Marijuana 2While it seems like the numbers are steadily increasing, to legalize marijuana, there are still many states that have yet to legalize the use of medical marijuana. Many citizens believe that, due to the recent legalization of medical marijuana, the United States is one step closer to legalizing marijuana for use by the general public. The choice to legalize marijuana for the general public will cause an increase in users and put the health of users at risk, both mentally and physically. In 1937, legislation was passed, the Marijuana Tax Act, which gave the government control over the drug making it illegal. . Twenty years later, tougher laws were introduced with mandatory sentences for any drug conviction. A movement in the 1970s reassessed the status of marijuana and, in turn, led to lighter sentences, in most states, for those caught with a small amount of the drug. (Drug Legalization, 2010). In 1996, California became the first state to legalize the use of the drug exclusively for medical purposes. (California still leads) Personal use of marijuana is still illegal across the country and should remain so due to the effects on your health and personal life. There was an experiment done in Alaska in 1970, to legalize marijuana, which ended with their teenagers using marijuana at a rate more than double that of any other teenager in the United States. In 1990, Alaska residents voted to re-criminalize marijuana use. (www.dea.gov) The public must be informed about the studies that have been done on the consequences of legalizing marijuana. The National Institute on Drug Abuse studied 6,000 teenage drivers who drove more than six times a month after smoking marijuana. Turns out it was two and a half years... halfway through the paper crisis..., the federal government stood back as states loosened Prohibition, until the 21st Amendment officially ended it." We can't no longer put money before health. We must protect our children from the legal possibility of becoming lazy, unproductive and unhealthy. Legalizing marijuana would be a very serious mistake, which would produce an epidemic that I think the people of the United States are not ready for. References (2006, December) Drug Legalization Issues and Controversies. Retrieved April 10, 2010, from Issues & Controversies Database (2010). Legalize Marijuana. The Economist(US),42EU 2010 from General Group Database OneFile.gale Marijuana Facts (Pot, Weed) Retrieved April 10, 2010, from www.abovethe influence.com Speaking out against drug legalization www.dea.gov May 2003