I decided to write my essay on one of the most debated issues in the United States for many years and which has become increasingly debated in over the last three years. My topic concerns the legalization of the recreational use of marijuana. Personally, I would not vote for legalizing recreational marijuana; nevertheless, I find this change acceptable. Let's be realistic, we have a democratic government in which the people vote for what they want. In this case, the majority of populations in certain states choose this change. However, this essay is not intended to bore the reader with the common arguments about why this drug should be legal or not. Rather, my argument is that we need to establish a clear set of rules and regulations that are equal for everyone. The sudden spark of interest that inspired me to write about this topic came after a recent snowboarding trip to Colorado with my family. We are passionate snowboarders who have repeatedly carved the slopes of Colorado's mountains. It was my first time back after the legalization of recreational marijuana use. So that was my first look at this change in American history. After observing the changes in Colorado, it became clear to me that authorities need to be stricter when enforcing the state's current laws regarding the possession and use of this drug. This persuaded me to continue my research. By conducting this research, I learned the history, effects, benefits, harms, and potential problems with this medication. I believe this change can truly benefit the well-being of this nation if proper precautions are taken and proper guidelines are established and strictly enforced. I have found that knowing the vast...... middle of paper...... g that individuals do not drive or go to work while under the effects of cannabis. This leads to another gray area; individuals living in states where use of the drug is legal are fired for failing drug tests. Overall, the benefits outweigh the harms of legalizing recreational marijuana use, which provides this country with increased tax revenue and employment opportunities. More importantly, it gives the majority of people in these states the change they wanted and voted for. This country was founded on freedom and democracy and would go against everything the citizens of the United States are led to believe if the government did not allow the people to vote for the changes they want. If they restricted freedom in this way, it would cause far greater problems than those posed by the legalization of this drug..