I've used the same argument for years when this issue has come up, and those wishing for continued pot prohibition never wish to take me up on my challenge. That is, if you're against legal pot - proclaim loudly and publicly to all, you are also against legal alcohol. It's beyond debate the use of alcohol causes more societal problems than the use of marijuana. So, you either oppose legal alcohol - or you're a hypocrite.
This so isn't the place to have this discussion, but what the heck - our local C-Brat cop has pushed my buttons one too many times on this topic and I've always bitten my lip.
The voters of WA have spoken, and those opposed to legalization LOST. Get over it. Prohibition didn't work for alcohol, and it didn't work for pot - for the very same reasons. It's no longer necessary for pot proponents to prove legalization is the right answer - rather, the onus is on those opposed to defend the undeniable problems prohibition has caused. Explain how it's good to have organized crime fill the demand. Give us the stats that show how prohibition has reduced demand and usage. Tell us why our tax dollars should be spent investigating, enforcing, prosecuting and jailing offenders when we've so many more important things that get ignored or go unfunded. Those of us who voted "Yes" don't need to explain ourselves - those voting "No" need to defend the previous status quo that failed in dramatic fashion.
Also, last time localboy brought this up, he opined how the medical use of pot is a joke. That almost got me to bite. Snarky thoughts like "Oh, they teach medicine now in cop school" came to mind, but no such smart-assedness is necessary. There's not even need for me to point towards countless studies and first-hand accounts of the people it has helped - not only with their ailments, but in saving them physical side-effects and huge amounts of money compared to prescription meds. Nope - I know of it's phenomenal efficacy first hand.
I've suffered migraines since I was a young teenager in the 70's. My mom was a nurse and suffered from them as well, and at the time pain meds were the only solution. Later in life, I was fortunate to meet one of the premier migraine doctors in the country - a widely respected neurologist with numerous published studies who has since retired. Over the many years I visited him, we tried every migraine medication used in the field - preventative and for pain after onset. I kept meticulous records of physical behavior and diet to try and find a correlation to migraine episodes. Nothing worked. Basically, when one hit - I'd break out the Vicodin and go to bed until the episode ended. The pain was still there, just dampened - and the Vicodin side-effects were significant. Nausea while taking it was bad enough, but what I really hated was the 24 hour Vicodin hangover afterwards.
Several years back, I saw reference online to marijuana helping migraine sufferers. I had my doubts...suffice it to say, I did inhale when younger and the thought of doing so when my head was exploding seemed like tossing gasoline on fire. During a particularly nasty episode, I thought WTF - called up a high school buddy I knew still used recreationally, and had him bring over a doob.
As was typical with my worst migraines, I could barely stand up or keep my eyes open - light sensitivity being a huge issue. He fired it up, I took a couple deep tokes - and in under one minute the pain was GONE. Not masked, not dull - GONE. The only downside, if one wishes to call it one - the relief was relatively short. I had to keep smoking every 2-3 hours until the episode passed. In addition to the pain relief, there is no nausea, and no hangover - something no other drug came close to matching. Somewhat hesitantly, I contacted my neurologist with my findings...he'd never suggested it, and I'd no idea how he would respond. He was thrilled - and after I'd documented the results on several more occasions, he mentioned he'd share the info with other patients for whom more traditional treatments had also failed.
I'm not suggesting pot's a cure-all, nor that the above results are typical for migraine sufferers (some readily admit it makes them worse), nor that some people abuse medical usage simply to obtain it for recreational means. However...so what? How are any of these points different from any other drug?
Thankfully, the tide has changed - and it's getting easier to battle all the ignorance. Not really surprising...time has a way of letting truths percolate to the top.