that actually tears these families apart? Or is it the fact that it is "illegal" and because of this family members with strict moral background oppose those that decide to partake in the drug. Is it the fact that the drug causes those under the influence to make such bad decisions that it tears the family a part, or is it that a family member uses the drug and thus causes a family crisis because he/she is breaking the law? I would put more money on the latter, than on the fact that the effects of marijuana are so great and cause people to act in such detrimental ways such as the way they act when under the influence of a legal substance, alcohol. The effects of marijuana are minor in comparison to harder drugs (for example cocaine or heroine) or alcohol. The most common result of a marijuana user is the state commonly referred to as a "high", including an increased sense of well-being (euphoria), relaxation, and sleepiness. Short-term memory is impaired, and the capacity to carry out goal-directed problems requiring multiple and mental steps is reduced. Unlike alcohol where people can become violent and out of control, people under the influence of marijuana become sedate and happy as a whole. It is for this reason why people who fear that marijuana will tear the family and home apart should rest at ease, for it is more likely that morality filled homemakers feel more anxiety towards breaking laws then they do their son/daughter being high.
             Among the most powerful anti-marijuana groups are the combined law enforcement-judiciary-penal systems that have a vested interest in the status quo. "In 1970, 200,000 people were in prison. Today, 1.6 million people are, eight times as many in absolute number, six times as many relative to the increased population. In addition, 2.3 million are on probation and parole. The attempt to prohibit drugs is by far the major source of the horrendous growth in the prison populat...