Legalization_Of_Marijuana

Legalization Of Marijuana Legalization of Marijana: For It's time we put to rest the myth that smoking marijuana is a fringe or deviant activity, engaged in only by those on the margins of American society. In reality, marijuana smoking is extremely common, and marijuana is the recreational drug of choice for millions of mainstream, middle class Americans. According to the most recent NIDA data1, between 65 and 71 million Americans have smoked marijuana at some time in their lives, and 10 million are current smokers (have smoked as at least once in the last month). In fact, NIDA (National Institute on Drug Abuse) found that 61% of all current illicit drug users report that marijuana is the only drug they have used; this figure rises to 80% if hashish (a marijuana derivative) is included. A recent national survey of voters found that 34% -- one third of the voting adults in the country -- acknowledged having smoked marijuana at some point in their lives(NIDA,1). Many successful business and professional leaders, including many state and federal elected officials from both political parties, admit they have smoked marijuana. We should begin to reflect that reality in our state and federal legislation, and stop acting as if otherwise law-abiding marijuana smokers are part of the crime problem. They are not, and it is marijuana, cannabis, responsible, drug, abuse, smoking, people, young, war, time, smokers, national, law, drugs, been, alcohol, states, public, others, must, ill, country, citizens, american, seriously, patients, medical, means, legal, judge, including, criminal, children, arresting, arrest, americans