Sweet home Alabama! A term used for many in the state, but is also known worldwide. Being tied up with the band Lynyrd Skynyrd helps with the worldwide part (but you know where I am getting at). Alabama is known for its southern hospitality, tradition, and its brand of kick-ass football. It has its scars of history from the heightened battles of the Civil Right movements in Birmingham to its roots in racism. Alabama still remains the "Heart of Dixie" and is home to roughly 5 million people.

The biggest problem that Alabama has had to face with the rise of millennials and the fall of its beloved white southern tradition?

Ignorance.

Alabama as a whole has not been ignorant, but we all know what color Alabama is going to be when it comes to a presidential election (or almost any election at that). In fact, the whole South (excluding Florida, which in most cases is more of a Southern California than a Southern State) can be considered ignorant. The "Bible Belt," if you will, has always been deeply rooted in southern white tradition, and that is where most of the decisions are made.

Alabama could be the first (excluding Florida, again) to lead the revolution of these states into a new era.

Legalization of marijuana.

If Alabama were to legalize marijuana (from this point on I will be using the term weed as a substitute) they could lead the revolution of a drug that has not only been ostracized by society, but that has led to the most skewed correctional system nationwide. According to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) in 2016, there were a total of 2,351 arrests on possession of weed. It is also noted in this report that Marijuana is a standalone drug in the four categories of illegal drugs stated in its report. That is 2,351 arrests on a plant that no one has ever overdosed on. Debaters will say that the "attributable" deaths to weed are way higher than zero, but I would argue that the "attributable" deaths numbers could be skewed. The blame could also be put on something else rather than just weed.

Alabama has another once-in-a-lifetime chance to make its mark on history but in a more positive light.

We need to continue to have more conversations and not assumptions. We need to gather more data, do experiments, and educate ourselves rather than turning a deaf ear just because someone said it was bad.

This opportunity for Alabama is crucial not only for the state but the many lives that have been affected by what this plant hasn't done.