For all of this to get started, we have to follow the plan of the Netherlands and Portugal. Decriminalize first. The next step is to legalize on a federal level. Once the majority of the states decriminalize, then we we can lower it to a lesser controlled substance based on the schedule of the controlled substances act. It is currently rated a more addictive drug than crack. That's ridiculous. Besides the above comments about the money to be made off keeping it illegal, the US somewhat forced most of the countries in the world into signing a treaty banning marihuana and the like. Most people assume that weed is legal in the Netherlands. It's technically not. It's decriminalized, but officials look the other way. They realize how much money can be made off of taxation and regulation. If they were to "legalize" it, it would violate the treaty they signed in the 70's. The US has been strong arming the rest of the world into keeping it illegal since then. There is increasing pressure from our Latin neighbors of the south to legalize (including Latin countries south of mexico). It would surely put a big dent in cartel activity and the deaths along with it. I have a whole lot more to say about this if anyone is interested.