I believe medical marijuana is just fine, and is actually quite impressive. However, I don't believe it should be legalized for private use.

Here's the difference between marijuana and alchohol. Marijuana may be better than alcohol in the short run, but what about the long run? Although the long term effects aren't known yet, marijuana has a lot of connections to tobacco. Just because of that fact that it's related to tobacco (not because it makes u feel gud), you have the risk of getting an incurable disease like lung cancer. Additionally to Pimpsy's argument on useless banning, people go around laws all the time, not just when a drug is banned. It's always been that way, but having laws provides at least some regulation.

And here's the difference with alcohol-- it may be more intoxicating, but if you drink it in moderation, you may even get health benefits. Yes yes, marijuana has health benefits. In fact, I looked them up. Every one of these benefits are health issues that are helped by marijuanna. Are there any natural health benefits for those who aren't prescribed to it? Hard to say.

Also, no matter what you believe, think about the anti-tobacco campaign going on right now. I don't think another smoking drug will be approved any time soon.