In 2012, medical marijuana was legalized in Connecticut, where I've lived since I was born. At the time of the change, I wasn't entirely sure how I felt about the issue (or what marijuana was, for that matter). Over the years, however, I have come to believe that marijuana usage is not entirely different from smoking or drinking alcohol. All 3 are addictive drugs with health and cultural consequences, but only one is illegal. In recent years, several news articles and scientific reports have argued that marijuana may be "healthier" than tobacco, resulting in less severe health consequences than smoking in studied participants. Thus, legalizing marijuana may be a low-cost way to direct drug usage to a safer, more monitored source (particularly pertinent during the opiod crisis). If marijuana has medicinal purposes that may mitigate suffering, and could lead to less frequent usage of other drugs, I don't see an issue with it being legal.

Marijuana is illegal in my country, Kenya, with a high conviction rate for abusers. I think marijuana should be legalized, given that there are other drugs with much more adverse effects that are legal. Individuals should be given that freedom of choice. What aches me most, furthermore, is that it is not legalized for medical research either, which illustrates a case of a country letting her own conservative views blind her from innovations. Like Abby Strong, I don't see an issue with it being legal.

I, personally, see arguments for both sides of the legalization debate. However, I think there must be a more transparent system put in place to monitor how marijuana is sold and used across the US and the world. If it were to be legalized, I think this would allow for people to know exactly who would be using the drug and what they would need, in terms of rehab or aid.

At the same time, concerns arise over whether legalization will actually foster the use of the drug even further. To this point, I also feel like legalizing marijuana would send the wrong message to current and potential users. Seeing the substance as legal and "okay" could give the wrong perception that it's not too unhealthy or bad after all, which is certainly not true.

I live in Las Vegas, which is infamous for its nightlife and entertainment industry around the world. So it may not come as a surprise that in Nevada, marijuana is legalized for both medical and recreational purposes. In fact, it is not uncommon to see an advertisement for marijuana dispensaries on trucks or even smack-dab in the middle of the airport. The vibe behind Las Vegas--"fun"--has even made marijuana into a tourist attraction of sorts. Now, marijuana lounges have been legalized; it is Sin City after all. I am curious how legalization will continue to change my city in the future, considering its rather unique circumstances.

Personally, I do not see too many problems against legalizing marijuana. In terms of health consequences, marijuana may not be certainly worse than tobacco or alcohol; it may even have health benefits. I do not advocate the usage of drugs, but I think that in this case, individuals should have the autonomy to choose.

I am from China and people now days still have very conservative opinions on marijuana. The government continuously disseminates negative images of marijuana and provide stories of how marijuana has fragmented many families and narcotic polices have been butchered horrendously. These ideas are deeply rooted in people's mind. Using and distributing marijuana is illegal and violations would result in very significant consequences. There have also been cases which celebrities are discovered to be using marijuana and they ruined their entire career life. The government raised all their acting records and films that they have casted in are later banned. The strict regulation and hatred toward marijuana is largely due to the detrimental impacts of the marijuana had on Chinese society in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.