Whether it’s tobacco, alcohol, ecstasy or marijuana, every drug is lumped together as dangerous and unhealthy. Recently, however, more and more states have begun to legalize marijuana out of recognition for its health and economic benefits. Here in Kansas, we’re looming in $179 million of debt according to the Topeka-Capital Journal, so some have begun to speculate that the taxation of marijuana could help bring our economy back. Personally, I agree.

When it comes to medicinal marijuana, there are a lot of claims being thrown around with little fact to back them up. The federal government regards marijuana as an illegal substance for both medicinal and recreational use, but allows states to decide for themselves to uphold that law.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 28 states have legalized marijuana for medicinal use. Neither Kansas nor Missouri is one of them.

The federal Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, has approved two forms of medicinal marijuana in pill form, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. There is no evidence to suggest that medicinal marijuana is linked to abuse in any way, but plenty to support claims that medicinal marijuana can be used as a painkiller and to reduce inflammation. Still, clinical trials are ongoing and require more time to see effects.

Twenty-eight states legalizing medicinal marijuana is a big deal. There’s something stirring up in our country, and the future of marijuana legislation is up in the air.

For most legislators, they see the value of keeping medical care within state borders instead of forcing people to move for treatment. For example, in 2014, USA Today reported on the Botker family, who moved their 7-year-old daughter from Minnesota to Colorado as a last resort to combat epilepsy.

“We really tried everything with Greta,” mother Maria Botker said. “We put our child through brain surgery, so a plant like marijuana was not going to scare me.”

Legalizing medicinal marijuana opens new discussion for all types of legalization, including recreational. If it’s OK to prescribe cancer patients this relaxing drug as treatment, why can’t it be used for people to relieve stress? Obviously, smoking is not good for you, but more research could lead to development of healthy alternatives that offer the same effects.

I have a feeling we’ll see a federal legalization of medicinal and recreational marijuana in our lifetime. It’s better to prepare our local medical and police force now, rather than later, to make sure we are prepared to handle whatever is thrown at us. After all, this country is nothing without our life, liberty and pursuit of happiness.