Despite the success of the eight states who have legalized it as well as the medical breakthroughs discovered, marijuana is still illegal in 42 states here in America. Selling or possessing the drug can lead to large fines or even time in prison.  

     Cannabis should be legalized in all 50 states.

     Legalizing marijuana would create an influx of medicinal uses such as pain stabilizers for cancer patients, concussions, Alzheimer’s, and bipolar disorder According to studies conducted by the American Many argue that it would lead to an increase in recreational use of the drug, but the medical benefits greatly outweigh any other concerns. A study conducted by the California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco showed that marijuana contains a cancer stopping chemical.

      Buying cannabis on the street is extremely dangerous, and it often contains poisonous material. This is done so that less of the drug can be sold but stay the same price. After evaluating a sample of this commonly sold drug, traces of E Coli, toilet water bacteria, and the deadly mold Aspergillus were found. In addition, untested chemicals,such as cholinesterase inhibitors, a deadly neurotoxin, are being used by growers. Lastly bacteria from unsterile environments often occur when storing the plant in dirty screens and unhygienic work environments. If marijuana were to be legalized, strict regulations could be placed on the drug to make it safer for consumption.

     There are some huge financial advantages to legalizing cannabis. Colorado is one of the eight states that legalized the drug which has become a bigger economic driver than 90% of the active businesses there.  It is predicted that in 2019 over $114 million in new tax revenue will be generated for Arizona from the sale of the plant. According to research conducted by Arcview Market Research, sales in North America grew 30%, to $6.7 billion, in 2016, and is projected to increase to $20.1 billion by 2021.

     Another advantage is that it would help with the issue of prison overcrowding. Statistics show that %46 of incarcerated individuals are in for drug related offences. If states stopped making growing, selling, or possessing marijuana a criminal offence, those spots could be taken up by people who are a real threat to the community. In addition it is a huge waste of money for the taxpayers to feed, clothe, shelter these individuals for months or even years at a time.

     Groups who oppose cannabis legalization argue that this is a moral issue. What they do not seem to understand, however, is that no matter how many laws are put in place, people will still find a way to acquire it. The best option is get control of the situation and make sure that nothing other than the plant itself is being used. During the prohibition period where all forms of alcohol were banned, there was a huge influx of criminal activity and violence.

     A compromise to this issue would be to legalize medical marijuana and give lesser sentences to those who are caught with it. For example, instead of going to jail for two years, states could make people convicted of use give back to society by serving community service hours which would help clear out the prisons.

     Legislators should spend more time learning and understanding the facts about cannabis and realize it has the potential to be more than just another illegal drug. More people in states which have not legalized it need to step up and expose the positive reality of marijuana to their governments, which could catch the attention on the federal level.