Users of the dried flower of the Cannabis Plant, Marijuana - are not criminals. The majority of users are actually lead fairly successful lives. Studies also show that Marijuana is not a gateway drug, actually the majority of men and women who use Marijuana among other drugs report that they haven't started with marijuana. There are no links between Marijuana use and hard drug use. Marijuana to this date has not harmed anybody in any way shape or form. whereas alcohol, tobacco, and prescription drugs have claimed more than 552,000 deaths annually, whereas marijuana have claimed none. Marijuana actually saves lives. Marijuana normally induces hunger in users, so people suffering from anorexia or weight loss from AIDS can benefit from smoking marijuana because they will have an easier time eating. Used as a relaxant, cannabis helps curb the sleeplessness that comes from depression, as well as soothes the anxiety that often presents as a symptom. Since it also offers has "euphoric" properties, cannabis also helps lift the mood, adding a little perkiness to the patient's outlook on life. Epilepsy is a neurological condition affecting roughly one in one hundred people. Depending on the area of focus within the brain, there are a range of seizures that epileptic patients suffer, from brief - almost unnoticeable - lapses in consciousness known as "absence" seizures to full body convulsions known as "grand mal" seizures, with many stages in between. Most seizures are heralded by an "aura" of altered behavior and sensitivity to light and sound, and seizures can occur without obvious cause, or be triggered by stress, sleep deficiency, low blood sugar, certain kinds of strobe lights, or even boredom. Some of the common causes of epilepsy include birth injury, viral attacks, head traumas and hormonal imbalances, but it can also be idiopathic - which means there is no known cause. Cannabis has been known to have anticonvulsant properties for over a century, and studies were done on the use of marijuana to alleviate seizures as early as the 19th century. While most data available today is anecdotal, those personal stories do point to cannabis as an asset in the fight to control seizures. Cannabis analogues have shown to prevent seizures when prescribed in combination with more traditional medications, and patients who have been through the combined drug therapy have stated they are able to wean themselves off the conventional medication and still not have seizures as long as they have a regular supply of cannabis.The active compound in marijuana, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), has shown that it not only will help prevent brain tumors from forming, but that it can also cure them. This medical wonder works by the THC inducing a process called autophagy, in which the cancerous brain cells begin to consume themselves. Rather than growing in size by feeding on other healthy brain cells, these cancer cells feed on themselves until there is nothing left. This all comes without the risky side effects provided by most synthetic drugs, meant for this purpose. Marijuana is also a great reliever of migraines The cannabinoids present in marijuana act both as an anti-inflammatory (reducing swelling) and analgesic (pain reliever) as well as providing anti-emetic (anti-nausea) properties. As well, cannabis helps alleviate the muscle cramps of the neck and shoulders that come with migraines. These are only a few of the medicinal benefits provided by the cannabis plant. On an emotional level, Marijuana, when used in company with others is a great bonding activity. It is widely know as a plant that helps bring out love, and unity. Marijuana's sale, purchase, use and possession should be completely decriminalized. All Americans should know about the positive effects of this friendly plant. More research should be done on the subject. There is literally no reason marijuana should be illegal. I implore the public to take a stand and sign this petition for a marijuana friendly future.