A controversial plant Cannabis is undoubtedly the most popular plant in the world used today. Fifth million people in the United States of America alone smoke this plant every month, and over one hundred million people have tried marijuana at least once in their lives. Many people around the world smoke this plant recreationally, and many more smoke weed for medical purposes. In fact, “unregulated use of marijuana in the treatment of medical conditions dates back to 100 BC.” Another example is that marijuana has the ability to relieve nausea and increase appetite and has been helpful for cancer and AIDS patients. Why is this plant so popular? If you ask a daily stoner, he or she will tell you that "weed eases your mind, and weed will relieve you of all your personal stress and make you forget all your problems, man." When I asked the same question to a drug-free man, his response was: "that marijuana is the devil's plant, no one should smoke this plant for personal use and should seek help with this problem immediately." In his book, The Botany of Desire, Micheal Pollan states that the indoor marijuana garden “remains installed in the human mind a desire for pleasure: whatever chemicals are produced in the plant, they can change a person's conscious experience.” There is huge controversy over whether the plant should be legalized due to the economic benefits, mind-altering, and medical uses of marijuana. What is in this flower for it to be able to alter a person's mind? After doing some research on cannabis, I discovered that delta-nine-tetrahydrocannabinol or better known as THC is the chemical among the chemicals present in cannabis, it is the only plant that has the ability to cause a psychological effect.. . in the middle of the paper. .....it will not bring much benefit to the country by reducing crime in this country. There will always be controversy over whether cannabis is legal or not. The use of marijuana should be based on a citizen's personal choice. The government should not intervene in a person's personal decision whether to smoke weed or not. I personally smoke cannabis for anxiety and attention deficit disorder due to the side effects the medicine I was prescribed meant I couldn't eat, sleep, was depressed and felt like I was mummified while taking the prescription pills. So when I turned eighteen, I went to Venice Beach to see if I qualified for medical marijuana. Smoking cannabis not only helped me lose sleep and increase my appetite; it also helped me deal with my problems better, making it easier to talk to others and let go of the anger I have accumulated inside me.