Persuasive Essay On Legalizing Marijuana

Is legalizing marijuana a good step to take ? There has been many questions as to what will happen to the community. Will the community grow from this new law? Or will this end in a horrible problem? Although marijuana is a drug, it does not cause harm to your body like alcohol does. Legalizing marijuana in the states of the U.S should be done because it can be used for medical reason, it is not harmful to the body, and police want strong relationships with their community.

Fact: Marijuana is generally NOT a gateway drug. However there are people who are thrill seekers looking for the next high who think marijuana isn't extreme enough, and ultimately will go about searching for the next high. Those people usually do start out smoking marijuana. Marijuana is only a gateway drug if you have the kind of personality that is always looking for experiences that are bigger and better. Myth: Marijuana makes you Anti-motivational Fact: People who are intoxicated constantly, regardless of the drug, are unlikely to be productive members of society. However, most marijuana users aren't intoxicated constantly. In a test study, occasional marijuana users were exactly as productive as non-users, and in some cases, they were even more productive. Often, the motivational issues that come from marijuana come from the culture that cannabis is associated with. Myth: Marijuana Kills Brain Cells Fact: Marijuana does NOT kill brain cells. Period. End of story. Myth: Marijuana Impairs Memory Fact: Marijuana users have the same (if not better in some cases) long-term/short-term capability as any non-user. However, while under the influence, a marijuana user will have trouble with short term memory and recalling past

Today's marijuana is much more powerful and much more addictive than it was a generation ago.’" “Federal laws classify marijuana as a schedule I drug along with heroin and LSD. Although marijuana may be addictive to some, the potential for forming an addiction may be lower than with some prescription drugs.” (Live Science) Regardless, the reality is that marijuana IS a drug.

In modern society, marijuana is considered the “gateway” drug. Some of the women used marijuana first and then started using hard drugs such as cocaine and heroin while it was the other way around for some people. “For most women, their initial use of drugs occurred during adolescence and included alcohol, tobacco, or marijuana,” (Sterk, 24). They were introduced to drugs and alcohol at a young age by their peers, girlfriends, boyfriends, or relatives. Since they started at a young age, they become compulsive drug users. If they cut off their connections with these friends or relatives, they would’ve never had become users. Many women in FAST explained that their continued drug used depended on coincidence while others looked for situations where drugs would be available. This shows that they had a choice and decided to make the wrong one. As they continue to use more drugs, they can only identify themselves

The theory that marijuana could lead people to try other substances is controversial, and has been discredited by research.

Another important detail to remember is that marijuana is not proven to lead to the consumption of other drugs. “...the vast majority of people who use

“Marijuana is the most commonly used drug illegal drug in the world.” (“What is Marijuana”, 2013). It has recently become legal in a couple states, and more states are sure to follow their lead in the upcoming months. People can make the argument that marijuana does not have any negative effects, but they are wrong. Becoming addicted to marijuana is easy, and it only opens up the door for you to try other harmful drugs once marijuana quits getting you high. You need to know the whole story, how people become addicted, the negative effects it has on your body and mind, and what you can do once someone you know has become addicted.

Furthermore, Alcohol and nicotine can also be a cause for heightened brain response to use other drug substances just as much as marijuana. In fact, everything didn’t start with marijuana, but with drugs that are legal for adults in the society, such as beer and wine and cigarettes, and other forms of alcohol. For Further reassurance researchers have found that nicotine makes the brain more suitable for cocaine addiction (Fergusson,

First time marijuana use does not mean an individual will use harder drugs because people will use whatever drug is available when they are ready to experiment. According to data from the 2000 National Household Surveys on Drug Abuse

Have you ever thought about drugs like marijuana and the history or impact it can cause on your life? Many people do not think about these things when it comes to taking drugs. They just like to take drugs for fun and usually don’t care what happens. Well many people don’t know a lot about marijuana. There are a lot of things you should know before taking any type of drug like marijuana.

This results coincides with early exposure THC increases drug tolerance which leads to hard core illicit drugs such as cocaine, amphetamine and Heroine. Hall and Lynskey (2005, p.39 ) also suggested that heavy frequent Marijuana misuse damaged on brain function which leads to pharmacological tendency to cause hard drug

One study showed that when you start with alcohol and tobacco you progress easily to marijuana but when you start with marijuana you don’t go on to use anything else.

Marijuana, weed, hashish, pot, it goes by many names. Many people argue that it should be legalize because it’s no better than alcohol and cigarettes. Although these claims holds some truth, marijuana is still a dangerous drug and adding one more problematic drug into the mix will not improve America’s health and safety issues. Although marijuana has its medical benefits, using it for recreational purposes is dangerous for both us and our society.

According to TREATMENT EPISODES DATA SET (TEDS) 1992-2002, SAMHSA, 2006, Marijuana is addictive. More teens are in treatment with a primary diagnosis of marijuana dependence than for all other illicit drugs combined. Several teens begin using substances when they are introduced to marijuana. Marijuana is referred to as a gateway drug, and many teen users begin using because they are depressed, having family problems, or any other struggles they are experiencing in their lives. Teens begin smoking marijuana, thinking they are not going to become addicted. Truth is marijuana use by teenagers who have prior antisocial problems can quickly lead to addiction. Therefore, if you were to begin using marijuana, you should be aware that you can become addicted.

Then there is the fact that smoking marijuana does not lead to drug abuse or even the experimentation of other drugs. Again, the Huffington Post states “as Scientific American points out,