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
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.
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.
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.
The uses of marijuana amongst teenagers has increased over the years making it the most accessible drug in America as well as one the most beneficial due to its medical uses. According to the article of Marijuana Use Among Youths Is a Serious Problem, written by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA) (2004), stated that the uses of marijuana has impacted the youth in many ways due to the unknown factors of marijuana such as admittance to treatment facilities, and being admitted into emergency rooms. The CASA took the con side of the argument dealing with the issues of marijuana use with teenagers. The second article Marijuana Should Be
There have been many arguments that have been raised against marijuana whether it has to do with recreational marijuana, medical marijuana and in any other ways. Most arguments against marijuana are centered on the use of the drug for pleasure and imagination. Is it morally permissible to use marijuana, does it cause violence, is it a gateway drug, is it addictive, should using marijuana be regulated by law and what regulations should there be, should it be fully legalized and regulated, should it be decriminalized are questions that are usually asked when it comes to recreational marijuana. Providing answers and solutions to this dilemma is not as easy as pointing the wrongness of crimes such as rape or murder. Therefore, the debate on marijuana cannot be held on similar platforms as those crimes and it needs a philosophic analysis to identity the moral rightness, wrongness or the neutrality of the use of recreational marijuana. In this paper, I will argue that there is pros and cons to recreational marijuana and why there are pros and cons to it.
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
Marijuana smoke is a complex mixture that has many chemical components and biological effects similar to tobacco smoke. However, it also contains some different ingredients. This suggests the strong possibility that marijuana, like tobacco, could lead to lung cancer, or create respiratory distress. ?Smoking marijuana also causes changes in the heart and circulation that are characteristic of stress? states Morgan (5). Current evidence has shown marijuana also causes some chemical changes in the brain. After exposure to this drug, there have been reports of effects on brain electrical activity in human beings and in animals. Marijuana also has been found to produce an acute brain syndrome. ?This is a more severe mental problem consisting of confusion and loss of contact with reality? stated Berger (8). The main reason that the United States Drug Enforcement Agency doesn't want marijuana use to be legalized is because there is no evidence to date that proves that marijuana is an effective drug when used for medicinal purposes. Scientists have researched this drug for twenty years and have yet to produce reliable scientific proof that marijuana has medical value. New findings show that marijuana is acutely harmful to AIDS and cancer patients because the active ingredient in marijuana acutely reduces the white blood cells that fight off infection. The United States Drug Enforcement Agency agrees with police departments that if marijuana use is legalized, crime could
Cannabis is becoming increasingly widespread and increasingly common in modern-day society for both recreational use and for medication. The article by Craig Reinarman, ‘Criminalisation, legalisation and the mixed blessing of medicalisation in the USA’ generates many controversial issues of cannabis.
The topic of marijuana use in today’s society is currently a hot topic in both politics as well is in social settings. There are many positives and negatives towards whether or not marijuana should be legalized, as well as medical and recreational pros and cons. This paper will cover the pros and cons of all topics and my personal viewpoint on the topic.
Legalizing marijuana may serve as a medicine for ill and unhealthy people. Marijuana is famously known for its ability to relieve pain for people that suffer with ADDs/ ADHD, Alzheimer’s, seizures, migraines, and physical pain relief like knee or back pain. In addition, marijuana can be used to, “treat those disorders but also cannabinoids, the active components of marijuana kill cancer cells and inhibit tumor growth!” (Torres). American states like Colorado and Washington have already legalized the use of marijuana, not to mention
What is Marijuana? According to Dictionary.com, Marijuana is, “a preparation made from the dried flower clusters and leaves of the cannabis plant, usually smoked or eaten to induce euphoria”(marijuana). Marijuana, also known as “Mary Jane”, is drawn out to be an extremely horrible, life-ruining drug. Children learn that marijuana is a “gateway” drug and that it only does harm. Though it can be quite addictive, Marijuana is safer than commonly used drugs like Tobacco and could possibly be more helpful medically than many of the prescription drugs currently available. The legalization of Marijuana would have an extremely advantageous effect on the economy, healthcare, and focus of police on more violent criminal activity of the United
Marijuana (Drug Name: Cannabis) is a natural herb that derives from the hemp plant. The euphoric effects stem from the drugs THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) levels. THC not only causes the hallucinogenic effects, but also gives somatic pain relief, controls the frequency of seizures, and helps slow the progression of Dementia in older adults. For over 5,000 years, Native Americans have been using this plant for medicinal reasons. However, since the early 20th century, marijuana has been a controversial topic in the U.S. Many citizens have grown to love the mind-altering effects that the drug gives and consequently, made it into a recreational pastime.
Marijuana has been a very controversial area of legislation for years. Through the Obama years we saw more lenient laws go into place and more places allow marijuana in the United States. Marijuana in Colorado has been an especially complicated area. In the early 2000’s medical marijuana became more common. But in 2012 Amendment 64 passed which legalized recreational marijuana. Amendment 64 created by Democrats in Colorado’s Congress in 2011 did pass public vote with 1,383,139 votes 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.
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.
Should Marijuana be Legalized? Over half of Americans answer ‘’Yes.’’ Marijuana is greatly frowned upon, not just in America, but all across the globe. But these laws against Marijuana are up for debate in several countries. Especially in the United States. There are sixteen states in this country that allow medical usage of Marijuana.