Marijuana Is A Safe And Non Addictive Drug

     Marijuana has become one of the most controversial drugs used today and in the past. Many claim fame to the medicinal purposes of marijuana as to why the drug should be legalized. Today the effects of marijuana use are more known. According to Carroll (2000), marijuana contains 50 percent more cancer causing hydrocarbons than cigarettes. Blood pressure is affected by the use along with sexual function. The abuse of marijuana is one from the past and continues to be a trend in today’s time. An epidemic of marijuana smoking began by 1935, which caused laws to be enacted against the use of marijuana not for medical use.

Also, marijuana can be seen as being addictive in nature. “Approximately 9% of individuals that use marijuana become addicted” (Marijuana Statistics). Marijuana contains many chemicals, such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which can cause many positive and negative effects to the human body and brain. A major attribute for medical marijuana is the economic advantages that are produced from the distribution of the drug. Also, the legalization of medical marijuana can portray positive and negative outcomes for law enforcement. Therefore, medical marijuana has many positive effects, such as treatment for diseases, and negative effects, such as immune system suppression. Throughout this research paper, medical marijuana will be thoroughly explained to exemplify the advantages and disadvantages of legalizing the

Marijuana is the most popular illicit drug used among our teenagers in the United States. Research shows that 42% of high school seniors have smoked Cannabis, 18% within the past month and 5% smoked daily and 1 in 6 are addicts. More than 64% of teenagers reported that marijuana is very easily available (Gary). Unfortunately, some parents live in a world of denial and say “It’s not my kid. My child doesn’t smoke.” Unbeknown to us, there are unfavorable concerns for many young marijuana abusers such as the risk of addiction, poor school performances and a “gateway” to other lethal substances. Smoking marijuana increases respiratory diseases, impaired immune function, cognitive problems and motivational impairment. (National Institute on Drug Abuse). It is the leading cause of abnormal cognitive development which persists long after abstinence. Marijuana is the main drug used by children who seek emergency medical treatments and screened following an arrest or autopsies (Dennis et at).

In contrast, there are common believes that marijuana is not addictive such as alcohol and heroin, but research and experiences show that the user will slowly develop addiction on it even after withdrawal. The symptoms of marijuana smoker seem as in a cocaine addict. The drug is the most commonly found in the system of drivers who are fatally injured. Dependency on the drug may lead to use more dangerous drugs in future. It has a high impact on brain especially parts connected to memory and learning. One study, declare that the person who is highly addicted to marijuana in teen years his IQ points will decrease by 8 between the age of 13 and 38. Finally, the legalization of marijuana will lead to highly smoking problems and increase serious health problems, whether it has a medical condition relief property.

Armand, Wynne. "Marijuana: Health effects of recreational and medical use". Ed. Armand,Wynne.Research.2016.Armand provides research information that recreational marijuana can cause health issues in one's life in the forms of long-term and short-term use ranging from battling one's memorization skills, cognitive skills, to how damage to the lungs like bronchitis and asthma. Armand expresses that recreational marijuana is a common use among teenagers to young adults. That how among that age bracket, marijuana consumption is the highest in the nation. That among this bracket when marijuana is consumed in the body, it creates short term effects that can damage these developing brains, which could lead them from growing at the regular pace for

Using marijuana can lead to the development of problematic use, known as a marijuana use disorder. This takes the form of addiction in severe cases. Data suggests that 30% of people who use marijuana have some level of marijuana use disorder. People who begin to use marijuana before the age of 18 are four to seven times more likely to have marijuana use disorder or addiction compared to adults.People that use marijuana daily have addiction rates between 25% and 50%. Dependence is usually associated with marijuana use disorders. When frequent users of marijuana quit using it, they feel physical and psychological discomfort, otherwise known as withdrawal symptoms. This leads many people to resume their usage. Dependence is when the brain adapts

Marijuana is considered in popular culture to be a widely accepted mainstream recreational illegal drug used in the United States; its use comes with severe adverse side effects that are often overlooked. Long-Term use of marijuana 'sis shown to have negative effects on physical, mental, and environmental health. Studies have shown that in the United States, up to 20% of daily marijuana users become dependent (Marijuana and Lung Health) showing a physical or emotional need for the drug. Marijuana use has the potential to affect every aspect of a person 's physical and mental wellbeing negatively. Its use also comes with potentially life-altering risks to one 's future including an individual’s likelihood of obtaining a degree, impacting their future earning potential and decreasing their overall reported life satisfaction. Once dependent on marijuana, people stop caring about their schooling. Long-term use of smoking marijuana can result in the inability to learn, retain information and think critically.

Marijuana is one of the most commonly used drugs in the Nation and the world. In an article by Gray (2007) he states that “42% of high school seniors have tried marijuana, 18% have used it in the past 30 days, and 5% use it daily. Among adolescents aged 12 to 17, 3.6% met criteria for cannabis use disorder (abuse or dependence) and 2% met criteria for cannabis dependence”. Gray (2007) also explains how easily adolescents say it is to obtain marijuana these days. The article also states that there is evidence to prove that marijuana use may lead to “hard” drug use, academic failure, and more. With those who use marijuana chronically it may lead to impairing of the immune

The majority of clinical research studies concerning marijuana use and its effects unravel the uncertainty which surrounds the subject and present the common pattern of insisting that further clinical enquiry is necessary. Measurable immediate effects generally translate in a temporary alteration of perception, as "colors and sounds may seem more intense, and time appears to pass very slowly. The user's mouth feels dry, and s/he may suddenly become very hungry and thirsty" (Yacoubian). Admittedly, these manifestations hardly seem to pose any social danger. However, the overall objection to marijuana is based on negative long-term effects, which seem to be carcinogenic, harmful to human immune, respiratory and reproductive systems, and compromising of short-term memory and cognitive capacities.

