Marijuana should be legalized for a multitude of reasons, it can help both economically and medically, those are the two main points right here. Marijuana is not artificial, it is naturally grown, just like cigarette tobacco which supposedly causes lung cancer, yet cigarettes are legal. And then there are a variety of plants that, when processed correctly, produce alcohol which, if abused, can cause liver disease and yet it too is legal. Where is the study that shows marijuana causes harm to the body? There was a statement that Congressman Blumenauer made that marijuana was the "gateway drug", there are other officials and policemen who agree with him. I beg to differ. If you want alcohol to be considered a drug, then why has no one accused alcohol of being the "gateway drug"? I recognize that there are legitimate disadvantages to legalizing marijuana, such as the increasing possibility that it could become drug-related. children's hands. Or that legalizing marijuana might increase serious crime, but now kids smoke and drink and marijuana isn't legal. The pros in this case outweigh the cons. The University of Michigan concluded that this is the result of a study involving alcohol, tobacco and marijuana. The study showed that alcohol was the “gateway drug” to marijuana. Unlike alcohol and prescription drugs, marijuana is not lethal if overdosed. In 2009, a study by the US Department of Health and Human Studies was published that 69.7 million Americans are currently consumers of tobacco products, 15 million Americans abuse alcohol, and only 4.2 million Americans abuse of tobacco products. marijuana. ("Marijuana"). This article from “Truthout” by Carmen Yarrusso, from 2013. Culture t...... middle of paper ......the United States could tax the earnings and would have additional funds that could be used for awareness of the effects and drug treatment. We would open so many doors of opportunity, we would look at the jobs that would be created, that would help our economy. If people looked past that objection and saw the bigger picture, we could save our country's financial and medical problems. Works Cited Heyes, J.D. "Natural News". naturalnews.com. Np, 07 21 2012. Web. 26 February 2014."marijuanatoday.com." Pros of Marijuana Legalization - MarijuanaToday.com. Np, 02 262014. Web. 26 Feb 2014. Messerli, Joe. “balancedpolitics.org.” Should marijuana be legalized under all circumstances? Np, 08 06 2011. Web. 26 Feb 2014.Yarrusso, Carmen. “Top Ten Reasons to Legalize Marijuana Now.” Truth-Out.org. Np, 06 092013. Web. 26 February 2014.