What exactly is marijuana? Marijuana, also known as weed or hemp, is a naturally grown substance that contains THC. THC changes the way the brain works and gives the user a high that relieves many different pains and even helps erase bad memories. The hemp plant can be found almost anywhere, but it must be kept warm. Marijuana comes from a naturally grown plant, so why not be able to use it legally? Well, there are many reasons against legalizing marijuana and there are also many very good reasons to legalize it for medical and recreational use. So to the government and all those who are against the legalization of marijuana, too bad! It's natural and people will smoke regardless of the laws, so why not just make it legal? Making marijuana use legal everywhere will most likely help stop the chaos between smokers and non-smokers and reduce the shockingly high number of 858,408 arrested each year for marijuana possession and use. So why exactly should marijuana be legal? Well, there are many reasons, both opinion and fact, but why does it have to be legal? According to many of my sources, marijuana has been found to be less dangerous than both alcohol and tobacco products. “Marijuana is safer than many over-the-counter medications.” (Young, Francis L. 2) Judge Francis L. Young, of the DEA, declared that marijuana is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man. “Long-term heavy marijuana use does not produce the severe or severely debilitating impairment of memory, attention, and cognitive function found with chronic alcohol use.” (British Medical Journal Lancet 4) Only a small number of marijuana users ultimately smoke enough over a long period to suffer impairments corresponding to those... middle of paper... ady! Laws changed for no reason. “Before 1937, at least 27 marijuana-containing medications were legal in the United States. Many of these medicines were produced by reputable pharmaceuticals that are still around today. Eli Lilly, being one of those who sold medicines containing marijuana, had to stop production due to the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937. It was legal once, so let's let it be legal again. Legalizing marijuana will allow terminally ill and very sick people to get what they need to help them without problems. The number of arguments and legal battles to legalize or not legalize the substance will also decrease. Marijuana comes from a natural plant that is not intended to harm or affect people in any way. The government and anyone against the legalization of marijuana must realize that there are things much worse than marijuana. Make it legal and stop the war on drugs!