By Kimberly Edwards
Writer, Contributor

Smoke is billowing in the air in some states as the legalization of marijuana spreads. For decades marijuana has been condemned, criminalized and was surrounded by commercials advocating how
dangerous its use was and how it affected them all negatively. Over the years, other lethal drugs have become widely circulated and shown to have real negative effects on its users; therefore, the commercials about marijuana shifted to meth, crack, synthetic marijuana, molly, and ecstasy pills.

Despite numerous studies proving the health benefits of marijuana for chronic pain sufferers, people with epilepsy, etc., there is still skepticism on whether it should be legal medically and recreationally.

For medical use, marijuana can be used as an alternative to unnatural pain relievers that cause health issues. For recreational use, the legalization of marijuana would boost the economy due to the ability to tax it, the decriminalization of weed would allow people with marijuana-related charges to be discharged from prison and stop taxpayers from losing more money due to marijuana prohibition costs.

In states that have legalized marijuana there have been major economic growth. For California, marijuana is a $14 billion a year cash crop. Colorado raised $5 million from marijuana sales tax. Overall, marijuana is a $100 billion industry and can ultimately help benefit everyone in America financially, medically, and legally.