Cons Of Marijuana

Marijuana is a misunderstood drug. Many assume that the usage of marijuana, or cannabis, is dangerous, but it can be the exact opposite. So why is the legalization of marijuana in the United States such a problem for many people today? Considered to be a gateway drug and the reason for the downfall of our youth nowadays, marijuana has developed a negative reputation. Lester Grinspoon, a professor at Harvard University, states, “Few drugs in the United States have produced as much affective heat as marijuana, particularly during the last decade. The controversy essentially revolves around the question of how dangerous or safe the drug is." However, many people are persistent users and believe that this drug is no more harmful than

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.

Growing up, time and time again, we are urged not to do drugs and are told that “drugs are bad for you,” in schools, at home and by many other authority figures. A child typically does not fully understand the reasoning behind this, all they know is that everyone is telling them that drugs are either bad, unhealthy or unsafe without real reasoning. As a child matures, he or she observes people that use drugs even though it is illegal and they do not understand why someone would go against the law and even jeopardize their health to use such drugs. The drug most commonly seen in our culture is marijuana and it is all around everywhere. Marijuana is shown throughout today’s culture in the media that people enjoy such as: movies, music and TV shows, the people using it do not even attempt to hide the fact that they use this substance. Young adults who have personal experience with the drug know its effects on themselves, as well as others, and wonder why it is still illegal. Why is it that this drug has been illegalized across the globe? The debate to legalize marijuana in the United States of America, alone, has been fought over nonstop since the appearance of the drug in the late 30’s. Marijuana has been tested and proven to provide a very positive impact on the American society for several reasons, including economic, medical and crime factors: all of which could very well help America to thrive in the future.

The legalization of marijuana is one of the most debatable topics in our society today. What is marijuana? According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, Marijuana refers to the dried leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds from the Cannabis sativa or Cannabis Indica plant. Marijuana is also known as weed, herb, pot, cannabis, maryjane, and a sort of other nicknames. Most people believe that marijuana should be legalized for the numerous medical health benefits, and that marijuana is found to be less harmful than consuming other drugs and alcohol. However, the people who oppose legalizing marijuana believe that it is too dangerous for a person’s well-being; it can also inspire people to try other drugs like cocaine or alcohol. In the article, “Marijuana should stay illegal,” Carly Zive asserts that smoking cannabis is bad and it should remain illegal, yet, in “This is Why Marijuana Should Be Legal Everywhere,” Renee Jacques depicts marijuana as a substance that perceives health benefits for people.

Sandberg, S. (2011, August 3) The Department of Sociology and Human Geography in Norway did a study on the public perception of marijuana among Norwegians who part take. A study done on 100 cannabis users saw that their perception of the drug was either neutral or positive. Unlike tobacco users or alcoholics, cannabis users don’t see much of a problem with using weed (another slang term for cannabis). They don’t seem to understand that smoking this product can have similar effects on their lungs as cigarettes (though not as destructive). The idea that teens do drugs to rebel against society is actually un-true, the exact opposite is true. When cannabis is talked about so positively in the media and among politicians, it actually makes teenagers think the drug is safe and subconsciously encourages them to do it. Alcohol and cigarettes aren’t looked at so positively in society, and thus the use of these drugs among youths is falling dramatically (yes, even alcohol). They see these drugs as life threatening, manmade chemicals ingested by older folk, while cannabis is seen as this great, all natural remedy to many ailments in life (depression, anxiety, appetite loss, insomnia, etc). Though much of marijuana’s positive attributes are supported by science, there are some misconceptions that leave teens with the wrong ideas about cannabis, such as marijuana has no negative mental effects on the user. This lax approach to the

If the possible medical advances for the legalization of marijuana are not enough to persuade some people, the economic growth from the market marijuana will create will convince others. One article from NBC News suggests that “As more states start to legalize weed, there will be a need for safety campaigns to increase awareness of what risks come from using marijuana”(Fox, 2016). Just as teens shouldn't use marijuana because of increased risks stunned brain development and dependency, neither should other drugs such as tobacco for “adolescent brain development, risk-taking and decision-making, and nicotine dependence” (Lyndon, 2016). Pros and cons come with the use of any drug, from legal drugs to illicit drugs. In conclusion, people are going to do what they want. The best one can do is to be aware and to be

