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Firstly, I do not subscribe to the point of view that everything has to have a legal remedy. In fact, I believe that the drug problem is a law enforcement program only because other areas of social life failed. Had you been considered the lowest of the low for smoking pot --- and, moreover, by breaking the law --- not much of legal enforcement would have been necessaey.

First of all, there is no evidence that marijuana was a problem when federal prohibition was imposed. A few states had laws on the books prohibiting or regulating it, but most people had never even heard of it. It was a make believe monster created to give some out of work federal bureaucrats something to save us from. Society never formed an opinion about it based on reality. Now they're having trouble figuring it out because everything they'd been told is turning out to be lies, and the people who've lied to them are the same people whose job it is to keep them from finding out the truth.

Secondly, it is noteworthy how those who promulgate this point of view never touch the question: why did we not have this problem until the 60? Very much like we never had the "gun problem:" until 1968, one could by a gun by mail, yet there were no school killings in the country.

What is it? Some Harvard chemist has discovered marijuana and other drugs? These drugs were all well known. What has changed is our values.

IMHO, our "drug problem" in general began to show up in the 60's because that's when synthetic drugs - barbiturates and amphetamines came into mainstream usage. They had many of the effects of natural drugs, but came without the historical stigma attached. The medical community and pharmaceutical companies assured us they were "safe" and we believed them. Societal values don't change overnight, and the change didn't start with the "hippies", but with their parents.

But societal values have changed, and many like yourself don't like the turn they've taken. That's understandable, but if you think that it is appropriate or desireable for the federal government to assume the role of re-shaping society into something you find more to your liking, then I believe you are very wrong. If you think society is messed up, look at what passes for values and character inside the beltway, and tell me you honestly think that they will be our salvation. It's society's job to determine what kind of government we will have. It's not government's job to determine what kind of society we will live in. I don't see how you can honestly say you support the idea of a government of the people, for the people, and by the people if you don't trust the people.