While legalizing marijuana can benefit smokers, tobacco shops, and the government; it can also have a negative impact on the community and Christians. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) states that the body produces its own cannabinoids in a way that plays a role in “regulating pleasure, memory, thinking, concentration, body movement, awareness of time, appetite, pain and the senses (taste, touch, smell, hearing and sight).” Investopedia says marijuana legalization could mean a big boost for state economies and bring a lot of money to state and federal governments. Tobacconists are booming and making a profit. Hill provided evidence that marijuana legalization did not reduce the crime rate. In fact, some crimes have increased in several states. On the other hand, the evangelical coalition claims that marijuana will lead to a violation of the biblical commandments on sobriety and will not lead to a flourishing life in Christ. So why should weed be legal? Marijuana can benefit many people and should be legalized; Educating the community about the recreational drug can help reduce the risk of it affecting children and can influence Christians' beliefs about it. We say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essayScientists are conducting clinical studies with marijuana and its extracts to treat the symptoms of diseases and other conditions such as HIV/AIDS, seizures, multiple sclerosis, muscle control problems, diseases that affect the immune system, inflammation or mental disorders. They found no defects in the drug and did not say that it should not be legalized. One of the main cannabinoids in the marijuana plant is called THC and can decrease pain, reduce nausea, decrease inflammation, and help with muscle problems. Marijuana may also help kill cancer cells and reduce their size, as revealed by recent animal studies. The FDA refuses to approve the marijuana plant because careful studies conducted on hundreds or thousands of humans are needed to truly see the benefits and risks of the drug. I believe medical marijuana really helps the body and should be legalized in all states, it helps with multiple illnesses and different types of pain. According to the article, there are many positive inputs into taking the drug. The downsides are that you wouldn't be sober, but people can take the drug while at home. NIH really got to the point and it doesn't look bad at all. Scientists should consider further testing so the FDA can approve the drug. Researchers have conducted experiments but not enough to really see the benefits of the drug, but there is still enough information to provide as evidence that the drug is very useful. Although the community may not be much affected by the legalization of drugs, on the other hand since it does not reduce the crime rate. The homicide rate in Denver, according to The Hill, rose steadily from 36 in 2013 to 67 in 2018. Homicides in Seattle in 2013 rose from 19 and then increased each year until 2018 to 31 cases. The District of Columbia reached 160 homicides in 2018 after a record low in 2017 of 116 homicides. Homicides increased more than 100% in January 2019 compared to January 2018. Additionally, marijuana legalization does not eliminate the black market for drugs, black market dealers increase competition between rival factions. State taxes, regulation, cultivation and chain logisticssupply cause prices for legal marijuana to rise much more than illegal and unregulated competition. Marijuana is not only harmful to the community, but also to children. Children can encounter drugs everywhere, places such as: the playground, the car and the home. Marijuana can come in many different forms, from gummy bears, to brownies, to cakes; or anything can come in the form of marijuana and it is so easy for kids to eat it. The rate of marijuana exposure among children aged five years and younger increased 148 percent between 2006 and 2013; the number increased every year. In Colorado alone, marijuana exposure in young children increased 150 percent from 2014 to 2016. Half of those involved legal, recreational marijuana. Edibles often contain more THC than other forms of marijuana. Children tend to experience more severe clinical effects from exposure to marijuana. There are effects such as lethargy, slurred speech, difficulty concentrating, seizures and respiratory depression; there may be more serious outcomes in children than in adults. If the state has legalized marijuana for any purpose, policymakers should support clear labeling on the package indicating that the product contains marijuana. Not only that, but it should also regulate the appearance of marijuana edibles to ensure they don't resemble candy. Propose laws that limit the amount of THC allowed in marijuana edibles; and require their sale in child-proof and resealable packaging. Doctors should educate parents on what to look for if they suspect their child has accidentally consumed a marijuana product while staying informed about symptoms of exposure. Parents should take steps to ensure that children cannot access marijuana products if they possess them. Keep products or any addictive substances out of reach and sight; retain opaque, child-resistant packaging, if available. Christians would like not to see drugs legalized not only for children but also based on their beliefs. For some Christians the argument for using marijuana recreationally is as simple as equating it to drinking a beer, but marijuana and beer are two different things. Alcohol can be consumed responsibly without feeling the effects of intoxication, but a person can smoke recreational marijuana as needed to feel the effects of intoxication no matter how much they consume. Corinthians 6:10 and Galatians 5:21 say that “those who persist in seeking their comfort in some kind of intoxication will not inherit the kingdom of God.” One study showed that ingesting just 7 mg of THC or 4 puffs of a joint can cause intoxication; people light up a joint for a specific high. In Ephesians 5 it says that “he who is sober in Christ will be filled with the Spirit. ” Isaiah 28 says “leads to a lack of judgment. Hosea 4 says that “too much wine leads to lack of understanding. Proverbs says that “lack of sobriety can lead to poverty and a whole host of worldly anxieties. These are just a few of the multiple verses that basically say that the intoxication of anything is not very Christian or very holy. The apostle Paul says in 2 Timothy 1:7 that "a spirit, not of fear, but of power, and of love, and of self-control" in Christ. Paul reminds Timothy of this in a passage that focuses on Timothy's pastoral and evangelistic work, meaning that not only is recreational marijuana and the inevitable intoxication opposed to a prosperous life, but it is also a way we fail to love the our neighbor. The Spirit does not give us self-control for our own good; “We gain self-control so that we can be beacons.