I am a pro cannabis spokesman and would like to go over the pros in cons of legalizing marijuana. There are five main factors to recognize when considering the legalization of weed: Medicinal use, Economy, Crime rates, Risks of intoxication, and Religion. As we all know, marijuana has been legalized in California strictly for medicinal purposes. Marijuana is not only a painkiller but has also been proved to cure or reduce symptoms of many illnesses including but not limited to: nausea, vomiting, Depression, Bipolar disorders, PMS, unintentional weight loss, lack of appetite, spasticity, painful conditions, especially neurogenic pain, movement disorders, asthma, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Migraines, Fibromyalgia, Glaucoma, tourettes, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries, obsessive-compulsive disorder, ADD, Cancer, AIDS, and much more. Also, cannabis DOES NOT KILL BRAIN CELLS! This is a common myth which resent studies have proven that it actually promotes neuron growth in the hippocampus section of the brain which is responsible for learning and memory. Neither does marijuana cause lung cancer. Researchers at Harvard University found that smoking pot actually decreases malignant transformation in cells leaving users at a lower risk of getting cancer. We can all agree that our economy is in dire need of a new industry. Not only will marijuana produce tax revenue through medicinal and recreational use, it will also decrease unemployment by opening new job opertunities for those who produce and use it. Also, did you know the hemp plant is a natural resource for biodeisel? Our current crops would take 10% of American land to produce enough fuel for the whole country on a consistant basis. It would only take 6% of the land with hemp as a substitute. There is the common misconception that legalizing marijuana would increase crime rate. In fact, marijuana would decrease the number of common civilians getting arrested providing more room in our jails for the real criminals. This will also allow authorities to focus on more serious crimes such as murder, cocaine trafficing, rape, and more. Legalization will not cause increase in domestic abuse and other falsely linked crimes as it will be no more available than it already is. Besides, have you ever known a violent pothead? If so, they probably had issues before they ever picked up a joint. Actually, studies have shown that marijuana can reduce anger problems, probably decreasing domestic violence in our country. I have already covered many risk concerns involving marijuana but I would like to focus on the most common “driving issue.” First of all, half of cannabis smokers are too paranoid to drive while intoxicated. Second, there are so few accidents involving people who are high that it can not be statistically linked to marijuana intoxication. Still, I stand strong on keeping it illegal to “smoke and drive.” Please, make good decisions and have a designated driver. The last subject I would like to touch on is religion. I myself am a Kantheist and believe hemp to be the tree of life. I base my beliefs on many advantages of smoking marijuana: healing abilities, the opening of the mind, and the spiritual closeness to God many feel while praying and worshiping while “high.” However, it is not whether or not such is true that is significant to legalizing cannabis. It is the fact that prohibition laws against marijuana go against the constituion’s first ammendment and opresses multiple branches of religion. There is the question,”What if a religion is based on killing people? Should we then legalize murder?” Of course not. That’s rediculous. Religous tolerance should be based on severity of the practice, and I must say that from smoking a joint to killing someone is a huge leap in severity. Smoking weed is beneficial. Murder hurts everyone involved. I encourage you all to make the smart decision to help in the legalization marijuana; for our health, our economy, and our future.