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Marijuana is a drug formed by drying out the shredded flowers, stems, and leaves of the Indian hemp plant. It is also the most common illegal drug used in the United States, and the second most- used drug in the world, behind alcohol. According to one national survey, approximately 6,000 Americans try marijuana for the first time every day. Marijuana has been proven to positively affect some illnesses, and the Medical Legalization Movement has made great progress in the US (randomhistory.com ©2007-2014). However, should the drug be approved for recreational purposes? Several significant reasons lead me to believe it should be. One major reason is the income. California, where marijuana is legal for medical use, finds the substance to be a substantial source of revenue. “The marijuana crop here is valued at 13.8 billion dollars annually, nearly double the value of our vegetable and grape crops combined (Marijuana Policy Project, www.mpp.org).” Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger believes that an additional $1.5-4 billion dollars could be collected, if the drug were taken from the criminal market and regulated and taxed (2013). Now take a moment to realize that this is one state, selling the drug to only those with prescriptions. Imagine the sheer eminence of the money to be collected if all 50 states were to sell it to anyone of the legal age. Marijuana is also costing us money in other ways; ways that would be all but obsolete if it were legalized. In 2012, California’s “Campaign Against Marijuana Planting”, or CAMP, expunged about 2.9 million marijuana plants. CAMP and other similar organizations have yet to reduce the availability of the drug. However, what they have managed to do is cost the taxpayers millions of dollars to pay f... ... middle of paper ... ...abis’ medical qualities, are why I surmise that marijuana should indeed be legalized for recreational purposes. Works Cited Bryan, G. (2013, April 26). 5 Reasons Marijuana Still Hasn't Been Legalized. PolicyMic. Retrieved January 9, 2014, from http://www.policymic.com/articles/37681/5-reasons-marijuana-still-hasn-t-been-legalized Lee, M. A. (2012). Smoke Signals. New York: Scribner. Smith, F. A. (n.d.). Marijuana Policy Project. Op-ed: A Neglected Revenue Source for California. Retrieved January 9, 2014, from http://www.mpp.org/media/op-eds/op-ed-a-neglected-revenue.html 31 Random Facts About . . . var addthis_config = {"services_compact":"email,fark,digg,delicious,linkedin", "services_expanded":"email,fark,digg,delicious,linkedin"};. (2010, March 2). 31 Random Facts about Marijuana. Retrieved January 9, 2014, from http://facts.randomhistory.com/2009/02/27