I. Introduction The issue of marijuana legalization in the United States is a charged one that brings forth supporters and opponents arguments alike. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) Uniform Crime Reports, one marijuana-related arrest occurs every forty-two seconds in the United States. The government conducted over 1.53 million drug-related arrests in 2011, 90% for possession alone, and nearly 50% due to marijuana (FBI Uniform Crime Report). State governments are currently responding to shifts in public opinion, especially given the recent legalizations that passed in Colorado and Washington. According to Gallup Polls, more Americans supported the legalization of marijuana than not in 2011 (50% vs. 46%). (Gallup). Despite this recent legalization development, state governments have had to justify their policies and legislations towards marijuana legalization given supporters economic, medicinal, criminal, legal and constitutional rights cases. For every case made in favor of legalization based on these factors, opponents, legislators, and law enforcement agencies, such as the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), have presented counter cases. Before the legalization decisions in a number of states, during the 2012 presidential elections, marijuana was considered an illegal substance in the United States, except in eighteen states which allowed medicinal uses. This means that the use, possession, and distribution of cannabis plants were forbidden. According to U.S. law, marijuana is a Schedule I controlled substance, which carries a mandatory prison sentence in many instances. The placement of marijuana at this level of controlled substances is controversial because there are no documented cases of a fatal overdose associated with it. Furthermore, Schedule I controlled substances are said to have no current accepted medical use in the United States. However, the drug is allowed in eighteen states for medicinal uses and has documented medical benefits in controlling the symptoms of many diseases. Despite this, it continues to be placed in this list of controlled substances along with drugs such as LSD, ecstasy, and heroin. (DEA Diversion). Also, despite many states having legalized the medical use of marijuana, The Federal Government can still ban possession of it regardless. Whenever there is a difference between Federal and State Law, the Federal Law overrules. II. Is Marijuana a ‘Gateway Drug’? Opponents of marijuana legalization are particularly adamant that marijuana is a gateway drug that leads to the use of other illicit drugs. The DEA’s position paper repeats what legislators in different levels of government, as well as opponents, have claimed for decades about marijuana. In the position paper, the government cites anecdotes of witnessing marijuana use and trials of the drug. The suggestion made by the paper is that youth who witness this drug use and/or try it will be at a higher likelihood of engaging in drug use involving other serious and illicit drugs. However, cumulative research has shown that marijuana is not a gateway drug despite the likelihood of users having tried or used other drugs. In the latest research published by the Journal of School Health in 2012, alcohol is the actual gateway drug for youth, including high school and college students (Kirby and Barry 82(8), 371-379). Furthermore, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the rate of cigarette and marijuana use among 12th graders was found to be equal (CDC). Supporters rightly cite these studies to expose that criminal justification of keeping marijuana as a Schedule I controlled substance when alcohol and cigarettes are both legal and widely available. III. Arguments Against Legalization Supporters of marijuana use’s continued criminalization have cited the proven detrimental effects of heavy, prolonged use. Among these effects are short-term memory impairment, loss of concentration, loss of productivity, decreased attention, which can lead to workplace and road accidents, and deteriorating school performance for youth. In addition to these cognitive effects, criminalization supporters cite that heavy, long-term use of marijuana leads to general lethargy and impaired ambition, which is also referred to as Amotivational Syndrome (Addiction Info). Finally, they also cite a number of physiological after effects with heavy use, including damage to lungs and circulatory system, as well as psychological damage such as anxiety and paranoid fears (The White House). Those who oppose marijuana’s criminalization, pose different scenarios of great damage that arises from its criminalization. While drug policies differ from state to state, there is enough evidence to tell that the majority of recreational users are not considered to be heavy users; yet they are affected by drug policies that target simple possession. In the state of Alaska, an individual who is in possession of u