I hear this argument so much it's not even funny. What the people who use this excuse fail to realize is that the current laws are doing absolutely NOTHING to stop anyone from smoking pot. Under the current system, anyone of any age who wants to get pot can do so very easily.

The current laws are doing nothing except putting a temporary dent in the supply chain (at BEST)...they are also wasting untold millions (more likely billions) in police resources that could be better spent tracking down REAL, violent criminals.

In a legal environment, hefty fines will keep shop owners (and your average guy on the street) from selling to minors, quality will become more uniform as the free market takes over the trade, profits will go back into the economy rather than to the black market and criminal enterprises (where currently 100% of the profits go) and regular people who happen to smoke weed (which is most of them) will no longer have to interact with society's more unsavory elements to get their hands on some.

Sure, there will be some adjustments society will have to get used to...it will appear that more and more people are smoking, when in reality it will only seem that way, as all the closet smokers will no longer have to fear persecution and prosecution from their peers. And just like alcohol, minors will find ways to get their hands on it, and yes some people will do stupid things with it, but tat's no different than things now, except people who get caught will be subject to fines rather than a criminal record that will haunt them their entire lives and ruin their chances of becoming productive members of society.