Marijuana is a natural herb that was used by Americas first inhabitants. This substance is used for religious purposes, in which the followers are instructed to use marijuana. Just like Christianity and Judaism instruct their followers to drink wine on certain occasions, some Hindus, Buddhists, Rastafarians, and members of other religions use marijuana as part of their spiritual and religious ceremonies.( Bouril, www.canabis.com) These people deserve the freedom to practice their religion as they see fit, without the government telling them what to do. The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution says that the government cannot 'prohibit the free exercise' of religion, and so marijuana should be legal.
             Marijuana has more uses than getting people high. It is used as a medicine because it helps stimulate appetite and relieve nausea in cancer and AIDS patients. This is also used to help girls with eating disorders. Anorexic girls have been prescribed marijuana to induce there appetite, this has been proved to work. Marijuana also helps relieve the everyday stress that these patients are dealing with. Its hard enough living life with a serious disease such as AIDS, knowing that you're going to die sooner than expected, marijuana just eases those thoughts. Also the marijuana plant is a valuable natural resource. The oils and fibers of the cannabis plant ( which is where marijuana comes from) have many industrial uses such as making rope, cloth, paper, and fuel. (www.mjlegal.org) If this substance was legal it would be helpful in many ways, and help greater the amount of natural resources available.
             An important reason why marijuana should be legalized is that it would save our government a lot of money. In the United States, all levels of government (federal, state, and local authorities) participate in the "War on Drugs." We currently spend billions of dollars every year to chase peaceful people who happen to like to get high. ...