I decided to write my essay on one of the most discussed issues in the United States for many years, which has become increasingly debated over the last three years. My topic is about legalizing the recreational use of marijuana. Personally, I would not vote in favor of legalizing marijuana for recreational use; however, I find this change acceptable. Let's face it, we have a democratic government where people vote for what they want. In this case the majority of the populations of some states choose this change. However, this essay is not intended to bore the reader with common arguments about why this drug should be legal or not. My thesis, however, is that it is necessary to establish a clear set of rules and regulations that are the same for everyone. The sudden spark of interest that inspired me to write about this topic emerged after a recent snowboarding trip to Colorado with my family. We are avid snowboarders who have carved the slopes of Colorado's mountains numerous times. This was the first time I returned after the legalization of recreational marijuana use and subsequently this was my first look at this change in American history. After seeing the changes in Colorado it has become clear to me that authorities need to be more stringent in enforcing current state laws regarding the possession and use of this drug. This convinced me to conduct further research. While conducting this research I learned about the history, effects, advantages, disadvantages and potential problems this drug offers. I believe that this change can truly benefit the well-being of this nation if the right precautions are taken and the proper guidelines are established and vigorously enforced. I have found that knowing the broad... middle of paper... g that individuals do not drive or go to work while under the effects of cannabis. This leads to another gray area; individuals in states where use of this drug is legal are fired for failing drug tests. Overall the advantages outweigh the disadvantages regarding the legalization of recreational marijuana use providing this country with increased tax revenue and job opportunities. More importantly, it gives the majority of people in these states the change they wanted and voted for. This country was founded on freedom and democracy and it would go against everything the citizens of the United States are led to believe if the government did not allow the people to vote for the changes they want. If by doing so they limited freedom, it would lead to much bigger problems than those presented by the legalization of this drug.