Medical marijuana

My stand on Medical Marijuana. To tell you the truth, prior to listening to the video and reading some of the articles (Pro & Con) I didn't think much about it. In a way I just thought that marijuana shouldn't be illegal, because whatever is prohibited just makes it more desirable, and I think the narcotics industry has grown to that extent because the 'illegal' status. That happened with alcohol, that happened with tobacco, and that happens with whatever's banned. However, it came as a surprise the billionaire industry that has actually become for the federal government by prosecuting users as well as providers. Not only by growing the prison population, but through the seizure or confiscation of property, etc.

To my surprise, also, was the stance the White House holds regarding marijuana use, and some of the facts that presents in its web-page as "Myths of Marijuana Use", within these myths is also mentioned that "smoking marijuana leads to changes in the brain similar to those caused by cocaine, heroin, and alcohol" So, how come is the use of alcohol legal?

In the other hand, I found interesting that as early as John Stuart Mill times, there was concern with the abuse of power and civil liberties, and how we should prevent the government for overstepping its bounds: "The only purpose to which power can be rightfully exercised against any member of a civilized community is to prevent harm to others. His own good physical or moral is not a sufficient warrant. It cannot rightfully compelled to do so or forebear...the State shouldn't use its police powers to punished those for what they ingest"

So, I know some people would say that by hurting yourself you, also, hurt others, such as family members, etc. But doesn't happen the same way when we drink alcohol, or smoke?

It seems that by banning marijuana, the government is actually violating our sovereignty. And the implications just grow and grow in detriment of our civil liberties:

Restrictive free speech, hypocrisy of those in power, drug testing is an invasion of privacy, monitoring/punishing private behavior, seizure of private property, discriminates (confirmed) against minorities and the poor, disenfranchises citizens: not allowed to vote for life.

What is appalling is that murders and rapists are not subject to this harsh measures.

And then the medical implications, how can we allow patients to use morphine to ease the pain, but not marijuana?