The legalization of marijuana has been a controversial topic for decades, one of the many reasons why the topic interests me.  The fact that there are so many parts and pieces involved in the legalization process is fascinating.  From the questionability of its safety, the debate on its medical uses, its addictiveness compared to other controlled substances, to whether it's a violation of constitutional rights.  While this topic does affect me and all U.S. citizens, it doesn't personally affect my values.  With the knowledge we have about the harmful side effects of substances such as tobacco and alcohol, I find it ridiculous that marijuana has yet to be legalized.  Also considering prescription drugs, which while they are "heavily" regulated, they are incredibly easy to obtain.  My interest in this subject started to peak when I began frequently visiting Colorado.  I have been to Colorado many times both before and after the legalization law was passed, and seeing the profoundly positive effect that legalization had for Colorado made me really want to know why the whole nation isn't behind this movement.

One article I found pertaining to my topic was one from VTDigger, an investigative news organization.  This article discusses the current legislation on legalization of recreational marijuana.  It also breaks down a few of the major talking points about the process.  Some of the concerns for those still opposed to the legalization include impairment while driving and whether or not one should be able to grow their own marijuana plants.  The article discusses the difficulties/benefits involved with taxing the substance, as well as the issue of federal banks being unable to take "cannabis cash".  Other issues brought up involve the health risks that surround legal marijuana, as well as the increased accessibility that legal marijuana could potentially cause.  There are multiple contributors to the article, but the main editor and reporter of the piece is Mark Johnson.  While he doesn't necessarily have a background of reporting on marijuana, he is a senior editor and reporter at VTDigger.  He also worked at the Burlington Free Press covering crime/politics for 25 years.

Another article on the subject came from the Huffington Post.  This article is an argumentative piece that argues in favor of legalizing marijuana, written by Renee Jacques.  The author breaks down the article into multiple parts, with each part being a different reason as to why weed should be legal.  She compares marijuana with other substances, both legal and illegal, and discusses why weed is safer and less harmful.  Jaques states that there have been no recording overdoses due to marijuana ever recorded.  On the other hand, 38,329 people died in 2010 from drug overdoses with sixty percent of those cases being from prescription drugs.  She goes on to say in the same year, 25,692 people died from alcohol-related causes.  She mentions that based on a poll done by Gallup, a majority of Americans are in favor of legal weed.  Renee Jacques is an associate viral content editor for the Huffington Post.  There is nothing in particular that makes her credible on the topic of marijuana, but because the article is supported through factual evidence such credibility is not required.

The last article I found was written on the MintPress News.  The article discusses how Colorado has specifically benefited from legalizing marijuana.  It talks about the incredible amounts of revenue the substance has brought in and how that money is benefiting organizations such as schools.  As of last June, recreational cannabis sales reached over $50 million.  IN the first five months of 2015, Colorado schools earned $13.6 million off of taxes put on cannabis sales.  The article also discusses how the crime rate has lowered since legalization of the substance.  According to a study done by the Drug Policy Alliance, in the first 11 months after legalizing marijuana, burglaries in Denver decreased by 9.5% and overall property crime dropped by 8.9%.  As for the author, Kit O'Connell is a gonzo journalist from Austin, Texas.  He is a Daily Staff Writer for MintPress News and Associate Editor of Shadowproof.  He is a successful writer for MintPress with multiple featured articles on their website.

I feel very confident in my research question because this particular topic, while complex, is fairly straight forward.  Why isn't it legal?  How can it become legal?  I understand the concerns that many Americans have.  No one wants kids to have easier access to any potentially harmful substance and yes, while less impairing than alcohol the substance still impairs the user.  However, I agree more with the fact that money made of the taxes on marijuana can have tremendous benefits for our nation.  I agree that tens of thousands of Americans are currently in prison for incredibly petty crimes which only wastes our resources and tax dollars.  I don't believe that marijuana is addictive or nearly as dangerous as other legalized substances and I stand behind my opinion, to legalize marijuana. 
