e government criminalized the usage of marijuana, plenty evidence as to why it should be legalized still exists. Despite the 63 yearlong prohibitions on the drug, pot remains the third most popular recreational drug. After all these years, the stereotype that pot smoking is a fringe or deviant activity must be brought down. In reality, marijuana smoking is extremely common and marijuana is the recreational drug of choice for millions of mainstream, middle class Americans. A national survey by the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) estimates that at some point in their life, 70 million people have tried marijuana. They also say that 18 million people have smoked in the past year, and that 10 million people are current smokers. The HHS also found that 57% of all illicit drug users report that marijuana is the only drug they have ever used; this figure rises to 77% if hashish (a more concentrated form of marijuana) is included.This large number of people who admit to having tried marijuana include prominent businessmen, famous athletes, actors, musicians, and politicians; including the current president of the Unite States of America. In addition to these important social figures are patients who suffer from chronic illnesses such as AIDS and various forms of cancer who find relief from their sufferings in the form of a joint. The idea that marijuana is a drug used only by violent criminals is absurd, and one that must be ended. In the United States, a marijuana smoker is arrested every 45 seconds. The majority of these smokers are sent to jail for unreasonably long periods of time for the simple act of getting high. For example, if one were to be caught in Nevada with only 1 gr. of marijuana , one faces a jail sentence of up to five years in prison. That is longer than the penalty for aggravated assault, or even, in some cases, manslaughter.These harsh charges for such a meager crime are ridiculous. ...
