I would have to say that the phrase "just legalize it" won't get anything accomplished. Don't get the wrong idea, you have no idea how giddy it makes me to think of a world where I could come home from work, check my growing babies, pack my bong, walk outside on my back patio, fire up the the grill and my bong and wave to my neighbor and he just waves back. Terrible grammar there but you get the idea.
I think the 1st step would be to decriminalize MJ or even before that get medical herb allowed in your state. There are a lot of factors that go along with "legalizing". Most of the factors would deal with regulation. Say for instance before you could legalize MJ you would have to have a complete program for checking drivers intoxication levels after they had smoked some MJ, because you know this would be one of the points that an MJ opponent would scream out. You would have to come up with some sort of quickly done field test to check for driving impairment. I for one think I drive better after i've smoked a little because I drive slower and more cautious, but how do you come up with a numbered value that says, "Yes you are over x limit, you are impaired." I can think of several times when i'd just smoked way too much and IF I had gone out to my car and drove somewhere I could have very well injured myself or god forbid someone else.
The driving part is just 1 little factor that would have to be addressed (I wouldn't want to even get into the tax revenue part, where does it go, does it stay in the county or state or is it considered federal?
I won't delv into any of the other parts and I definately don't want to put a damper on the enthusiasim in this post, it's that kind of marijuana passion (good word usage eh?) that will (hopefully soon) grant all our wishes. Little stoned, maybe got a little too much in this post, but this topic consumes a lot of my free thinking time. Point is from all this....Start small, laying the foundation. Do the little things like email'ing your state rep or senator.
Till that great day, Burn 'em if ya got 'em and stay safe.
DS