The New York Times advocated on its editorial page for the legalization of marijuana in the United States and to leave it to each state to decide whether to allow its use for medical or recreational purposes. 

“There are no perfect answers to people’s legitimate concerns about marijuana use. But neither are there such answers about tobacco or alcohol, and we believe that on every level — health effects, the impact on society and law-and-order issues — the balance falls squarely on the side of national legalization”, reads the NYT editorial this Sunday.

According to the news organization there is evidence that addiction and dependence are minor problems, especially compared with alcohol and tobacco. 

Further, the editorial states the social costs of the marijuana laws are vast considering the high number of arrests related to possession that disproportionately affect young men of color.