@ObiRonMoldy there are literally 100s of issues from the classification of drugs, to abortion, to education, to social security that are in no way truly Federal issues. The Left, from FDR, to activist Supreme Court decisions usurped more and more State sovereignty, to the point that it is almost gone. This is one of the most damaging changes in US politics in the last 90 years or so for many reasons.

@ObiRonMoldy Well, not so sure. There has been some evidence of late that Marijuana might have some useful cancer-killing compounds in it. Some of the THC-compounds (not the delta-9 variety ) I have seen a number of articles claiming that it is, but so far I have not seen anything completely definitive.

For instance, this first link from cancer.org says outright that it is: [cancer.org]

However, this second link from cancer.gov is a little more reserved in their opinion: [cancer.gov]

I think as more and more people start to see Marijuana as something OTHER than the PSYCHOSIS-INDUCING WACKY-WEED that Harry Anslinger (aka. Mr. "Reefer Madness" ) claimed it was, we'll start seeing the tide of public opinion change dramatically. It's nearly there now. I'm not sure what that Dude was smoking, but it sure wasn't the good stuff.

Wikipedia: [en.wikipedia.org]

@ObiRonMoldy It's my understanding that the "psychosis" is only found among heavy daily users and with the more potent strains of Marijuana that have been purposely bred to have a stronger psychoactive effect. To counter that study, after a fashion, are the recent studies which show alcohol to be considerably more detrimental than marijuana and-- as we all know-- a far larger health risk and public safety risk. I've always been of the opinion that I'd rather be on the road with potheads going 10 miles per hour in a 25 zone than facing a drunk going 75 coming in my lane. Some people speculate that we would see a larger amount of public safety hazard if marijuana were more widely legal, but I don't really think so. Not that I really want to see more of either on the road.

I'm not sure that big pharma is going to be able to keep this one under wraps. There has been a sea-change in this country relative to marijuana, both as a potential medicinal drug as well as a recreational use drug. A lot of it has to do with the youth culture which has now grown up to be adults-- and in office in local towns and cities as well as in State and Federal government. I think it's just a matter of time-- it's getting harder and harder to say "No" to keep it illegal.