Garthfreeman,
I will not take the time to respond to all the straw-men that you have set up. Neither am I advocating for continued usage of alcohol, cigarettes, or other more potent recreational drugs. It may be true that marijuana is less addictive----but so what? I am wondering why should we legitimize and make more available another substance that will only be detrimental to our youth?

You are exaggerating the evidence that seems to support marijuana use and you know that. Many of these studies were preliminary and non-conclusive and were done by those who had a bias for the drug. The fact is in reality, we are just beginning to learn the long term effect of this gateway drug. There are a numerous studies that demonstrate that we do not know yet what the long term negative effects might be including harm to cognitive learning, retention of information, and reasoning capability and so forth.

You may cite as many studies as you care to but as a pastor who has spent four decades trying to keep families intact, I know what both alcohol and drugs [including marijuana] are capable of in creating or aggravating family dysfunction. Twice I have funerals for those who were killed in auto "accidents" by drug impaired drivers...so please don't weary me with your alleged benefits of "wacky weed."

You say you are a Christian, if you are then you should know better that to cite the Lord for creating marijuana with the way that the plant is used today. Have you not heard of the Fall of humanity and the Lord cursing the ground [and what grew in it?] At the very best, the current usage is often a result of humanity distorting the Creator's intended purposes of the plant. I have no problem with the medicinal use of marijuana....when the need is real and medically justifiable.

I also remind you that there are many issues when the LORD demands that non-believers behave a certain way if only for the protection of all of society...Do we have laws against rape, murder, stealing, slander, lying, etc...is that "legislating morality?" I realize I am beating a dead horse in trying to reason with you since your mind is convinced that this drug is of benefit and does no harm to society. If/when my state passes the law allowing marijuana usage, then I will still try to reason and plead with people to let it alone.

But please don't arrogantly assume that I don't have a clue of what I am talking about. I know what alcohol has done to my family and what it nearly did to me. I also spent nearly three years in the army during the Viet Nam era and I know what dope can do our behavior and normal restraints. But when Christ saved me in 1967 by his grace and mercy....no mortal needed to remind me that the old habits and substances were not pleasing unto God and so I discarded them. That was the work of the Holy Spirit and I am just wondering, WHY, since you claim to be a Christian and like to quote the bible, that the Holy Spirit would not rebuke you for endorsing something that has such a history, and played at least a part in hindering men from turning to Christ? I wish you well.