We all have to deal with people that don't have all the 'facts on weed'. One thing to keep in mind. I don't know anyone that is for legalization, that is advocating that it be made mandatory. Perhaps, if you could ask some questions to expand on his knowledge it might help.
You can't argue your way to changing minds. When you argue you have to make the other person wrong. You say you did that and it was obvious to everyone there, that he was just flat wrong. Win the battle lose the war. Try sopmething like this when someone tells you what they know is wrong with pot.
"You know you are right to be concerned about this. It is an important question. Let me tell you what research has shown regarding that."
Now what have you done? You have taken his objection and turned it into a question, the brother is just asking for more information. Soo... help him out. Answer his question. Example.....
"Marijuana is a Gateway Drug". You know Bill, you are right to be concerned about this, I have heard the same thing. So I had to ask myself why? Why is it a gateway drug? " Because thats how people get started on the other drugs".
Thats the same thing I heard. So I did some checking and I found out some thing that was amazing to me. According to LEAP, you know the group that is going around the country trying to get 'all' drugs legalized and controlled, you know LAW ENFORCEMENT AGAINST PROHIBITION a group of former law enforcement officials less of a percentage of Marijuana users go on to try other drugs, then the percentage of people that never smoked MJ and do use other more harmful drugs. They say that instead of being a 'Gateway Drug' for most people that smoke MJ, it is a terminus drug. They start smoking pot, after having tried liquor and nicotene, and they stop right there. Less tahn 1 out of 100 potheads go on to other drugs, like Oxycodene etc. which are legal drugs. Of course those other legal drugs can be addictive, and according to LEAP MJ is not addictive. Thats why it is the cheapest drug, because its not addictive. Unlike alcohol which obviuosly can be addictive. I know it suprised the hell out of me. I thought the reason it was a gateway drug was because the criminals that sell it, know its not addictive so they might try to get you to try some other drug like coke that is addictive, so they could get you hooked on something ,more expensive. And when was the last time you heard of a drug dealer asking for ID, to make sure the person buying the weed is old enough to 'use it responsibly'. If MJ is a Gateway drug and if it does lead you to try other drugs, how come 14% of the population smokes it on a regular basis, at least 20 times per month and yet less than 2% of the population is addicted to the hard drugs, like crack and heroin. You'd think that after being around since the 'hippie sixties' everyone would be addicted to these other drugs, wouldn't you?
Well... didn't mean to ramble on. Just a few thoughts on Winning the War, not just a battle. VV