Marijuana has been quite a controversial topic in recent years, and until recently there hasn't been much change in its classification as an illegal substance. In recent years we have seen many states revoke prison sentences, approve its medical use, and even some states go so far as to completely legalize it in all forms. Is this still a step in the right direction? Should we legalize it? Some would say no, it is a dangerous drug that should be contained and others would say it is nothing more than a plant, no worse than tobacco or alcohol. I am in favor of legalization. I think we should make it completely legal in all 50 states. This drug is not as dangerous as cigarettes or alcohol, it has been proven to be a safer alternative to prescription painkillers. Not only that, but there is a huge profit to be made when it comes to growing, processing, and selling marijuana. Finally we need to make it completely legal on every level for every state. Decriminalization has made the lines blurry, people continue to spend time in prison, and each state is free to make its own rules, creating a lot of confusion. Marijuana has its flaws, but I think its benefits far outweigh the flaws. Marijuana is relatively safe to use as long as it is used responsibly, just as it is okay to drink as long as you watch how much you drink and don't drive under the influence. The same rules apply. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssayMarijuana is much less dangerous than alcohol, cigarettes, and almost all prescription painkillers. It's because of the way it reacts with our brains that doesn't make it as dangerous. We have receptors in our brains called cannabinoid receptors. Our bodies produce natural chemicals called endocannabinoids, which have a similar molecular structure to THC and other cannabinoids found in plants (Armentano). THC reacts with a natural receptor in our brain similar to how natural chemicals in our body do, it's not like alcohol and prescription painkillers destroying the liver or cigarettes causing cancer, ruining teeth and even the lungs. You can also avoid harming your lungs with marijuana by turning it into oil or butter and putting it in food. An even more positive thing about marijuana is that it is impossible to overdose, this is because it does not depress the central nervous system like opiates and alcohol (Armentano). A great fear of many is the fatal overdose that usually looms over the heads of drug addicts, who become tolerant to the drug until they take so much that they die. A 40-year study suggests that marijuana is not toxic to organs and cells and may even protect our bodies from cancer, and one of the only negative effects reported by users was dizziness (Armentano). This shows that in over 40 years there has been nothing linking marijuana to cancer or disease. This is extraordinary when compared to the side effects of prescription drugs, tobacco, and alcohol, all of which cause disease and cancer with prolonged use. Of course there are still people who should not smoke it due to age or condition. Pregnant women, children, and people with certain diseases such as hepatitis C probably shouldn't smoke it (Armentano). Even new smokers should pay attention, the drug affects everyone differently. It may cause paranoia if you smoke too much the first few times. The more experienced you become, the more capable you will beto regulate it and understand that these are personal limits. All of these things add up to me as a simple, almost obvious choice as to why marijuana should be legalized. There's more to it than just "will it kill me?", many people claim that the effects of marijuana are strong and can cloud decision making and can sometimes even create panic, disorientation, and paranoia (National Institute on Drug Abuse ). This is why I say that everything is based on the person's ability to manage the drug. Just like with alcohol, the user must know their limits. Lightweights may be more susceptible to smoking or drinking more than they can handle, with marijuana these side effects are unfortunately mostly psychological. It's the same with drinking, though: Someone who drinks too much at a time could also become paranoid, disoriented, and cloud your decision-making, too. Alcohol can also make you violently ill, cause vomiting, headaches, and everything else is sure to follow. So I ask myself: why is alcohol legal and marijuana is not? Based on the information gathered above and the side effects of drinking more than the user can handle, I'd say it's a pretty even match, except that alcohol is worse. Another concern of many is impaired driving. Some argue that marijuana is as much of a problem as drunk driving. Statistics say that 14.4% of night drivers tested positive for drug use and of that 14.4%, 8.65% tested positive for marijuana use (Larkin). While these numbers don't seem that large, even one drunk driver is enough to kill multiple people. Over half of those who tested positive for the drug had marijuana in their systems. This is a serious issue that needs to be addressed, that being said, I don't think it's a valid reason not to legalize marijuana. Alcohol is legal and causes approximately 10,000 deaths and over $37 billion in damages (Larkin). To me this shows that alcohol is just as bad if not worse, and if alcohol can be legal despite these numbers, then I think that's not a strong enough argument against legalizing marijuana. The marijuana cultivation business would bring in a huge amount of taxable income for the United States. The business is estimated to be worth around $40 billion, completely untaxed (Drug Policy Alliance). Not only would the sale of marijuana be taxable but it could also create thousands upon thousands of new jobs. Not only would you need people to grow it, but you need people to process it, ship it, and sell it. There is also a market for edibles, foods prepared with THC oil. Taxing this drug could help America in its downward financial spiral, perhaps even push it in the opposite direction. Before prohibition it was used not only to produce leaves, but also to produce THC. The seeds and stump of the plant are among the many parts of the plant that do not produce the sensation of "high", however these parts of the plant are far from useless. The seeds have been used to produce oil, amino acids and other similar things. The stump of the plant can be used for everything, from paper to rope to clothing (Armentano). There is so much profit in this plant it's amazing. It is a renewable source for supplies and other goods that we can use every day. Before prohibition, cannabis had been grown and used for thousands of years, as early as 7000 BC, it was used for everything from medical purposes to food to clothing (Armentano). It is only in the last century that the plant was banned from the United States. If it is not seriously harmful, if it can lead.