People on both sides need to realize that there are benefits to both legalization and prohibition.
Economically: I feel that in a time of economic downturn it would beneficial to begin to regulate, tax, and commercially grow marijuana here. It is the number one cash crop in America and our government is receiving zero revenue as well as spending a lot of money to imprison marijuana drug offenders (I believe that this makes up 40% of all prisoners in jail for drug-related offenses.)
Crime rates: As previously mentioned, the number of prisoners would be drastically reduced and there would be a decrease in gang activity because they would not receive funding from marijuana sales.
Effect on youth: As the law stands today, it is just as easy for a 16 year old to purchase marijuana as it is for a 21 year old or a 40 year old- and sometimes easier due to the networking opportunities provided by high schools. Many young people die in dealing with drug dealers and street gangs, I personally knew two people who were viciously murdered over a drug deal.
http://drugreport.wordpress.com/2006/08/02/98/ If Marijuana were legalized, high school students and other underage groups would most likely go through an older sibling or use a fake id to purchase it- much like alcohol today.
Effect on public health: Assuming that marijuana usage would drastically fall with legalization, (a disputed topic) there would be public health risks associated with smoking such as increases in lung cancer and DUI deaths. I feel that the tax revenue received from taxation would cover the public health care burden and that revenue would also be used to train police officers to identify when people are under the influence of marijuana while driving. I feel that most public places would ban the smoking of marijuana because of the health risk (especially to children.)