The question "Why is marijuana illegal?" is currently a subject I have been putting a lot of time and thought into considering I was recently cited for simple possession of marijuana. Growing up in New York a place that has already legalized medical marijuana, it usually doesn't even cross my mind how other states look at the drug. The equivalent charge in New York is at most a 100 dollar fine which in the grand scheme of things is quite a small fine considering it's a misdemeanor and a 620 dollar fine in South Carolina. All that for a drug that is relatively harmless and has been full legalized for recreational use in multiple states. Now I'm trying to look deeper into the subject to find out why still 80% of the states still look at Marijuana as if it destroying lives. As well as too look into how we viewed the drug in the past and how we got to where we are today. The current generation has been desensitized to marijuana and truly is the older generation holding back the legalization of the drug and it is important to me to find out why they look at in the way they do.

Max Hills article "It's Time to Legalize Marijuana" is all about the known facts about marijuana. He starts off referring to the history behind the widely used drug. Dating back all the way too when the colonies were first formed. Marijuana was used extensively from the creation of the United States all the way up too right after World War II. Over 52% of all drug arrests in the U.S. are related to Marijuana over a drug that has been proven to be much safer than many legal drugs. It's so common even our last three presidents have admitted to smoking it and at no point were they reprehended for their actions. Max Hill is not exactly an expert in the subject but he does base his opinion off of the facts he has presented. Using those facts about our past he comes to a full conclusion.

Lucy Steigerwald "Legalizing Weed Will Be Like Ending Prohibition" brings up one of the biggest points when it comes to alcohol and marijuana. They are both quite similar, in the past we knew alcohol was bad for people and we tried to ban it but in the end prohibiting it created more harm than good. The exact same thing goes for marijuana. We understand it might harm us in some way but in reality the ban of drug causes more harm and ruins more lives than it is protecting. Some people believe the War on drugs is coming to its end since we have legalized marijuana in multiple states but in reality it is just the begging. Lucy Steigerwald presented the results of prohibition which is basically the same situation as we are in now. Basing her opinion off the results of something that happened almost 100 years ago.

"End Costly and Destructive War on Marijuana - Relatively Harmless Drug Should Be Legal" by Walter Simpson is all about the good points of marijuana. Its been proven to be safer then multiple drugs that are legal such as alcohol and tobacco. Not only safer it has been proven to have medical benefits. Having marijuana illegal keeps all the money in the black market. The government is losing out on a massive money maker from taxes as well as putting more people in the jail system who really don't need to be there and that cost falls on the tax payer to pay for his food and accommodations. Walter Simpson credibility comes from prior use and the belief that the drug is truly harmless and for it to be as illegal as it is, is completely ridiculous. 

The question I presented is one of the most debatable topics in the last century. Throughout all of the different sources I have looked at there is one common thread. Everyone is for legalizing it, I haven't found one source that thinks otherwise. Every source believes there is really no point for marijuana to be looked at the way it is and it is only ruining lives not protecting them. After doing research I only think my side of the argument is even stronger than before. Almost half of the U.S. is pro legalization and over half the population believes it will be legal in the next ten years. One thing I could do with my topic is narrow it down to something a little less broad.
