Ok, I will tackle the subjects, but I will not be very lengthy. First one:
Legalization/use of medical marijuana
Here goes. First of all, I am not convinced that marijuana has medicinal purposes that cannot be obtained by any other means. As far as I know, its use is pretty much to reduce pain. So I guess it doesn't hurt as much when you're stoned. Heh heh, dude, I feel fine now. Where's the potato chips? I've got the munchies. Whoa. That potato chip looks like the Virgin Mary. Far out, man.
Even if it does have it's positive uses, there are also known negative effects. Blackened lungs. Shortened memory. Reduced judgement. Oh wow man, I just hit your car. I didn't get stopped for the red light in time. Dude, I'm so sorry man. Don't call the cops ok? My friend has a body shop and can fix you right up. Just give him a call. Hey that music on your radio is sooo righteous. Heh heh. Man, I'm hungry. Note -- this actually happened to me when I was 19. I got hit by a couple of toqued up jerks while I was waiting in the left turn lane.
If there were some way to lock people up so that they could not affect anyone else, then I don't care if they want to get stoned. Problem is, it will still affect others in some way or another. My tax dollars will get to pay for the emergency traecheotomy when the throat cancer takes over. And what about other family members? What responsibilities are being ignored? Who is watching the kids? Who is paying for the weed? Who else can get at the jude?
My opinion: Keep the camel outside the tent. It's not worth it. I don't have the ideal answer for the alternative to killing the pain. But smoking a joint is not among my first 100 choices.