Kearney, Emma
Biggs/Regalia
Political Studies
22 October 2014
The Cons of Cannabis Although it is a highly common defense that marijuana is not addictive, it in fact is. Many regular smokers find themselves ridden with very similar withdrawal symptoms of a tobacco addict (Marijuana Addiction Symptoms and Effects). Around 9% of people who use find themselves dependent on marijuana (Is Marijuana Addictive?). That may not seem like much, but that is almost 1 in every 10 people hooked on a drug that is supposedly “non-addictive.” Legalizing a drug that causes disorientation, paranoia, depression, anxiety, dizziness, and a slowed reaction time is not safe, not to mention the fact that it is a gateway drug, often leading users to use even more damaging and dangerous drugs (Is Marijuana Addictive?). With the legalization of a drug like marijuana comes increased use and abuse of the drug. Marijuana is unsafe medically for the individual using and for the people around them when the user is under the influence, it will cost the government money and time and it will cost employers tons. Legalizing marijuana would be a huge mistake by our country. In 2011, marijuana was responsible or involved in almost 500,000 emergency room visits in the United States (Carise). Cannabis has proven to lead to weakened immune systems, growth disorders, reduction of male sex hormones, destruction of lung fibers, potentially permanent brain lesions, lack of motivation, focus, ability to perceive
The question of whether or not marijuana should be legalized for recreational and medicinal use has been a three decade long conversation. There are many pros and cons to legalizing marijuana. There are many different ideas about the effects of marijuana, but as with any drug answers are going to vary depending on the person you survey. Age, health, and mental stability are all factors to consider how a drug can positively or negatively affect you, and marijuana is no different. To be legal or not to be legal is the million dollar question up for debate.
Before 1937, marijuana was freely bought, sold, grown, and smoked in the United States. Since that time, all of these activities have been illegal, but many groups and individuals have fought to decriminalize marijuana. The congressional decision to classify marijuana as a Schedule I drug in 1970 has made the legalization campaign more difficult, since it officially established marijuana as a dangerous, addictive drug with no medicinal benefits.
Legalizing marijuana has always been an interesting topic for many people to dispute about. Some people say it is good, while others say it is bad. No matter what topic you speak about, it has its pros and cons. For example, marijuana can be used in great ways if legalized. Through money given from dispensaries to the crime rate lowered because of the ability to acquire marijuana in legal ways. Some bad examples are that it can be a gateway drug and can cause one to want a “better high” to people thinking it affects people's lives. Legalizing marijuana (medical and recreational) will help the United States with money, crime, and other numerous ways.
The use of marijuana is quite a controversial topic. Some people believe the use can be helpful, to society, while others greatly disagree. Three of the popular marijuana uses, which are smoking, eating, and vaping, are a great representation of this dispute.
There have been studies done that have proven that IQ’s of people 21 and older that use this drug have not been affected in the long term, even though while under the influence their IQ may drop temporarily. There have been many studies done on cannabis and they have found that the drug should not be considered a schedule I drug and that it should not be illegal but Nixon dispelled this information and kept the drug’s illegal status. In addition, it has been shown that misdemeanors have decreased and opioid use has decreased in places that marijuana is legal. It was shown in Colorado that opioid use went down by about 30%. This would mean that the overall safety of communities would be on the rise. Lastly, there are many addictive substances that are currently legal that could be compared to pot. Alcohol is legal and has the same short term effects as cannabis. Also, tobacco is the number one cause of death by an addictive substance, followed by alcohol, with marijuana in the rear. Although, this side provides many compelling arguments, the opposition has a significant number of relevant points as
There are opposing viewpoints to the idea of legalizing marijuana. One counter-argument is that marijuana is highly addictive. If the belief exists that anything highly addictive should not be out on the market, than it can be reasonable to argue that cigarettes or prescription drugs should not be available to consumers as well. The argument of marijuana being highly addictive is false. Dr. Riggs argues, “About nine percent of individuals who repeatedly use it [marijuana] may become addicted” (The Dr. Oz Show, 2013). She uses the key word “may” which is not concrete. Nine percent of
Pro: The pro side of having marijuana is that it relieve pain, reduce vomiting and nausea, muscles spams, and prevent growth of blood vessels that supplies tumors. Marijuana is also a lot cheaper and it’ also less harmful than, any other toxic drug. Marijuana has a chemical called cannabinoid that can cause some good physical effects on one’s body. One of the positive effects it can has on your body is that it can inhibit tumor growth by causing cell death, blocking the development of blood vessels by tumor growth. This good of patients who are dealing with cancer. It can also can increase the appetite of cancer and AIDS patients too. The Delta-9- THC can help increase weight gain and appetite. I personally know this to be true, because my
In the world we live in today, most people do not look at marijuana as a drug that is harmful to the body. So many different people smoke marijuana on a daily basis, it has become the drug people turn to when they need to get away or relieve stress. Marijuana is used for many different reasons. For example, some people smoke it to get that high they have been wanting all day, but other people actually need the drug, this is called medical marijuana. The people who use this drug on a regular basis probably do not realize how it could affect them not only mentally, but physically. I believe that marijuana should not be legalized due to the many problems it can cause.
