American politicians constantly find themselves in a heated debate regarding the legalization of marijuana. Currently, those who don't have it have it, but the real question is how long can they continue like this. Because “For the farmer, cannabis is a fiber plant; for the doctor, it is an enigma; for the user, a euphoric; for the police, a threat; for the trafficker, a lucrative source of danger; for the convict or the parolee and his family, a source of sorrow" (Mikuriya, 1969). IntroductionThe future of marijuana in the United States is uncertain. No one knows if it is truly on the path to legalization on a national scale But one thing is certain: marijuana is the most consumed illicit drug in the United States. This is currently the case towards small-scale legalization has further progressed, with Proposition 19 having received approval. approximately 44% of the votes in California One of the main causes of the progressive tolerance towards the use of marijuana is the change in perception of this substance among older segments of our society Since 2000, the number of. Frequent marijuana users aged 55 and older has increased significantly. This article will seek to examine some of the key factors that have contributed to the significant increase in the prevalence of marijuana use among baby boomers, the short-term effects. of marijuana with a focus on how these effects would affect older adults, the long-term effects of marijuana. - the long-term effects of heavy marijuana use and the potential political and social implications of heavy marijuana use among older adults in the United States. The first decade of the 21st century was a particularly turbulent period in history. Recent studies have shown that...... middle of article...... Psycho Geriatrics 20, 1081-1089.Hendrix, S. (2009). Baby boomers are seeing their opinions relax thanks to marijuana. Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/15/AR2009111503007.html.Mikuriya, Tod H. (1969). Marijuana in medicine: past, present and future. California Medicine 110(1), 34-40. Stack, P, Suddath, C. (2009). A Brief History of Medical Marijuana. Accessed November 4, 2010, from http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1931247,00.html.Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Office of Applied Studies. (December 29, 2009). The NSDUH report: Illicit drug use among older adults. Rockville, Maryland. (Suggested citation)Tashkin, D.P. (1999). Effects of marijuana on the lungs and their defenses against infections and cancer. International School Psychology. Special issue: Preventing marijuana use among youth 20 (1), 23-37..