For some people, it is a relaxing herb, something that temporarily takes the mind away from reality. The aroma is unmistakable, the potency varied, and approximately sixty-five million people smoke it. I'm talking about Cannabis Sativa, the illegal variety of hemp known as marijuana. This herb offers many medical benefits that far outweigh the side effects. It has not yet been proven to be addictive or fatal. Marijuana, in its current form, is an illegal narcotic, but I believe that this drug, with its physical, psychological, spiritual, but above all medical benefits, should be legalized. Marijuana is one of the oldest cultivated plants. (Nahas, 1986) The first to introduce the potential healing properties of marijuana were the Chinese. About five thousand years ago, people on the plains of Central Asia began cultivating this plant for its oil and fiber. The United States discovered marijuana in the 16th century. It was imported by the Spanish and the British and used for its fiber. The plant's intoxicating properties were not discovered until the late 19th century. It was used for the production of ropes and fabrics until the 20th century and is now widely used as a drug, preferably for pleasure. The therapeutic potential of the plant was known in Western countries during the 19th century. (Abel, 1996) From 1840 to 1900, more than a hundred articles on cannabis were published in European and American medical journals, recommending it as an appetite stimulant, muscle relaxant, analgesic, sedative and to eliminate convulsions. Since then, marijuana has undergone extensive testing and analysis for its use as a medicinal value. The NIH (National Institute of Health) is one of many advocates...... middle of article...... ls and preventing them from reoffending. There are so many benefits to legalizing marijuana that far outweigh the negatives. The physical, psychological, spiritual, economic and medical benefits are all denied because marijuana, in its current form, is an illegal narcotic. George Washington once said, “Get the most out of hemp seeds.” Sow it everywhere. » (Rosenthal, 1996, p.95) Do you consider the first president of the United States to be a criminal? In this country there are people who drink responsibly and I think people should also be able to use marijuana responsibly. Although marijuana has been illegal for more than thirty years, approximately 65 million Americans, or one-third of the population, use or have used the drug. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was quoted in 1963: "Everyone has not only a legal, but also a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws..”