Marijuana is an addictive substance that many people get affected by. Many people know the negative effects of marijuana but they still continue to smoke weed. The government should not legalize marijuana because it would cause a lot of harm to the user and if they legalize it, more people would start smoking weed. Marijuana affects their education, causes health problems, and it also increases the chance of being schizophrenic. Marijuana should not be legalized resulting in a better lifestyle.
Some medical reasons that marijuana shouldn’t be decriminalized are that it has long and short terms effects. Examples of the short term outcomes include memory loss, difficulty with thinking, loss of motor skills and increased heart rate. According to the National Institutes of Health show that someone smoking about five joints per week is taking in as many cancer causing chemicals as someone smoking a pack of cigarettes every day. There is no science proof that smoked marijuana can be used for medication. Since cannabis plants are polluted with a range of fungal spores, smoking marijuana may increase the risk of infectious organisms. Taradiff, J. "Marijuana and the War on Drugs. “Marijuana. Farmington Hills, Michigan: Thomas Gale, 2008. 157. Print.
The legalization of marijuana has been a highly debated topic for many of years. Since the first president to the most recent, our nation’s leaders have consumed the plant known as weed. With such influential figures openly using this drug why is it so frowned upon? Marijuana is considered a gateway drug, a menace to society, and mentally harmful to its consumers. For some people weed brings a sense of anxiety, dizziness, or unsettling feeling. Like alcohol, tobacco or any other drug, those chemicals may not respond well with their body. For other people marijuana brings joy, a sense of relief, and takes the edge off of every day stress. For those who are associated with cannabis, purposes usually range from a relaxant, or cash crop, to
Both marijuana and cigarettes should be made illegal because they both cause cancer, messes up lungs, and how a person ages. What is Marijuana? Marijuana an illegal drug that, it is dried and rolled into paper like a cigarette, it can even be smoke out of bottles, pipes, and is also smoked out of bongs (Mezinski). And marijuana can be healthy for you if it is eaten, eating it will affect you more or less depending on its percent, and the age of it’s THC (Mezinski). Marijuana has a lot of the same cancer cause chemicals that is tobacco, it holds over 400 different chemicals in it and because of the the chemical that gives you something called the “munchies”, the munchies makes you feel very hungry (Gross). Marijuana relaxes the air tubes
Hello. My name is human being. I have an Endocannabinoid system in my body. By nature by the universe. Natural. I choose to utilize this natural system in my body to better my health and well-being. There are some other human beings out there who believe they have a “right” or “duty” to prevent me to returning to my very own nature. As an intelligent, peaceful and free-thinking being, I understand that no man has a right to prevent any other man from his nature. I am a human being. I prefer cannabis for medical and spiritual use. It’s natural, non-toxic, and best of all, it’s non-lethal. Zero deaths and infinite smiles. I love cannabis, and no law or opinion will ever change my nature. It disappoints me that so many people don’t know the benefits of marijuana, I’ve made some of my best memories, met some of the greatest people in my life and learned a lot about myself through cannabis. If you’ve ever seen someone who is addicted to hard drugs then you’d understand just how harmless weed is and the fact that it’s still illegal is ridiculous! Is marijuana addictive? Yes, in the sense that most of the really pleasant things in life are worth endlessly repeating. It’s proven that cannabis is less harmful to your body than alcohol and I can tell you from personal experience that drinking can end badly. Whereas smoking marijuana will end with laughs, good times with your friends and an awesome
Marijuana comes from Cannabis Sativa, an annual herbaceous plant in the Cannabis genus family. The pharmacologically active ingredient in marijuana is tetra-hydro-cannabinol, a chemical compound used to heighten perception, decrease anxiety, slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, and can ease the pain of multiple sclerosis (Butterfield, 2017). It is estimated that about 30% of adults in the U.S. use marijuana because they assume it is harmless (that’s debatable). Signs of marijuana use include bloodshot eyes, lethargy, uncoordinated body movements, confusion, lack of focus, and increased cravings for snacks. The continued use of smoking marijuana increases their chance of developing cancer in places such as the mouth, tongue, larynx or pharynx. Legalizing marijuana is an extensive legal battle for several reasons. First, legalizing marijuana would make it available to individuals that genuinely need it. The objections of the federal government resisting legalization have nothing to do with how much harm it may or may not cause. Instead, their objections are based on pharmaceutical companies resisting legalization because their profits would decrease from the legal use of marijuana (Armand, 2016). Since marijuana is classified as a schedule one drug, scientist/doctors believe that the use of the drug has no medical purposes. However, former Surgeon General of the United States Jocelyn Elders states, that there is evidence the suggest marijuana can relieve specific
Marijuana continues to be a very controversial area of legislation in America. Through the Obama years we saw more lenient laws enacted and more places allow marijuana in the United States. In the early 2000’s medical marijuana became more common. Marijuana in Colorado has been an especially complicated area. But in 2012 Amendment 64 passed, which legalized recreational marijuana. Amendment 64, created by Democrats in Colorado’s Congress in 2011, passed by public vote due to the efforts of many politicians, the work of special interest groups, and a shift in public opinion of marijuana over time due to media and politicians.