Against Legalizing Marijuana

Since the 1970’s, marijuana has been an extremely controversial drug. While some argue that it does not harm to your body, and can do good in the world, others classify it as a “gateway” drug. As the number states in the U.S. legalize the drug increases, 26 to be exact, the debate is only getting more heated. Also known as weed, cannabis, dope, etc., marijuana has been scientifically proven to do good in the medical world, be safer than alcohol and tobacco, and increase a growth in our economy.

The legalization of marijuana has been a debated subject in America since the 1970's. The pro-marijuana society in America has made claims as to how marijuana can help cure or lessen the effect of some diseases and that by legalizing the drug; the use of pot will actually decline. The fact of the matter is that marijuana is a drug that can be placed into a similar category as cocaine or heroine. Like these other drugs, pot (marijuana) smoking carries with it serious side effects that can effect the user forever, and sometimes-even cause death. Marijuana was first cultivated in America during the colonial time period and was used as a fiber for rope and even clothing. The plant was not used for its psychoactive properties until 1910,

Those who disagree with the legalization of marijuana across the United States state various concerns regarding its potential for negative side effects, such as causing addiction and deteriorating cognition (Loflin and Earleywine 293-296). Nonetheless,

Opponents of making marijuana legal would like society to believe that marijuana shouldn’t be legalized.It is stated that marijuana is terrible for your physical health.A recent Northwestern University studies have founded that marijuana users have abnormal brain structure and poor memory and that chronic marijuana abuse may lead to brain changes resemble into being diagnosed

As the world advances people’s conceptions on the world change as well. Things that were viewed as bad in the 1900’s are now acceptable, and sometimes encouraged. Almost every aspect of life today as we know it is different from what we wear, to the jobs we have, and especially what we do in our free time. One thing that is was not very socially acceptable even in the last 5 years, and is a major topic all over the United States is marijuana legalization. It has always been used, but only in private or small groups. Marijuana which has been frowned upon for a long time, and users are labeled as “burnouts” and “losers” who are failures in the world. The world is changing its view on marijuana though. In the United States 27 states and D.C. have legalized marijuana

The legalization of marijuana is, and has been a heavily disputed issue for decades. On one hand, marijuana could lead to a medical breakthrough, or at least provide relief to cancer and AIDS patients. On the other hand, legalizing a drug could expose it to too broad an audience. As a drug, marijuana has never proven to be anywhere near as harmful as cigarettes or alcohol. Each year in the United States, 400,000 people die from tobacco, 50,000 from alcohol, and from marijuana, zero. Regardless of what side one may take to this argument, there are some causes to this marijuana debate that everyone should know. Marijuana was not always illegal, and the reasons behind the history of narcotic regulation are interesting when viewed from

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

In America’s present-day society, it’s people are faced with the question of whether marijuana should be legalized or not. The issue brought with the legalization of cannabis is the fear that it is a gateway drug that will lead users to try other, harder drugs. More states have decided to legalize marijuana for medical or recreational use but not all agree with the decisions. There has been much research done to show the positive and negative effects of marijuana, itself, and the legalization of it; some concerns dealing with health, economic, and societal issues. Marijuana is a mixture of dried flowers of the Cannabis Sativa and may be consumed in many different forms. In a video made by ASAPScience called “ Your Brain on Drugs; Marijuana”, the speaker explains how the THC in marijuana is what creates the mind-altering effects on the brain, which considers it a “drug”, although it comes from a natural source. Some people are against the legalization of cannabis simply because it is considered a drug, which they may tend to stay away from in general. It is clear that both sides discussing the issue of whether marijuana should be legalized or not contain valid arguments, but there must also be a clear solution to what must happen.

The legalization of marijuana and other controlled substances is a highly discussed and controversial topic. Opponents have generally repeated arguments formed from long lasting government propaganda in the past, and proponents have been working tirelessly to break down those preconceptions. There are many arguments for and against the legalization of marijuana, and in many ways it is the same discussion that led to the end of prohibition. Generally, the opposing arguments are geared toward moral standards and focus on correlation as causation; the arguments for legalization are generally based on university studies and case studies from other countries and states that have already legalized marijuana. This essay will attempt to dispel the

Marijuana, also known as ganja, mary jane, pot, and dope is widely used by teens and adults. Today, society has come a long way officially 23 states have legalized marijuana for medical purposes. Although many people believe that marijuana is a gateway drug, and has been discouraged by society, it has been proven that “less than 8% of Americans smoke marijuana versus 52% who drink and 27% of people that smoke tobacco cigarettes” (Moore). This concludes the idea that alcohol is the real gateway drug, and marijuana holds less side effects. Recreational marijuana use would not pose a massive threat to the health of humans the way that alcohol destroys internal organs. Legalizing marijuana would allow more research about the

Marijuana is a hallucinogen that acts to enhance perception of sights, sounds, and smells, and may produce a sensation of time slowing down. Marijuana over activates parts of the brain that contain the highest number of these receptors, this causes the "high" that users feel, because of the THC quickly passing through the bloody stream and to the brain (“Marijuana". drugabuse.gov). The drug speaks to them . Although we see more negative effects rather than good, we need to put aside those facts and dig deeper in understanding the potentials for this drug because perhaps further understanding could save lives. We should know more about what a drug could do to help us, rather than trying to tell everyone and focusing on the “negative” side effects. Marijuana has all the same long term side effects as cigarettes and yet they aren't placed together in the schedule system rather nicotine isn't even

The initial usage of marijuana for medical or therapeutic purposes emerged in the early nineteenth century and gradually gained popularity among physicians. It was not until the late 1930s that the prescription of marijuana faced any legal restrictions. Minor federal limitations such as the Marijuana Tax Act, Boggs Act, and Narcotics Control Act eventually propelled the ultimate legislation which is still in place today (Clark). This legislation, the 1970 Uniform Controlled Substance Act, categorizes marijuana as a Schedule I illicit drug. That is, the possession, purchase, distribution, or medical prescription of marijuana is considered a felony. It characterizes marijuana as a substance subject to abuse and lacking any medical purpose or

Smoking marijuana also has implication for others in society. When one thinks of the negative aspects of smoking cigarettes, the effects are similar with marijuana smoke. Smoke, regardless of tobacco or marijuana, causes lung cancer and affects those who involuntary breathe the smoke second-handed. Therefore, the leagalization of marijuana can lead to increased health issues and medical costs for our country. This drug is also known to have negative effects on the brain, including but not limited to reduced brain function, depression, memory loss, diminished reactions, and poor decision-making and problem solving abilities. As a result, there are escalating concerns over the potential of rising traffic accidents and fatalities resulting from recreational marijuana use. There is also concern that such more traffic accidents and fatalities will occur to the combined use of alcohol and marijuana use.

The debate over whether marijuana should be legalized nation-wide has been an ongoing one for years now. Marijuana should’ve been legalized years ago and continues to create more controversial problems within our nation. Before diving into the debate and choosing sides, one needs to understand what marijuana is and the effects that it has first, especially with it being so popular in the United States. Marijuana is a psychoactive drug created from the plant called cannabis (Happy Place). Drugs are primarily classified on whether they are stimulants or if they are depressants. Depressants are a type of drug that hinders ones psychological vitals, the major drug being alcohol. A stimulant is a substance that for a certain amount of time

Marijuana, or cannabis, is a plant well known throughout the entire country. In the United States, a total of 23 states and the District of Columbia have legalized the use of marijuana in some shape or form, whether it be recreational or medicinal (State Marijuana). Recreational uses of the plant are legal to anyone over the age of 21, in the states that have passed laws to legalize free use. Medicinally, Marijuana has been legal for several years.