I find that Marijuana is a much more safe, controlled, and dignified drug than alcohol. I think that marijuana should most definetly be legalized but with several restrictions and regulations.

And as far as it being the gateway drug, why dont you take a look at Amsterdam? Marijuana and shrooms are legal, yet they have the tightest laws against stronger drugs such as Cocaine, Heroin, and LSD. The result? They have one of the lowest drug addict ratios in the world.