Many assume that the usage of marijuana, or cannabis, is dangerous, but it can be the exact opposite. So why is the legalization of marijuana in the United States such a problem for many people today? Considered to be a gateway drug and the reason for the downfall of our youth nowadays, marijuana has developed a negative reputation. Lester Grinspoon, a professor at Harvard University, states, "Few drugs in the United States have produced as much affective heat as marijuana, particularly during the last decade. The controversy essentially revolves around the question of how dangerous or safe the drug is." However, many people are persistent users and believe that this drug is no more harmful than smoking cigarettes. Despite its useful medical effects for relieving pain and nausea, marijuana is a psychedelic drug that will be looked down upon because of false claims about it. Because people tend to overlook the positive facts, cannabis has become illegal for all the wrong reasons. .
Therefore, Marijuana should be legalized in the United States. Marijuana is the most commonly used drug in the world. It is usually smoked in a cigarette or in a pipe, often referred to as a bong. Marijuana, or cannabis, can also be mixed in food or brewed as a tea. Marijuana smoke usually has a sweet-and-sour odor to it; it can be compared to the aroma of a skunk (Marshall). Smokers are attracted to marijuana because of the "high" feeling they acquire. This sensation can be different for each person. For example, one smoker may feel as if they are in a different world when marijuana is consumed; another could just feel relaxed. In the past, efforts against marijuana were slim to none. That is until 1986, when the Anti-Drug Abuse Act was passed which stated that any drug-related crime would receive severe and mandatory sentences. From 1937 to 1947, the United States government had spent $220 million on the war against marijuana; and by 1969, the government had spent about $9 billion on the war, a price that is still rising to this day (Nevius).
