Marijuana is indisputably the most commonly used illicit drug in the world today.

According to the United Nations, an estimated 141 million people around the world smoke marijuana on a regular basis, and 65 percent of marijuana-related arrests are for simple possession. Among teens 12 to 17, the average age of first trying marijuana is 14, according to Drug-Rehabs.org.

According to a survey done by NORML (the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws), nearly one out of two Americans support changing laws to regulate the use of marijuana, like alcohol and gambling.

An article in The Washington Post stated, "The largest study of its kind has unexpectedly concluded that smoking marijuana, even regularly and heavily, does not lead to lung cancer." This study was done in 2006 by UCLA. If cigarettes are more dangerous than marijuana, what's the deal?

Legalizing marijuana would also do great things for the country, quite possibly stabilizing a weakening economy. Marijuana is the United States' number one cash crop, topping corn and wheat combined; it brings in an estimated $35 billion annually. Production levels in the United States were at more than 10,000 metric tons a year in 2001. A pound of marijuana averages around $1,600. With tax, the government would make money. Plus, on top of the country making money from taxing marijuana, the United States would save money in the prison system by having fewer inmates. In 2001, 723,627 people were arrested on marijuana charges in the U.S., of those arrests 88.6 percent, or 641,108 people were for possession only, not distribution, according to stopthedrugwar.org.

The average annual cost for one inmate in the U.S. in 2001 was $22,650, which is approximately $62 a day and that comes out of the taxpayer's wallet (www.dc.state.fl.us/pub/statsbrief/cost.html).

In Massachusetts, the first offense for possession of marijuana is up to six months in jail and up to a $500 fine, or both.

If you do the math that means that around $819,507,577.50 is spent countrywide just on imprisoning people for half a year on first-offense marijuana charges.

Reforming marijuana laws in the United States would keep non-violent offenders out of jail who are not threats to our society and boost the economy. Sounds like a win-win situation.