a reliable test to show that an individual is currently intoxicated. Urinalysis doesn't show intoxication, it just shows that someone took a drug at some point. Does anyone have any opinions on this matter? Should in fact marijuana be legal? Does anyone have any evidence to offer on the contrary?
Yes money could be an issue. Tieing up our court rooms with frivilous drug charges is a way to keep the court appointed drug rehabilitation programs full of money. Look at the numbers though. 51% of all the nations imates in prison are non-violent offenders. WTF! The fastest growing corperation in the USA is the prison system. Our civil liberties are being oppressed in the name of DRUG WAR. Its a sad time.
Lui O your rant proved nothing but that you are not educated and that the school systems have failed you. Im sorry.

I recently read an article off of MSN about marijuana possibly reversing the effects of Alzheimer's disease on the elderly. The study was done with rats, and to legally do it on humans, marijuana would need to be SOMEWHAT legalized (more than it is now, referring to CA).

I believe marijuana should be legalized. With so many people smoking it now, imagine all the taxes the government could gain. And it's not like marijuana will ever be eliminated permanently, so there is really no use trying to stop it.

It isn't a very harsh drug either. Not too many long term effects besides some memory loss and the typical smoke-inhaling lung problems (if that).

I also know that a group of congressmen have been working on a bill to intoduce to the Obama Administration that will allow marijuana to be legally carried, so long as it is under an 1/8th of an ounce. I believe Ron Paul was one of the congressmen.

With a new approah to our government with a new president, who knows? Maybe next year, you will be able to legally walk down a street smoking a joint!