On the one hand we have a large group of people in the United States, backed by current federal law, who believe that marijuana is a vile, pernicious drug that should be suppressed at all costs. And right now the costs are extremely high. There are the costs of law enforcement, imprisonment of users, international interdiction, drug crime, lost tax revenues, etc. There is also collateral damage like the ban on hemp, which would otherwise be an environmentally friendly way to produce natural fibers.

On the other hand we have a group of people who believe that marijuana is no different from alcohol, and should be legal just like alcohol. Their point of view is getting a hearing right now because of the recession. The legalization and subsequent taxation of marijuana would generate a lot of revenue. And it would also eliminate many of the aforementioned costs. The combination could help out cash-strapped cities and states.

Sitting somewhere between these two warring factions is medical marijuana. The goal of medical marijuana is to use of the primary active ingredient in marijuana (THC) and other compounds found in cannabis for legitimate medical therapies. Let's take a look at how these therapies work.

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