For decades, the U.S. government and anti-marijuana lobbyists have used misleading information and propaganda to demonize and keep marijuana illegal. Current marijuana laws are fueled by prejudicial moral attitudes based on distorted information, half-truths, and exaggerated myths about the danger it poses, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Once these misconceptions are removed, it is obvious that legalizing marijuana poses less of a risk than already socially acceptable legal drugs, such as alcohol and tobacco, and will not cause the collapse of society as many fear. Furthermore, legalization will have a positive economic benefit, taking marijuana out of the hands of dangerous drug cartels and opening a market for domestic production and sale. This additional revenue generated from regulated and taxed marijuana sales, as well as the money saved on law enforcement and incarceration of offenders, can be used on more important national issues. An example of the scare tactics used to try to convince the American people that marijuana is dangerous can be seen as early as 1935, in a propaganda film titled “Reefer Madness” (Gasnier & Hirliman, 1935). The film chronicles the effects of marijuana use on a group of teenagers, depicting murders, blackouts, and madness as a result of its use, none of which are based on scientific fact. Ironically, this film became a cult comedy in the 1970s due to its exaggerated depiction of marijuana use (Armstrong, n.d.). While a blatantly inaccurate educational film like this would never be released today, it is a good example of how long the American public has been misinformed about the dangers of marijuana. ..s/marijuanaOverdose from marijuana. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.allaboutcounseling.com/library/marijuana-overdose/ Miron, J. & Waldock, K. (2010). The budgetary implications of ending drug prohibition. Retrieved from http://www.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/pubs/pdf/DrugProhibitionWP.pdf Smoking and tobacco use. (2013). Retrieved from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website: http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/health_effects/effects_cig_smoking/index.htmSewell, R.A., Poling, J., and Sofuoglu, M. (2009). The effect of cannabis compared to alcohol on driving. The American Journal on Addictions.18: 185–193. doi: 10.1080/10550490902786934Tandy, K. (updated September 21, 2013). Marijuana: Myths Are Killing Us DEA chief examines harmful misconceptions about weed. Retrieved from http://alcoholism.about.com/od/pot/a/bldea050426.htm