Legalize MARIJUANA in the US

1-Given that Marijuana is used in it's natural state, without processing or additives, we believe that it should not be classed as a "drug". 2-Given that substances like cocaine, heroine, morphine & methanphetamine are manufactured and/or the result of extensive processing, we believe that they rightly carry the classification of "drug" and/or dangerous substance. 3-Given that cocaine, heroine, morphine and methanphetamine can be extremely physically addictive and marijuana is not at all physically addictive, marijuana should not be classed with the others. 4-Users of the addicting drugs listed above are likely to commit violent crimes to satisfy their addictions. Since marijuana is not addictive and in fact promotes a more calming, euphoric behavior, users are not prone to violent crimes. This is another reason marijuana should not be classified with the other drugs. 5-Since most of the arrests associated with marijuana are the result of laws against its possession, use, or distribution and not the result of violent crimes associated with its use (as with other drugs listed above), we believe it follows that the greatest detriment to using marijuana are simply the laws prohibiting its use. We consider these laws as being against the public interest because, as the justice system pursues non-violent marijuana users, its resources are not focused on the truly violent, anti-social crimes associated with the addictive drugs. 6-We believe that the "war on drugs" has been a failure because of the government's inability to separate marijuana from dangerous, addictive drugs. 7-We believe that because marijuana is falsely classed as a "drug", the laws and penalties are too harsh, the public and political stigma is unwarranted and the attention of law enforcement is unnecessarily distracted from substances that are genuine public menaces. 8-We believe that the idea that marijuana is a "gateway drug" is a false campaign and actually a product of the incorrect application laws. As long as marijuana is grouped with addictive, dangerous drugs, users of marijuana will be de facto "birds of a feather", forced to purchase marijuana from or otherwise associate with users of those drugs. We believe it is the incorrect legal grouping of marijuana with these drugs that makes marijuana a "gateway". When the laws are changed to isolate dangerous drugs and their users from marijuana users, by making marijuana a legal substance, the gateway will no longer exist because associations with addicted criminal elements will no longer be necessary. 9-We believe that the cultivation, possession, use, distribution of marijuana should be legalized in the United States. 10-We believe that all persons currently imprisoned on marijuana related crimes should be immediately released and their criminal records expunged. 11-We believe that a sane, reasonable framework for permitting the cultivation, possession, distribution and use of marijuana should be determined and instituted immediately.