Medical Marijuana, what is your opinion?

I have been diagnosed with a chronic illness called interstitial cystitis. I am in the process of getting my medicinal marijuana license, because they do not offer me narcotics for pain. Being that it is a chronic illness that never goes away, and the fact that they don't really know what it is, they are afraid to get me addicted to painkillers. So, I want to try an alternative route with medicinal marijuana. Problem is, my family (Christian bible thumpers) thinks that because of that, I am a bad person? Because I don't want to be in pain all day? How does that make me bad? Why do people feel smoking pot is so bad? It is so much safer than alcohol, and it would help my pain... Opinions??? Feel free to write a story if you would like, I just want a rough idea of what everyone is thinking.