Marijuana should be legalized but only under certain conditions. It should be only be legalized to certain farmers under government control and be grown to be used for clothing, food, and many other things that are beneficial to our economy. Medical marijuana should remain legalized only with the doctor’s approval to those with cancer, glaucoma, tremors, and aids. I think marijuana should be legalized but at the same time protected. It should be protected and made sure it is safe and away from illegal selling and growing throughout the United States.

According to the Christian Science Monitor, marijuana use continues to decline but it is becoming easier for teens to access and use it. The availability is becoming easier due to medical marijuana and illegal selling. Teens are getting a hold on their parents’ medicine cabinets and abusing the medical marijuana with friends. A study done by CASA indicated that 23 percent of kids age 12 to 17 could buy marijuana in an hour or less and 42 percent of them said they could do it in a day or less. In the Los Angeles Times, written by Jill Adams in 2008, it was said that an estimated 25 million Americans smoked marijuana within the last year, and almost 100 million people have smoked it at least once in their lives, according to the most recent National survey on drug use and health by the federal substance Abuse and Mental Health services Administration. Use of smoking marijuana can lead to many bad effects related to thinking, depression, lungs, and many other problems.

In the year 1976, a man named Robert Randall was arrested for cultivating his own marijuana. Robert won this case because he suffers from glaucoma, and explained that marijuana helped his medical disorder. With the passing of this case, Robert became the first American to receive medical marijuana. There are pros and cons to this example. The Government needs to make sure that marijuana is protected, and not just grown by anyone who wants to. The good thing about this is that Robert received medical marijuana for the right reason, which was a medical problem that he had, where it could help him.

As anyone can see, marijuana is a serious problem and needs to make sure it is carefully handled in today’s society for its uses. The reason why marijuana legalization has become such a debatable topic is because there any many ways it can be beneficial, but also many ways it can be harmful and used wrongfully. Marijuana should be legalized under the certain circumstances that it is used correctly and is protected from any illegal activity and use.

Works cited:

Marijuana goes up in smoke as federal agents raid Dispensaries, August 11, 2008, Dan Glaister, November 20, 2008,

Damaging Habit? August 18, 2008, Jill U. Adams, Los Angeles Times, November 20, 2008,

Youth access to drugs increases, August 14, 2008, Uri Friedman, Christian Science Monitor, November 20, 2008,

Marijuana Legalization Timeline, 2008, ProQuest Staff, November 20, 2008,

Banned in the USA, April 2002, Catherine Cowan, November 20, 2008,