Should the federal ban on marijuana be repealed?<br/> <br />Yes -- says one of the largest newspapers in the country.<br/> <br />The New York Times published this weekend the first piece in a six-part editorial series in support of repealing the ban.<br/> <br />The opening editorial compared the ban on marijuana to the alcohol prohibition of the 20s and 30s, which saw the rise of criminals and crime syndicates.<br/> <br />In the coming days, the paper plans to lay out its argument, covering topics such as the health effects and treatment by the criminal justice system.<br/> <br />The first piece argues that states should decide whether to legalize pot, not the federal government.<br/> <br />Washington and Colorado already allow the recreational use of marijuana and many more states permit pot for medical purposes.<br/> <br />The series comes as polls show an increasing number of Americans who support legalizing the drug.