Since the mid to late 20th century, marijuana has been a big part of society. Marijuana has been used by humans since ancient times, but it didn’t become globally popular until the late 1960s to the 1970s. “Since its use was first reported more than 40 years ago in the United States, cannabis use has spread globally” (Hall, pg. 19). Soon after the Vietnam War across the United States and many other countries people found many drugs to consume. One of the most popular drugs is Marijuana. Around this time that the majority of people used and abused drugs, there were no laws against them. Doctors did not know much with reference to marijuana and the health effects it has on people. So people would use them freely without any second thought. They just knew about what it does mentally and the state of mind that is commonly known as being “high”. Today, Marijuana is an illegal drug by the Federal government. Recently, some state governments have made marijuana legal for anyone who is 18 years of age or older. On the other hand in some states doctors are prescribing medicinal marijuana to patients with cancer. People use and abuse drugs every day and people of many ages are using them, but the majority of the drug using population is teens and young adults. Marijuana is typically not abused due to the face that it does not create an addiction. Our federal government believes that the effects of marijuana is dangerous for anyone. “Those opposing liberalization of current laws

There are several people in our society that have undergone a difficult time in their period which has resulted in the use of illegal substances. In today’s society there are people who would say that the use of marijuana is a result of bad parenting, while others claim that it is due to their surroundings. Regardless of one’s point of view, the use of marijuana has been going on for some time now and is not only a problem in our generation but back during the 1900’s to 1950’s as well.

Many people, on the other hand, see marijuana as an entry level drug, that opens up more opportunities for users of marijuana, to delve into more strong, and more harmful drugs. The hypothesis has endured as one of the central ideals of the anti-cannabis drug policy in the United States. Some studies state that while there is no proof for the gateway theory, while other findings indicate that hard drug users are likely to be polydrug users, (Polydrug use refers to the use of two or more psychoactive drugs in combination to achieve a particular effect). Another theory is the fact that smoking marijuana opens it users up to situations where harder drugs, such as methamphetamine, LSD, cocaine, or heroin. Although this is a likely contingent, this also follows suit with tobacco and alcohol, and marijuana has different effects of the brain and the body. For example, as i alluded to prior, marijuana causes a feeling of euphoria, and mellowing, while LSD causes hallucinations, and users report being able to hear colour, and see sound, while alcohol causes nausea, dizziness, outbreaks of emotions, slurred speech, impaired judgement to name a few, yet to fully judge this claim, we need to compare two nations that have opposing drug laws. I will compare the drug crime statistics for harder drugs (methamphetamine, LSD, cocaine, or heroin) in the Netherlands, which has legalised marijuana for recreational use, with America as a whole(inclusive of

Many people hold extreme views regarding drugs, especially illegal drugs. Anti-drug individuals often present a view of all illegal drugs as horrendous and without any redeeming qualities. I used to be this individual. Before my newfound discovery I believed marijuana usage was unacceptable , while despising the users. I perceived marijuana as a gateway drugs to other harmful dangerous drugs and a narcotic that honestly ruined individuals lives. Personally I believed that marijuana made individuals lazy , while forcing users into having lackadaisical motivational attitudes and being negligent with their futures and education.

Apart from the licensed cultivation, mentioned above, illicit cultivation of poppy and cannabis is also taking place on a massive scale across many states in the country. Strong and determined political will is required to put an end to this unlawful activity. Additionally, the loose control over pharmacist and chemist has made drugs and narcotics substances, meant for the medical and scientific purposes, basically end up in the hands of the actual and potential drug dependents. This marks the need for tightening and reinforcing control over the drug stores.

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 second reason that the government should not legalize marijuana is that doing so will send the message that is okay to use other psychoactive drugs. Legalizing marijuana could result in advertising of this drug to adolescents. A study was conducted during 2003 showing that roughly 48 percent of twelfth graders reported using alcohol in the past thirty days and 24 percent reported smoking cigarettes in the past thirty days. Household access to illicit substances is coupled with a greater risk of marijuana use among both younger and older adolescents. This is often coupled with parental drug use which sends the message that it is okay to use psychoactive drugs (Joffe & Yancy, 2004, p. e636). The general idea is that we, as people, shouldn’t be making it easier for our children to get drugs. Thus far, it is shown that there is a struggle to educate the youth to avoid the use of psychoactive drugs. However, certain organizations, such as DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education), have made solid efforts to

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.

1Did you know that smoking can lead to impotence in males, which means those who smoke marijuana have an increased chance of becoming impotent and infertile? Many people don’t know the downsides of marijuana usage, as the public is often blinded by the strong support for pure legalization in every state. Marijuana in of itself is not entirely harmful, but extended use of the drug, or smoking, causes harmful effects to the human body.