While many Americans recognize the irrationality of marijuana prohibition, not all see it as harmful, and even fewer actually do something about it. Because of this inaction, the federal government has been free to wage a destructive, wasteful war on marijuana users — at an expense to all of us in tax dollars, privacy, and liberty. In 2009 alone, more than 858,408 people were arrested for marijuana offenses — and 89% of these were for simple possession. That's one marijuana arrest every 37 seconds. Every year, there are more marijuana arrests than for all violent crimes combined. When Gallup first asked about legalizing marijuana, in 1969, 12% of Americans favored it, while 84% were opposed. Support remained in the mid-20s in Gallup measures from the late 1970s to the mid-1990s, but has crept up since, passing 30% in 2000 and 40% in 2009 before reaching the 50% level in this year's Oct. 6-9 annual Crime survey. Help us to finally end this senseless prohibition once and for all. This has been an invasion on our civil liberties a drain on our economy and has ruined the lives of 1000s of responsible citizens.

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