Make NO MISTAKE about it: America IS "the land of the free"! In ALL honestly, I simply don't understand YOUR connection between "land of the free" and the growing of marijuana. Marijuana is considered "a weed". It can virtually grow and be grown anywhere. It's a "controlled substance". Believe me, you aren't the first person to raise the issue about legalizing "herb", "weed", "Mary Jane", "pot" or any other street name you want to call it. It's been going on for at least 75 to 100 years. For at least one disease: the growing, harvesting, preparation, dispensing and use of marijuana is legal. With the exception of glaucoma, as of this date, August 17, 2008, to the best of my knowledge it doesn't have any health benefits. Unlike tobacco and alcohol, to the best of my knowledge, marijuana doesn't have any paid lobbyists. FINALLY: The use, abuse or not to use alcohol, tobacco and/or pot or any other controlled substance is a matter of choice, isn't it? Thanks for asking your Q! I enjoyed answering it! VTY, Ron Berue Yes, that is my real last name! Sources: Because you asked. Some personal observations and opinions. "THE University of Hard Knocks" also known as ("a/k/a") "life's valuable lessons"

there's a great many reasons, some good, some not so good. personally, i think it ought to be legalized. even the good reasons they have for keeping it illegal aren't good enough when compared to other substances readily available to the american public that are presently legal. then when you add to the mix all the plants and substances that have never been made illegal that are as "bad" or "worse" than marijuana it really makes the marijuana laws look extremely hypocritical. just look at the erowid site to see the plants and substances i'm talking about, there's quite a lot of them. ;) http://www.erowid.org/