Thomas McGovernMrs. FilosaEnglish 1221 March 2014The legalization of marijuanaDrugs have largely been viewed with fear and disgust by society, and rightly so. Some drugs do horrible things to people. They can make you lose control of yourself, see things that aren't there, damage the mind, deteriorate the body and cause an addiction in the user who consumes them completely. But while this is the case with many medications, it is by no means universal. This is the case with marijuana, which has long been subjected to the same treatment as other illegal drugs and, despite its many benefits, is currently illegal in the United States. Marijuana is not only less dangerous than other drugs, legal or otherwise, but it offers many medical benefits. Yet, someone in the United States found to be using or possessing the substance could face harsh prison time. Marijuana should be legalized because it would provide medical benefits, help the economy, and be no more harmful than other legal substances. A term often used in opposition to marijuana is “Gateway Drug.” A term that, of all the arguments against the legalization of marijuana, has had one of the most demonizing effects. What people mean when they use this shocking term is that marijuana itself is not terribly dangerous, a rather conservative admission in the face of overwhelming facts, which sets one on the path to harder and more dangerous drugs, such as heroin, cocaine , drugs. and/or methamphetamine. And, in truth, yes, most of those who find themselves addicted to the aforementioned harder drugs often started with marijuana. But, as Maia Szalavitz eloquently stated, “…correlation is not cause. Members of the Hell's Angels motorcycle gangs are probably 104 times more likely to have ridden a bicycle... middle of paper... ana is legalized for recreational use. Marijuana can help people. It can help cure illnesses and, at the very least, may be vital in alleviating suffering, as happened for those like young Charlotte Figi, whose constant, life-threatening seizures were calmed with the plant (Young) . Marijuana can help the world get out of the economic crisis it has found itself in. It may not solve everything, but it could represent a huge step in the right direction, as has been the case in places like Colorado, where, in just a month it became legally available, the state has brought in over $1 million in taxes alone and expects which will reach 100 million dollars per year (Mundahl par. 2-3). Yet there are laws against marijuana, which criminalize it. These laws were founded many years ago based solely on ignorance and fear, and ignorance and fear remain the only real reasons marijuana is illegal today..