If there was a plant available to us today that could be grown in pretty much any soil, requires no pesticides and it takes very little maintenance to grow, and this magical plant could be used for a very large number of necessities and goods we use today yet we don’t use it, what would you think?

Cannabis sativa, more commonly known as marijuana, became illegal in the US in 1937, not because it was hazardous, but was because it was hurting other farmers' business. Marijuana and hemp are the same plant, but hemp has less than .3% THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and marijuana has more than .3%.

Marijuana can be used to treat the pain of cancer patients although the federal government doesn't think so. 20 states and D.C. have it medicinal marijuana legal as of 2013. More states are expected to change. Five cities in Michigan legalized it and Portland, Maine was the first east coast city to. According to the DEA, Marijuana is more dangerous than cocaine even though there are no deaths directly form it and less than 10% of its user become "addicted." It is not a real addiction, like how some people can be "addicted" to chocolate. The addiction rate of cocaine is at least 20%.

Colorado has made a 25% tax on buying marijuana. This tax isn't going to marijuana related things either. Its going to schools and roads.

Works Cited

Fried, Ellen J. "Hemp." Encyclopedia of American Envromental History. Vol. 2. New York: Facts on 
     File, 2010. 1-2. American History Online. Web. 11 Dec. 2013. <http://fofweb.com>. 

Hargis, Cydney. "Medicinal Cannabis in an Era of Change." Global Information Network 10 Aug. 2013: 
     1-2. SIRS Researcher. Web. 19 Dec. 2013. <http://sks.sirs.com>. 

Hotakainen, Rob. "Pro-Pot Forces Are out to Legalize 13 More States by 2017." McClatchy Washington 
     DC News Bureau 6 Nov. 2013: 1-2. SIRS Researcher. Web. 13 Dec. 2013. 
     <http://sks.sirs.com>. 

Lauter, David. "Poll: Marijuana Legalization Wins Majority Support Nationwide." McClatchy Washington 
     DC News Bureau 4 Apr. 2013: 1-2. SIRS Researcher. Web. 9 Dec. 2013. <http://sirs.com>. 

Martino, Joe. "How Hemp Became Illegal: The Marijuana Link." Collective Evolution. Franco DeNicola, 
     5 Dec. 2012. Web. 11 Dec. 2013. <http://www.collective-evolution.com/2012/12/05/ 
     how-hemp-became-illegal-the-marijuana-link/>. 

McCarberg, Bill. "Marijuana Can Help in the Treatment of Pain." Marijuana. Detroit: Greenhaven, 
     2012. N. pag. Opposing Viewpoints. Web. 11 Dec. 2013. <http://ic.galegroup.com>.