In a day in time where alcohol and tobacco products, although restricted by age, are available to millions, one has to wonder why there is such controversy about the proposal to legalize marijuana. Of course, there are many arguments or both sides of this hotly debated issue. Nonetheless, marijuana is no more harmful than alcohol and tobacco products and in some cases, marijuana has already proven to be medicinally helpful. Marijuana, a plant with many uses, should be legalized for crime deterrence, medicinal help and tax purposes.
             Marijuana is, in truth, no more harmful than currently sold alcohol and tobacco products. In the U.S. each year, millions and millions of dollars are spent on health care issues stemming from the use of alcohol and tobacco drugs: Studies have indicated that the toxins in tobacco and that alcohol, perse, are addictive. Fighting addictions, added to the cost of fighting cancer, has skyrocketed the amount of money spent and the personal/ family angst suffered in this nation for decades. Studies do not, however, indicate that marijuana is a "gateway drug," one that causes addiction ("Legalization Report," Http://www.geocities.com/marinol.html). Perhaps the only reason that currently points to danger associated with marijuana has more to do with the fact that because it is not currently government regulated for the public use, marijuana does, occasionally, contain impurities that cause temporary nausea. Obviously, government control, perhaps under the FDA specifically, would guarantee a consistently pure product. Already, the FDA has that marijuana is helpful in treating nausea for cancer patients who are undergoing chemotherapy. In addition the FDA supports the research that shows marijuana's medicinal potential in treating glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness. Several studies have found that "smoking marijuana reduces intraocular pressure
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