Cannabis, also commonly known as marijuana, is the most widely used illegal recreational drug. Recreational drugs are used to alter states of consciousness and heighten mood. Out of all recreational drugs, marijuana use ranks among alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine use. Marijuana refers to dried leaves and flowers from the Cannabis sativa plant. When smoked or ingested, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is absorbed through the bloodstream and carried to the brain and other organs. THC is a mind-altering chemical that attracts most to the drug because of the “high” it gives. Marijuana causes the user’s eyes to redden, increases heart rate and relaxes muscles. It may also cause mouth dryness and increased feeling of hunger. Studies have shown that marijuana is the safest of all recreational drugs but it is still classified under schedule I controlled substances by the government. Schedule I controlled substances are drugs with high potential for abuse. Because of this, marijuana is grouped with drugs such as heroin, LSD, and ecstasy and is illegal to possess or consume. Recently, the use of medical marijuana has increased greatly. Some doctors argue that it can be a safe and effective treatment for the symptoms of cancer, AIDS, glaucoma, and other conditions. There has been an intense debate over the legalization of marijuana for medical and recreational use. Unfortunately, many helpful aspects of marijuana are overlooked by government officials and those that oppose

Some of the most significant controversies in today’s society has been on how to deal with the use of marijuana. Marijuana is a mind-altering psychoactive drug that comes from the cannabis plant. Its primary effects come from the chemical delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or “THC.” Marijuana can be smoked, vaporized, or ingested in foods or teas. While some people view marijuana negatively, others might view this drug positively because of its medicinal benefits. According to research, there are more tendencies to overuse marijuana due to addiction because of the components of marijuana. Marijuana consists of toxic chemicals such as ammonia and hydrogen cyanide, which can cause irritation to the bronchial passages, the lungs, and elevate the

Due to the elevated desire of marijuana in the United States, “advocates think legalization reduces crime, raises tax revenue, lowers criminal justice expenditures, improves public health, bolsters traffic safety, and stimulates the economy” (Dills, et al.). Twenty-eight states have now been legalized for medicinal use of marijuana; of those twenty-eight states, six states have also legalized recreational marijuana. Marijuana is described as “The dried leaves and female flowers of the hemp plant, used in cigarette form as a narcotic or hallucinogen” (“Definition of Marijuana”). The overall effects of marijuana on the brain and body, the difference between recreational and medicinal marijuana and how marijuana has stimulated the economy and the role of government in the legalization of marijuana are all reasons why marijuana should be legalized in the United States.

This paper examines the effects that cannabis abuse has on human health over an extended period. Over the years, some researchers have concluded that continuous use of the drug during adolescence, but not adulthood, could permanently impair cognition and increase the risk for psychiatric diseases. Other studies suggest that heavy use amongst users can cause changes in subjective mental status, brain functioning, and neuropsychological performance. Approximately 9% of those who experiment with cannabis will become addicted, and the treatment for addiction can be challenging, as it often leads to withdrawal symptoms. Consequently, most governments around the globe decided to enact legislation in the early to mid 20th century, to help control its abuse; however, recently, some countries in the Western World have begun to allow its use for medicinal and recreational purposes. All information for the writing of this paper has been

Like alcohol, marijuana consumption can also lead to diseases and disorders. Marijuana is especially harmful to youth as it affects brain development due to exposure to THC, the key ingredient in marijuana. One key issue with marijuana consumption by adolescents is the risk of addiction. Approximately 9% of those who experimented with marijuana became addicted and the probability increases to 1 in 6 if smoking began when the individual was a teen1. Researchers have found that individuals who smoked marijuana as adolescents had a neural impairment in the brain, specifically in the areas responsible for self-conscious awareness, memory, and habits, which may explain why frequent use has been seen to result in declines in IQ1. Much like alcohol, it is difficult to establish causality between marijuana

in “Marijuana Facts” 1). From an outsider’s perspective, one has to ask why is there so much tension and hesitation in legalizing marijuana? If alcohol is the direct cause of many deaths, while marijuana has not been responsible for any, it only makes sense that our health would not be our greatest concern in legalizing the drug. Also, it is important to understand marijuana consumption is less susceptible to overuse than alcohol or other drugs (Marijuana 10:477). Despite this, critics often argue that marijuana is a gateway to other more potent and harmful drugs. According to Dr. Halbach of the World Health Organization there is no pharmacological link between cannabis and opiates (Marijuana 10:477). This demonstrates the physiological unlikelihood of marijuana being a stepping-stone to other more potent drugs containing opiates. Marijuana does have drawbacks and side effects, as any other drug whether medicinal or recreational. However, putting the drug in perspective helps one to understand the contradiction in legalizing other drugs while continuing to ignore marijuana even though it can beneficial in different capacities.