Las Vegas assemblyman Joe Hogan planned introduce a measure on Friday to legalize marijuana possession in Nevada.

Hogan said to the Las Vegas Sun, "We've wasted a tremendous amount of money spoiling teen-agers lives, chasing them around until we can arrest them for something. And marijuana is not just a harmless plant. The medical benefits are remarkable."

Hogan is a retired naval officer and Department of Defense employee, and his measure makes Nevada the sixth state to consider decriminalizing marijuana. Hogan has been working with Dr. Stephen "Dr. Pot" Frye of Las Vegas. Assemblymen Andrew Martin and Paul Aizley will be co-sponsoring Hogan's measure.

"I'm really hopeful it will pass," Hogan said to the publication. "It would benefit a lot of people."

Nevada currently allows for medical marijuana use. Colorado and Washington decriminalized marijuana possession in November 2012 and Hawaii, and Oregon and New Mexico lawmakers are considering similar measures.

Hogan, however, said he doesn't smoke pot.

"Maybe 45 years ago someone gifted me a few puffs, but I have not been a user at all," Hogan said to the publication.