As American approval of marijuana use reaches an all-time high, New York state officials should no longer resist decriminalizing and legalizing the drug.

A Gallup poll released on Oct. 22 indicated that 58 percent of Americans support the legalization of marijuana. This is a 10 percent increase from one year ago and a massive upturn since Gallup first asked the question in 1969 when only 12 percent of Americans favored legalization.

The recent Gallup numbers prove a shift in American thinking. With so much public support, New York state government officials should resist fear of political backlash and back marijuana’s decriminalization and legalization.

After all, the government will reap numerous benefits from doing so.

For example, if legalized, the government could tax the sale of marijuana. This would not only benefit the government financially, but would also help monitor each sale of the drug. The businesses that would sell the drug would challenge the illegal drug-dealing currently taking place.

However, before the state government can benefit from the drug’s decriminalization and challenge the drug-dealing system, New York state politicians should address the safety concerns surrounding the drug.

Although there is no way to eliminate all of the risks associated with marijuana use, some of these problems should be addressed now, or else they could arise when the drug is legalized.

There are risks to marijuana just like there are risks to alcohol, which is legal for those older than 21. But unlike alcohol, there is no standard protocol to determine whether someone is under the influence of marijuana. While police officers use breathalyzers to determine the blood alcohol content (BAC) of drivers, there is no such way to measure usage of marijuana. A similar system should be implemented before legalization takes place, to reprimand reckless users and hold them accountable for their misuse.

Once these issues are addressed, New York state politicians should move forward with the legalization of marijuana. It could help the financial state of the country.

After generations of people not supporting marijuana, American citizens have adapted to the times. Politicians should do the same.