Here's another article that discusses the history of weed.
http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/History/whiteb1.htm
I find it kind of interesting that though many of these articles are very similar, there are suble differences in the things they present as facts. For example, BigBen2k's second link above on the first page states that cotton replaced hemp as the primary fiber for clothing and such because it became cheaper to produce. Yet still today one of the primary arguements for legalization that many use is that hemp is such a good fiber for making various things out of (clothing, rope, etc.).
In any case, I believe we have at least gotten to the point where people who are actually reading these links are coming to understand the issues instead of blindly stating un-informed opinions on the subject. For example I think BigBen at least understands what and why the Canadian government is trying to do in decriminalizing it, even if he still disagrees with it - unlike icehearts 1-liner post at the top of page three which I consider nothing more than flamebait.
Personally, I would like to see it completly legalized (and if you look to the left, you may note that I am in Canada where it is already on the road to being decriminalized). I believe people should be free to grow their own and smoke it for whatever reasons they wish. They should be allowed to sell it, and the government should collect a tax on it. In the end, it should be controlled very much like tobacco currently is here. I should also say that tobacco is currently controled much more stricly here than anywhere else I've been to. Smoking tobacco is currently illegal in ALL public places in Alberta except for bars/pubs which require everyone that enters to be 18 years or older (18 is also the drinking age here btw) - by the end of 2004 that will also be illegal, all public places will be smoke free. That includes dedicated smoking areas of these places, there is not a single McDonalds in this province with a smoking section anymore - if minors are allowed inside, smoking is not allowed. It is also illegal to smoke tobacco outdoors in many public places - notably just outside the doors of buildings that you can't smoke inside of - if you're out in the middle of nowhere you can smoke, but you can't do it in a place where the public needs to walk through your cloud to get to where they are going.
Weed should IMHO be controlled very similar to that. It should not be allowed to be smoked in public, where secondary smoke would be inhaled by the general public. If you are purchasing it somewhere, it will be heavily taxed (tobacco is currently taxed by about 200% here) and require the purchaser to be at least 18 years of age. Just like alcohol driving while under the influence, selling to minors, etc. will all be illegal and have heavy penalties. But for the average recreational user, the government really should have no say in him being allowed to have a plant in a small pot on his dresser in his bedroom, and to break off a bit of it to smoke while he watches a bit of TV before he goes to bed.