Did you know that there are already 21 states that have legalized marijuana? (medicalmarijuana.procon table 1) I'm sure many of you are familiar with the more common states like California and Colorado, but they are only 2 of the 21 states that have legalized marijuana. Marijuana is a rapidly spreading drug and is the most used narcotic in the United States. If legalized in more states, marijuana use will continue to grow. If we don't legalize marijuana, there is a chance it will decline - it has fallen from its all-time high in the 1970s for over 20 years! (CNBC) Why should we jeopardize that now? Although the drug is spreading rapidly, the percentage of users has decreased in recent years and the trend shows that it will continue to do so slowly and over time. Of course this happens if we don't legalize marijuana in any other state. Marijuana has many medical purposes which is why it has been legalized in 21 states. (medicalmarijuana.procon table 1) WhiteHouse.Gov states that “many of these state marijuana laws originated to create a legal exemption to state criminal possession laws or to remove state criminal penalties for the alleged medical use of marijuana.” (WhiteHouse.Gov) Marijuana has also been legalized because of the pleasure that some people derive from its northern use.(medicalmarijuana.procon table 1) The first state to legalize marijuana was California in 1996 for its medical use.( medicalmarijuana.procon table 1) The state aload 8 usable ounces 6 mature plants or 12 immature plants. (medicalmarijuana.procon table 1) When they legalized marijuana in 21 states they thought this would help reduce its sale on the streets. (Joe Messeri) Furthermore, when used in moderation, marijuana is usually as harmful as tobacco and alcohol. (Joe......center of paper......it's an ongoing discussion and a decision made over and over again. The pros of marijuana are so great, but there are even more states that believe the cons outweigh the benefits. Yes, marijuana can cure diseases, but it can also cause user or lung diseases. Marijuana is not the most dangerous drug, no, but it can still cause many problems for the user and people surround it. Marijuana is the most used drug in the United States, but the numbers are also decreasing if legalized it will only be used by sick people who need it. It would also be easier for children to obtain it our states have legalized marijuana it is still a federal crime even though legalized in the states This is why so many states still see how the cons trump the pros.