The controversy surrounding marijuana use boils down to the same issue as the controversy about abortion: personal choice.

The big difference is that abortion has no additional "benefits" (for lack of a better term), while legalized cannabis would provide many uses beyond just medical or casual use.

The oil from the plant is a rich source for alternative fuel, more efficient than ethanol made from corn and therefore cost competitive with gasoline. In fact, Henry Ford designed the original Model T to run on fuel derived from cannabis grown on his own property! The plastic-like material used on the body panels of the Model T were made from the fiber of the cannabis plant, and were lighter and stronger than steel panels.

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