There are numerous thrusts for legalizing marijuana coming from several factions around the United States.  Advocates of legalizing marijuana cite medical advantages, while opponents name marijuana as the “gateway” drug that leads adolescents into harder and more addictive substances.  And the debate rages on.

Advocates of legalizing marijuana proclaim the medical advantages that the drug offers.  Some research may indicate that marijuana relieves pressure in the eyes for those suffering glaucoma.  Other benefits may include its use as a relief for nausea, pain and appetite enhancement, all of which could be helpful in treating chemotherapy patients, for instance.  Preliminary studies have led several states to legalize marijuana for medical use.

Going beyond legalizing marijuana for medical purposes, some groups promote legalizing marijuana for purely casual enjoyment.  Supporters say that marijuana is no more harmful than alcohol and should be treated as such.  They claim that as the end of Prohibition destroyed an entire underground criminal culture in alcohol, so would legalizing marijuana assuage the war on drugs.

As has been stated, opponents of legalizing marijuana believe that marijuana in itself can be addictive and that the search for longer lasting and higher highs leads users to sample and become addicted to stronger drugs such as heroine and cocaine.  Like alcohol and prescription drug abuse, marijuana can be a mind and performance-altering substance.  (Read articles on drug testing in the workplace to learn more about the consequences this can have on the quality of life for individuals, their families and communities.)

There are pros and cons to legalizing marijuana, as there are to most issues in life.  The debate boils down to whether the good outweighs the bad, whether the individual benefits to the detriment of the community, and how much control the government should have over our lives.