There are a lot of interesting answers here.
As a long time marijuana smoker who lives in a place where It is legal to use, It saddens me that people who have never used it put it in the same category as hard drugs and they don't realize that it is less harmful than alcohol. Abusing marijuana?!? You'll just get fat and spacy. :)
I would have to agree 110% with @yogajill. There are so many uses for hemp as well.