Since marijuana is one of the most popular drugs in the world, criminals are likely to test positive. Because of this analysis process, then, when crime statistics are reported, the crime is linked to marijuana use, depending on the reporting method. In most states, simple possession of marijuana is a crime and is a misdemeanor punishable by arrest. The same report does not disclose the use of drugs other than marijuana. Jimmy Carter was once quoted: “Sanctions against the possession of a drug should be no more harmful to an individual than the use of the drug itself; and where they are, they should be changed. Nowhere is this clearer than in laws against private possession of marijuana for personal use. Therefore, I support legislation that would amend federal law to eliminate all federal criminal penalties for possession of up to one ounce of marijuana” (Carter, 2001). Carter's quote made sense considering the harsh sanctions of the time and should not have been more severe than the drug itself. If marijuana were legal, it would allow police to focus on much more serious crimes and acts of violence. Marijuana use should also be regulated by passing laws to prevent people under the influence from getting into their vehicles and putting others at risk. One can examine the claim that marijuana causes crime and conclude that the claim does not