Popular usage calls for legalization
I feel that marijuana should be legalized. Teenagers and young adults smoke marijuana on a daily basis and it doesn’t make a difference to them whether it is legal or not. If marijuana was legal, fewer misdemeanor crimes would be taken to courts. Smoking is a choice and when an ample amount of people do it, it shouldn’t necessarily be illegal. I know people who have been caught smoking marijuana and they have gotten in trouble, but it doesn’t stop them. If smokers get the legal choice to do so, I feel it would save police and the court’s time and effort.
Paige Hull, sophomore
Adults can make own decisions
In my opinion, every adult should be able to make their own decisions about substances they choose to indulge in. Marijuana should be legalized for responsible adults to use if they wish to. Prohibition does not work. We saw what happened in the 1920s with the prohibition on alcohol. With restrictions on marijuana, no one is free to make their own decisions regarding marijuana use.
Grayson Carr, junior
Nation needs to prioritize
I honestly do not think legalizing marijuana is a priority for the United States. I think the United States have a lot more important things to be worried abut than legalizing a drug that is used daily and illegally already. I also think that not too many people are educated on the fact that marijuana can help medically, so therefore there should be a lot more understanding on how marijuana helps medically before the United States legalizes it.
Javanna Patch, sophomore
Legalization will encourage harmful habits
The United States should not legalize marijuana. The only exceptions to the use of marijuana should be for medicinal issues. When you use the drug, it changes how people act and they tend to not make good choices. Those who call themselves “stoners” typically aren’t good students. They are failing and skipping school because all they are thinking about is the next time they are going to get high. Addiction leads to school and family issues that shouldn’t occur.
Vanessa Marozzi, senior
Legalizing makes sense
The United States should legalize marijuana because it makes no sense when cigarettes are legal and are just as bad, if not worse for you. However, if marijuana is legalized for either recreational or medicinal use there needs to be regulations such as not being allowed to drive afterwards. Also, it must be done in a domestic setting, not in public. Whether you legalize it or not, people will find a way to smoke it and I believe if it’s legalized we will see less consumption over time because people won’t view it as such a rebellious act.
Garrett Farber, senior