Almost all Americans have heard of marijuana and its many nicknames such as weed, MJ, Mary Jane, cannabis, etc. “Nearly 100 million Americans use marijuana.” (“Marijuana Information”) NORML, an organization that advocates for changing marijuana laws, states, “Marijuana is the third most popular recreational drug in America, after alcohol and tobacco.” (“About marijuana.”) If so many people use it, why hasn't it been legalized? Some would say it should remain illegal because it hurts people and is bad for society. To a certain extent, it can be harmful to people and harmful to society by creating binge-eaters and sweetened, couch-slackers; however, marijuana itself has never been proven to kill anyone. It's just like alcohol and tobacco. It has been a controversial topic for many years. Government leaders have discussed its therapeutic use and effects on society. Some strongly believe that it should be legalized for recreational and medicinal purposes, others are against legalization, others believe that decriminalization should be sufficient and the rest believe that it should be used exclusively for medicinal purposes. Many states are moving in the direction of legalizing marijuana for medicinal purposes, while some have voted to legalize it and generate revenue from it. Legalizing marijuana should be up to the people. Decriminalizing it does not seem to be enough. This means that marijuana would still be illegal but the consequences of its use would not be criminal. This still leads to corruption, drug cartels, black markets and the prohibition of the right to make choices. If people want it to be legalized, the government should legalize it and regulate it like alcohol and tobacco. The benefits of legalization would help Unity...center of paper...I want to legalize marijuana." Rolling Stone. June 27, 2013: page no. Web. October 28, 2013. .Messamore, Wesley. "This cartoon demonstrates why it's time to legalize marijuana in America." PolicyMic Network Inc, October 13, 2013. Web. October 23, 2013. "Organized Crime and Prohibition." Web. November 12, 2013. "Pennsylvania." Marijuana Policy Project, September 10, 2013. Web. Nov. 1, 2013. Schuette, Ryan “Legalizing Marijuana: The Republican Case for Doing It,” Sept. 17, 2013. Web. Oct. 22 2013.