This article will outline the best reasons why marijuana should be legal in the United States. There are very legitimate arguments as to why the substance should not be allowed but I believe that these arguments can all be refuted.  Most of the arguments center around the affects the substance has on the people’s health and the overall American Society. 

The argument that marijuana should not be illegal because of the health affects it has on the user appears at first to be legitimate.  At the very least these people are looking out for other people’s well being.  However, consider what else is allowed in our country.  Tobacco products in particular cigarettes are much worse than marijuana.  One main reason for this is that marijuana can be “used” with what is known as a vaporizer.  This is a device which eliminates the affects of smoking on the participants lungs and throat. 

The second argument, that society will suffer from the legalization of marijuana, appears reasonable until it is more closely examined.  People who use marijuana are stereotyped as being lazy and unproductive.  This is not necessarily true but even if it was…would you rather have a friend or family member who was a little bit lazy on the weekends, or a raging angry drunk who was embarrassing and potentially dangerous to everyone around them.  Obviously the marijuana user is more safe to be around.

People often also argue that “high driving” will add to the danger on the roads by combing with the already horrible “drunk driving”.  This is probably untrue.  Just because marijuana is legal does not mean that any laws regarding driving under the influence would change.  This would still be illegal and the penalties would be just as harsh as they are for drunk drivers.  One could even argue that if people were not afraid of being caught smoking marijuana they would stay home and drive less while on the substance.  After all 23% of teen drivers in fatal car accidents were over the legal alcoholic limit.  Teens are more likely to drive drunk than an adult is because it is legal for adults to drink.

I actually believe that legalizing marijuana could have a positive affect on society as a whole.  If marijuana is legalized, peaceful businessmen and the United States Government could regulate the distribution of the drug.  This would replace the black-market drug lords from this country and also out of the country.  By undermining these illegal organizations drug crime would reduce drastically and the profits of these usually violent criminals would be taken away.

So while many people believe that marijuana is a terrible thing and should not be legalized.  I take the position that the substance could actually help cut crime, and it would help the economy by providing jobs at probably hundreds and possibly thousands of new businesses. There is also much much worse substances already legal such as addictive cigarettes and alcohol both of which can be fatal.  Marijuana has never caused an overdose death and is not addictive. I base my opinion on these ideas and also the basic fact that millions of people around the world use and love marijuana…can it be that bad?