The Legalization of Marijuana for Medical and Recreational Use Marijuana the dried leaves and flowers of a hemp plant, used in diverse forms as a narcotic or hallucinogen (marijuana). Now legal in eighteen states for its medicinal use and two states for recreational use marijuana is one of today’s most controversial topics. The legalization of the drug for recreational use in some states was only a recent incident, and marijuana is still illegal under the law of the federal government. With more “Pro Pot” movements rising up everyday it’s hard not to wonder what people are working so hard to decriminalize, and will all this work go to waste or one day all pay off. The purpose of this paper is to bring many valuable sources and imperative information on the effort towards legalizing marijuana and how it could be beneficial to our country. The complete decimalization and legalization of marijuana has finally started to show its flag here in the United Sates. Earlier this year both Colorado and Washington have passed acts allowing the recreational use of marijuana. Although the acts aren’t in full in practice at the moment they soon will be. This is one of the biggest stepping stones for the “Pro Pot” movement. But just like Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper warned it's too soon to "break out the Cheetos,” there still many federal laws that the state has deal with before citizens can legally sell and use pot (Duke). It’s clearly visible that this is the begging of when the “Pro Pot” movement has really started to take off. Indubitably more news about this “Pro Pot” movement is coming sooner then we’d expect. Although the legalization and decriminalization of marijuana has really only begun, the medicinal side of marijuana has been in effect for awhile now. Eighteen states have already passed acts allowing the use of medical marijuana. Massachusetts being the most resent one earlier this year in November