The war on drugs has been an ongoing issue among Americans for many years. The fight against illegal substances for the body has, however, been narrowed over recent years and focused on the drug Marijuana. Countless men and women have tried, used or use the drug hiding from the law enforcement officials that try to suppress its use. Those that have been caught are usually sent to court where they spend vast amounts of cash to defend themselves, with success on a varying level. Those that lose get anywhere from costly fines and community service to prison time. Is this really necessary?
             Numerous studies have been done on the long-term effects of marijuana on the human body. Short-term memory loss and lung damage were the only two notable effects found across the board. Stained teeth and more frequent laundry visits are two of the lighter effects of pot smoking.
             The "criminals" convicted of crimes from marijuana are numerous. These crimes range anywhere from possession which is self explanatory, felony possession (large amounts of pot exceeding one pound) and possession with intent to sell. These charges have brought many otherwise law-abiding citizens into custody and later jail. This only causes overcrowding in our jails making it easier to be released.
             If marijuana were legalized, it would have several positive effects. Our jails would be much less crowded making hard core felons less likely to be released early. The government could probably dissolve the deficit with the tax revenue that would come pouring in. The black market would no longer have the "gateway drug" that provides them with ways to sell harder drugs.
             Q: How have natural plants such as mushrooms and marijuana become such hot topics? If they grow naturally in the soil, how can they be considered illegal?
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