Well, obviously, one would want to lobby the Congress to get these laws altered. One way to accomplish this goal is to steadily overturn state laws such as the Rockefeller Laws in New York (which Pataki has called to reform) and those in other states in order to work from the lower levels of government up to the federal level. Another way is to increase the level of popular awareness so that drug warriors such as Bob Barr get tossed out in favor of more moderate voices such as John Linder (with the eventual goal of getting true reformers into office).
For example, killing babies is covered in Roe v Wade. If you want to get Roe v Wade overturned then you want to get favorable Supreme Court justices in place. In order to get favorable Supreme Court justices in place you have to (A) get favorable politicians in office, which requires (B) expanding the level of popular awareness, support, and activism.
OK, now think real hard. What do you do next? How are these laws changed or done away with? What people decide and do it? What is the process it is done by? Well, you didn't address this to me, but...well, maybe you put a resolution on the state ballot to decriminalize marijuana. Yeah, and see if it gets a majority vote. Yeah, and then if that passes have the legislature of the state validate it. Yeah, and then it becomes law. State law. Covered by the 10th amendment of the constitution of the united states.
See, some of us here see this as A CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUE, not per se a drug issue, darn it! The point is that California, and some other states, have already done this or are doing it. Yep, getting the law changed. But the Feds just decide, well, the heck with the constitution, the DEA and the ATF can just go in and kick down doors, shove people around, and hey, they don't need no stinkin' law, they're the feds! They can do what they want. If you don't like it, take that piece of paper called the US Constitution, roll it up and sit on it. Yeah, that's the ticket.
Now do you understand? It's not about the damn pot (well, it is, but that's a SEPARATE issue). Its about the constitutional principle. And yes, some of us can focus on more than one thing at once, like, its about both. Well, you can disagree with one (you think pot is bad and dopers are stupid) and agree with the other (that the feds are violating the constitution by ignoring the 10th amendment.)