Marijuana is classified along with LSD, Heroin, Ecstasy, and Peyote as a schedule 1 drug meaning it is banned from medical use, has high risk of abuse, and runs a high risk of harm to the user. This is a ridiculous notion, when marijuana has no reported deaths and no harmful long term effects. However, many Schedule II substances such as hydromorphone (Dilaudid), methadone (Dolophine), meperidine (Demerol), oxycodone (OxyContin, Percocet), and fentanyl (Sublimaze, Duragesic), have killed many people and/or caused major addiction problems. Although the number of states legalizing marijuana for medical use is steadily rising, the federal government and agencies such as the DEA, Drug Enforcement Agency, have yet to legalize or reschedule this harmless, helpful plant. Marijuana is a plant that helps and is loved by millions of people, why is it still illegal? …show more content…
Public opinion has changed drastically. With the changing of laws, legalizing marijuana in many states, and the tax revenue received from marijuana, including the medical benefits, it proves the majority of Americans want legalization. Online author for business insider, Jeremy Berke wrote the statistics of support. Young adults(18-35) are 77% in favor of legalization. Police officers have also came out in favor of it, after seeing the devastating effect of marijuana on communities (Burke, “It's Clear Why Support for Legalizing Marijuana is at All Time High”, Burke). Support for marijuana legalization among generation X and Baby Boomers is at 56%. Democrats favor legalization at 66% to 30%, while most republicans 55% oppose while 41% favor it (Pew Research Center). It is clear what the American people want, and that is the freedom and right to use a plant that shouldn't be illegal in the first place. The American people’s support has changed drastically in 30