Tommy Chong, comedian of "Cheech and Chong" fame and active weed smoker, stated that legalizing marijuana would save America.

Now 73, Tommy Chong thinks legalizing marijuana on a federal level would offer numerous benefits, including a boost to the U.S. economy if it were taxed, according to the Associated Press.

Chong said, "Look at the situation we're in now. Sequesters. Cuts. Everything cut across the board. Now, the government is tapped into the biggest cash crop in the world," Chong said. "There's little manufacturing cost. You don't have to do anything except watch it grow and get a couple of hippies to cut it and then put it in a bag."

Tommy Chong and his partner Richard "Cheech" are well known for their "Cheech and Chong" pot smoking based comedies. Chong has also been a long time marijuana activist and a supporter for the use of marijuana.

Back in June of 2012 Cheech announced that he was battling prostate cancer. Then in July of 2012 Chong tweeted that the hemp oil he has been using to treat his cancer is working and that "he is 99% cancer free."

However, weed has not always been Chong's best friend and has landed Chong in sticky situations with the law on more than one occasion.

Chong was sentenced to nine months in prison after pleading guilty in the case "U.S. vs. Chong" where Chong was charged for financing and promoting Chong Glass/Nice Dreams, a company created by his son, Paris. Chong also agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to distribute drug paraphernalia to assure his family would not be prosecuted.

Nearly 20 states have enacted laws to legalize medical marijuana, and two of them, Colorado and Washington, have completely legalized the use of marijuana. And at least 12 states have pending legislation to legalize for medical use according to the Associated Press.

"Hemp itself is going to save the world," Chong said.