Since the Marijuana Tax Act became law in 1937, it’s been illegal to sell or possess the drug in the United States.

But somehow, the illegality of marijuana hasn’t seemed to deter many people from trying the drug. In 2012, someone was arrested for a marijuana-related offense every 42 seconds. That translates into nearly 750,000 different arrests.

In public discourse surrounding the legality of marijuana, the drug is often compared to alcohol. Most people who have tried both generally feel as though the plant is much milder than liquor in terms of intoxicating effects.

After all, there’s no evidence that indicates someone can overdose and die from consuming the drug. On the other hand, people can die from consuming too much alcohol. On top of that, there’s also drunk driving: More than 10,000 people died in alcohol-related crashes in 2012.  

However, the national conversation on marijuana has begun to evolve. Earlier this year, both Colorado and Washington legalized marijuana. The drug can now be sold in dispensaries in both states to recreational users, regulated similarly to alcohol.

So, How Are Colorado and Washington Doing, Anyway?

Some in the anti-marijuana crowd suggest that if the drug were to be legalized, widespread debauchery would result. But those fears have yet to be realized. In fact, Colorado and Washington speak to the contrary, as both states have generated some well-needed tax revenue by allowing small businesses to sell marijuana to recreational users.

But the monetary benefits of legalization seem to span beyond the government’s coffers. Not only do the owners of dispensaries benefit, but so too, it appears, do other business owners. Case in point? Peyton Manning.

The Denver Broncos quarterback is now the proud owner of a slew of Papa John’s pizza franchises in Colorado. It seems as though legalization has benefited him as well.  

“There’s some different laws out here in Colorado,” Manning said in a recent interview. “Pizza business is pretty good out here, believe it or not, due to some recent law changes.”

Whether he’s joking or not, there is some sense to that statement. At the very least, legalized marijuana allows legitimate business owners to make money selling a product people want. They can then reinvest that money in their local economies – even by buying pizza at 3 a.m.

Now consider this: one could argue that America was built on alcohol. It’s engrained in our country’s fabric, which is why, despite a myriad of problems the intoxicant incurs, we as a society collectively embrace it. We are all aware of how dysfunctional, irresponsible and sick someone can get from drinking too much of it, yet there’s no shortage of liquor stores in any town across the country.

If we know alcohol is bad and choose not to criminalize it, why do we choose to illegalize marijuana when we generally agree it’s nowhere near as dangerous as alcohol? We’ve gone so far as to threaten teens with life in prison for making pot brownies.

It’s Probably Time to Accept Legalization

It seems as though Colorado and Washington won’t be the only states to see what the legalization means for them. Recent reports indicate that Alaska; Oregon; Washington, D.C. – and now New York, too – are pursuing legalization at this time.

And why shouldn’t they?

If the number of marijuana-arrests can tell us anything, it’s this: People smoke marijuana. And that means that they buy it, regularly, on the black market.

There’s no tax on those transactions. And the people who sell marijuana – we can call them drug dealers, even – don’t pay taxes on their income like the rest of hard-working Americans.

Recent polls show that for the first time, a majority of Americans favor legalizing marijuana. Since the public wants the drug legal and Washington and Colorado have proven that legalization results in increased tax revenues, it doesn’t make much sense that states would continue to prohibit the drug.

We all know that today’s economy is awful. So we should do all that is within our power to make sure we’re able to stay afloat. Rather than deciding to continue to prohibit marijuana – and accepting the fact that many people will continue to smoke it, even if it’s illegal – states should consider legalizing it so they are able to benefit from the substantial amount of money that changes hands over these drug-related transactions.

No one should argue that marijuana use is good. Just like smoking cigarettes or drinking alcohol, marijuana is a drug that can damage your body and augment your perception of reality. Still, marijuana should be grouped with those two other legal drugs, as it’s a mild intoxicant.

Instead of being stubborn and refusing to admit that we as a nation were wrong on marijuana, it’s time to start thinking rationally. Marijuana is a great deal less dangerous than many other drugs – both legal and illegal – and no one deserves to be arrested for using it. Because that’s the case, the government is foolish to miss out on the endless amount of tax revenues it will certainly bring in – as proven by Washington and Colorado – following legalization.