First off, yes, there are plenty of employers, including thousands of government jobs, that do drug screenings for pot (among other things). Secondly, yes, there are thousands of people arrested for marijuana possession each year, and that drug conviction on their record can keep them from getting jobs for employers (including almost all government jobs) that do criminal background checks. A significant portion (even a majority in many areas) of most ADA's cases involve non-violent drug offenses, many of them for marijuana. The vast majority of defendants plead guilty, so you don't hear about them. Thirdly, yes, it seems almost certain that there are plenty of people who would smoke (or at least smoke more) if it was perfectly legal to buy and use. It is a silly law, but buying an illegal drug from an illegal dealer is a little bit more than speeding -- and can have much more significant consequences.

Quote Originally Posted by NCG
That and it's ridiculously easy to get a card these days.
Which is fine for people who never want to get a federal job anywhere (including post office or some other very common jobs) or job at a private hospital/medical facitility or police department or outside the state and are willing to bank on the DEA not having a random whim and raiding a local facility and arresting everyone involved. And on the hope that the police never come knocking on the wrong door and find the stash (which may or may not involve criminal charges, but at the least some lost money, jail time, and a huge inconvenience).

Anyway, there is no serious debate on this issue. It is only politics and mindless bigotry that keeps marijuana from being legal now (same with gay marriage, prostitution, etc.).