While this is true, it's also good to point out the huge societal costs imposed by marijuana prohibition. Imprisonment, court costs, wasted police time, drug raids, paramilitary SWAT teams, breaking up families, drug cartels in Mexico running rampant, and everything that goes along with it. I think both arguments are true, but this secondary one is a good backstop. Even if someone thinks pot is bad, I doubt many, when faced with the full cost of the drug war, will say it's worse.