Should Marijuana Br LegalizedEssay Preview: Should Marijuana Br LegalizedReport this essayShould marijuana be legalized? This has been a controversial topic for many years, with some saying yes it should and others saying no it should not. As with any controversial topic, there are pros and cons that must be taken into consideration when determining which side of the argument your final decision is based on. The argument that the legalization of marijuana will cause more harm than good or, more good than harm is what needs to be decided upon. Will legalizing marijuana create more tax payers money to be spent or, will it generate additional revenue for our country is what needs to be decided upon. Will legalizing marijuana increase or decrease the crime rate is what needs to be decided upon. After weighing all the pros and cons the decision must be made, should marijuana be legalized?
Marijuana sales should remain illegal in the United States because of the negative health effects on its users including the youth. Marijuana causes damage to brain cells, respiratory health issues, memory loss, impaired motor skills and a lower immune system. In some individuals, specifically the younger users, marijuana can trigger a psychosis or lead to schizophrenia (NIDA, 2010). Marijuana may be considered one of the greatest of Americans pastimes, but its negative effects on the health of chronic users outweighs the temporary “high” they feel as a result of the THC.
When someone smokes or ingests marijuana, the THC quickly travels through the lungs to the bloodstream, then to the brain and other organs in the body. The resulting sensation is a mix of distorted vision, lack of coordination and impaired memory. These affects can last for hours and in some cases, days. If someone smokes marijuana on a daily basis, its safe to say that they would be constantly impaired, even if on a small scale. Smoking marijuana can also increase the heart rate. Studies have shown that the risk of heart attack is greater in the first hour after smoking due to an increased heart rate and arrhythmias in some individuals (NIDA, 2010). Marijuana smokers are far more susceptible to upper respiratory health issues than regular tobacco users. Marijuana contains far more carcinogens than tobacco smoke. Users often inhale more deeply and hold their breath for longer than do tobacco smokers, which can increase the carcinogenic exposure to the lungs. There was a study done where 450 chronic marijuana users were the majority missed more days of work than nonsmokers, usually due to respiratory illnesses (NIDA, 2010).
Marijuana is considered to be the most common and safest illegal drugs in the United States. Still, marijuana use has also been linked to an increased possibility of psychosis in some people. Long-term smoking or ingesting marijuana can lead to addiction and negative health risks, but is especially dangerous for the youth. Chronic marijuana use in a very young person can trigger a variety of mental illnesses including addiction, depression or schizophrenia. Studies have shown that nearly 50 percent of the nations youth has experimented with marijuana, and nearly 20 percent of young people become chronic users. The rate of addiction increases with the younger the individual is when he or she starts using marijuana. Although it is one of Americas favorite pastimes, marijuana has too many health risks to become legalized.
Although marijuana is thought to create a negative impact, it is true that marijuana has many positive uses economically, medically, and in the textile industry. If marijuana is legalized, the government has the ability to tax the product, which will increase state or federal funds. According to the Marijuana Policy Project (2011), “Replacing marijuana prohibition with a system of taxation and regulation similar to that used for alcoholic beverages would produce combined savings and tax revenues of between $10 billion and $14 billion per year” (para. 1). Without the legalization of marijuana, the government is unable to control the distribution and taxation, and continues to spend money on the law enforcement agencies which enforce the current laws, which is where the savings comes in.
Marijuana has been proven to help with several medical issues. According to Procon.org (2011), “Proponents of medical marijuana argue that it can be safe and effective treatment for the symptoms of cancer, AIDS, multiple sclerosis, pain, glaucoma, epilepsy, and other conditions” (para. 2). Without the use of marijuana to assist with these medical conditions, many patients will have to live with the pain, discomfort, insomnia, nausea, and anxiety that will accompany their disease or disorder. If marijuana is distributed and monitored correctly by the government for medical purposes, patients will be able to have some relief from their medical situation. The terminally ill, or even those with permanent mental disorders such as schizophrenia, will be able to live the remainder of their lives without the constant pain or depression caused by their disease.
Marijuana has several uses in the textile industry. Marijuana (hemp) plants can be used to produce clothing, chairs, sails, towels, candles, insulation, lubricants, pulp, and paper (Recipenet, 1999). One of the most important from this list would be the ability to produce paper from the plants. The cannabis sativa plant (marijuana plant) grows at a rapid rate, much faster than trees, and can be used to produce paper, which reduces the amount of trees and forests being destroyed in order to create paper products. The plants also produce more fiber and oil than any other plant known to man, and this fiber and oil can be used in the production of tens of thousands of products globally (Recipenet, 1999).
On the other hand there is the belief that marijuana can affect someones everyday life, job, and school. “Because marijuana compromises the ability to learn and remember information, the more a person uses marijuana the more he or she is likely to fall behind in accumulating intellectual, job, or social skills” (UATests.com). Some of the side effects people get when using marijuana are: having trouble remembering things, a slower reaction time, difficulty concentrating, becoming very tired, anxiety, being paranoid, an altered time perception, and red, bloodshot eyes (FamilyDoctor.org). With all of these side effects it is hard to figure out how anyone can function properly and normally while using marijuana. “Research has
s that many adults with learning disabilities also experience some issues with the use of marijuana. These are most often found after a single month of abstinence. This means that some adults with cannabis-tolerance can feel the withdrawal symptoms a week after they’ve quit. With no side effects, the marijuana-tolerant experience may be temporary. Although many people may have similar experiences with marijuana-tolerance, research has shown marijuana-antidepressant-related issues can often be life-threatening. This is because of its dependence on a drug known as DMT, which is often used for mental disorders (including suicide, autism), such as anxiety.
The research on the relationship between marijuana use and depression has been so extensive that there is little data on its relationship with depression. This lack of experience with other medications is a concern for any individual who takes or attempts marijuana, since most users will go from feeling like a drug addict to feeling like someone that they can take.
It is important to consider research regarding the relationship between marijuana and depression.
The research on marijuana use and Depression comes to us from personal experiences. These studies show high rates of both depression and marijuana exposure. There was a time when taking high doses (like a regular pill) may worsen a person’s depression but never reverse it. Since then, when taking low doses (like once a week) and taking it consistently, researchers are finding that marijuana-based medicines cause a greater likelihood of worsening depression and anxiety (Alder, 2010).
We know from anecdotal evidence that use of marijuana can cause depression (The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)
and mental illness (Estrada, 2013).
This is one of the reasons why there are so many people taking and dealing with marijuana. For many adults, while they are using marijuana like a regular, they may not feel fully connected to the world. For instance, using the wrong side of the drug can feel like being depressed, anxious, and afraid. And while some can feel their mood and emotions improving, they may not completely feel their symptoms are better (Baker, 2009; White, 2009. A Guide for a Self-Help Coach. New York: Bantam Publishers, 2012).
”While some users experience some side effects that interfere with normal daily activities, they do not necessarily experience the same side effects if used regularly. There are times when it is impossible to get an adequate dose of marijuana-based medicines or to perform basic physical tasks reliably. Some people feel that marijuana can make them feel more like the person they are. For example, using marijuana to treat a major depression can trigger these feelings, while the use of alcohol or marijuana-based medicine is sometimes not seen through to normal functioning.
For many people, marijuana may be helpful when they are trying to stop a traumatic past or to recover from emotional