People care about the marijuana laws. On our comments section, many vilify medical marijuana and have a grand old time making fun of those who endorse medical marijuana or legalization. Equally passionate, and equally mean-spirited, the proponents of legalization or medical use also comment harshly about the other side.

It's a very adversarial topic, which surprises me.

Today's story about the possible removal of the schedule one classification drew actual comments that consider the issue and not just hate between each side. Sure, you see a bit of the animosity, but this one is a good debate, considering the topic.

I mean if you're against the drug, do you still hate the user? And if you're for the drug's use, do you have to despise those against, considering it's been banned as a schedule 1 drug for decades, or almost a century.

I would think immigration would be a topic like this, and it is, but not medical marijuana. I'd think the pension tax would have people more up in arms, so perhaps these cultural divides are greater than I thought. Is it generational, too? Maybe a bit, but I think it's more where you stand in our culture.

Personally, it's a shame all the money spent fighting a war that will never be won, and this money is very important to a whole society of lawyers, cops, administrators and government people. Yet, teachers are the ones who are hated? If you hate teachers and their money, why not hate all the money spent on this war?

Here's a sample of comments on our latest story, and please note, these comments are the best and most constructive I've seen on a story about marijuana:

BigBoss-Osaurus wrote on Dec 1, 2011 5:18 PM:

" Time for the old guard to ride off into the sunset.
Its coming. "

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rd rge wrote on Dec 1, 2011 5:27 PM:

" trying to find a way to tax it. but as easy as it is to grow, might as well tax the tomato plant in the garden. so changing it to a number 2 drug is a bit away. but the war is over. they lose. "

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greedISbad wrote on Dec 1, 2011 6:19 PM:

" Oh, heck!! There's gotta be a better, quicker way than to wait for the government to OK pot. How about a good ol' fashioned revolution, eh! REVOLT!!!! "

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thoughtful blogger wrote on Dec 1, 2011 6:32 PM:

" The only one hallucinating is Patterson when he doesn't get his required overdose of alcohol. I think they call it the hebee jebees. "

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rd rge wrote on Dec 1, 2011 6:35 PM:

" how about a vote by the people? no,? i suppose that is against our national law. and unconstitutional! "

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TheBoss wrote on Dec 1, 2011 9:39 PM:

" I am here to let you know that we've had multiple votes by the people. Every time a brave and noble warrior for justice like Bouchard, Snyder, or Schuette was elected, the people spoke loud and clear. We don't want this poison in our communities and we will persecute those who traffic in narco-terrorism. "

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OldDog wrote on Dec 1, 2011 9:42 PM:

" Jessica Cooper, the C*** states: "But she said reclassification of marijuana would allow for manufacture by pharmaceutical companies, prescriptions from doctors and dispensing from pharmacies, just like any other medicines.

"Then we have what the people of this county and this state wanted," Cooper said. >>>>>>>>>>>>>> The people of this county and state voted on this and have no need for a change to please you and law enforcement. What the people wanted ?, what an un-flushed toilet you are Jessica. "

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gps wrote on Dec 1, 2011 10:23 PM:

" I have smoked a fair amount of pot in my lifetime and never once have I hallucinated.
Reclassification should also include removing this label. "

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TheBoss wrote on Dec 1, 2011 11:28 PM:

" You just THOUGHT you weren't hallucinating, which in itself is a hallucination. "

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GrEeDiSbAd wrote on Dec 2, 2011 12:02 AM:

" The sign-in is not case-sensitive. Nice! It seems we have another 'Boss' here, spouting the same crap as 'BigBoss', and the same twisted loyalties for stoopid government members. I dunno, what part of "minority" does 'Boss' NOT understand? Democracy, which is what our government is based on, means 'majority rule'. Or, as good ol' Abe Lincoln put it > government of the people, by the people, for the people. Right? "

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Nacho Panza wrote on Dec 2, 2011 6:48 AM:

" A DEA administrative judge already ruled marijuana safe back in 1988- this was the last time the federal government allowed a fair trial in regard to setting marijuana policy.

Legislators are only now catching on to the idea, mainly because the majority of the population has been taking measures into their own hands. L. Brooks Patterson indicates an obvious lack of education on cannabis.

http://www.ccguide.org/young88.php
DEA judge ruling marijuana "safe and therapeutic"

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/cam/cannabis/healthprofessional/page3
National Cancer Institute's history of marijuana as medicine

http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2011/11/kalamazoo_marijuana_signs_say.html
Kalamazoo lowers marijuana priority to improve public safety "

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TheBoss wrote on Dec 2, 2011 7:47 AM:

" I support democracy, which is why I believe in what Bill Schuette is doing. He was elected in a democratic election by a majority of the people. His actions are just the manifestation of the will of the citizens of Michigan. It is clear we, the MAJORITY (aka the people who voted for Bill) don't want this dangerous and deadly drug in our communities. Too many kids are killing themselves these days, something that did happen in years past. Is it any coincidence that all these kids started dying right around the time people started flooding our schools and playgrounds with deadly "medical" marijuana? When you have dope dealers who are also coaching football, you know there's something wrong! Thank goodness that problem solved itself. "

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BigBoss-Osaurus wrote on Dec 2, 2011 10:49 AM:

" The voters go duped on your beloved AG.
We won't be duped again. "