Should Marijuana be Legalized? Essay

Smoking of marijuana can cause the person to become addicted to cocaine, heroin, and other drugs. Heavy or daily use effects the parts that control memory, attention, and learning (Facts for Teens, 13). When teens are 12 and 13 they are more exposed to drugs and most likely don’t listen to their parents (Age in Stem., 1). Some other psychological side effects would be paranoia, anxiety, fatigue, Euphoria, and mood swings (Fact Sheet, 1). Studies have shown that when a person uses marijuana it causes the heart to beat faster and work harder (Fact Sheet, 2). When people have smoked large measures of marijuana for years, the drugs takes its charge on mental functions (Facts for Teens, 13).

Marijuana is a mixture of the dried parts of the cannabis sativa hemp plant. Excessive marijuana use can lead to an addiction. The main chemical in marijuana is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which moves quickly through the bloodstream and to the brain, causing mild hallucinogenic effects. THC binds with cannabdnob receptors and activates neurons, which causes adverse effects on the mind and body. THC can mimic or block actions of neurotransmitters and interfere with normal functions. Marijuana use can lead to disturbed thoughts and can worsen psychotic symptoms. The short-term effects of marijuana include impaired coordination; skewed sensory and time perception; difficulty with thinking; shortened attention span and distractibility; impaired learning and memory. Long term users of marijuana often experience lowered motivation and some can experience anxiety, panic attacks, respiratory illness, and increased heart rate and risk of heart attack.

Although marijuana is a hallucinogen it does not have a highly addictive characteristic like other hallucinogens. In 2004 the National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that its short term effects include, but are not limited to: blood shot eyes, dry mouth and increased heart rate. Its long term effects include, but are not limited to: lower testosterone levels in men, and higher testosterone levels in women. When you compare this to other drug’s side affects you see that they are not so bad.

Dependency on marijuana affects in both ways directly and indirectly. If marijuana addicted suddenly stop smoking it, they probably face many withdrawal symptoms like feeling tired all the time as body start to readjusts to functioning without drug, people also experience complications related with meditation, memory and learning. People often found really hard to fall to sleep for a longer period of time. It affects indirectly like feeling nervousness and irritability.

Marijuana has linked to, lack of motivation, anxiety, reduced sexual capacity, confusion, mood changes, and schizophrenia-like brain changes, however all of these effects have not been proven. A study in 1999 concluded that heavy-users of marijuana over a 15 year period had not had any negative impacts on the users intelligence. (Armentano) These facts combined together show that both drugs have an effect on the brain but neither worse than they other.

WebMD has an article that lists the psychological effects of marijuana over a short time are: paranoia, time distortion, anxiety, depression random thoughts, and memory loss. There is also withdrawal in some patients can include: appetite loss, anxiety, depression, and aggression (Amal Chakraburtty, 2010). These side effects hold true to users of marijuana whether they use it legally with the medical marijuana card or if they are using this drug without the medical marijuana card.

According to Marcel O. Bonn-Miller, the author of “Marijuana”, The high may include a dreamy, relaxed state in which users seem more aware of their senses. The high may last around 1 to 3 hours, but could be more if eaten rather than smoked. After using marijuana, their feelings, thoughts, and perceptions change. In some people, marijuana may cause anxiety or panic. “Short-term physiological effects of marijuana use include redness in the eyes and a rapid heartbeat, as well as increased hunger and sensitivity of the senses, often taste, hearing, and smell.” (Marijuana) Marijuana use interferes with judgement and coordination while high. People who are high from marijuana have a slower reaction time. Increased heart rate is also a common effect in the use of

Acute effects while under the influence include euphoria and anxiety. Fortunately no fatal incidents involving marijuana have occurred since 2010.

Marijuana for many years has been said to be addictive and a “gateway drug”, meaning that once you try it, you want to move to harder drugs. More than 94 million people in the USA have admitted to using marijuana at least once, whereas only 17 million people are current users of marijuana. Compared to other drugs that are classified as a schedule 1 drug, such as heroin, the abuse comparison is significantly lower. Currently around 300,000 Americans use heroin routinely.

Marijuana, when smoked, creates a hallucinating effect. Its psychological effects are: excitement and dissociation of ideas, enhancement of

Should marijuana be legalized in the United States? People in the United States have had this controversy going on for years. The problem is people who are more conservative don’t believe that it should be legalized but they do not understand the benefits. The United States of America should legalize marijuana because of the medical benefits, it unlocks your creativity, and helps you test your limits.

Side effects of Marijuana does not hold any real danger compared to pharmaceutical drugs. There has never been a record of marijuana over-dosed. One known side effect is the short-term interference with attention, judgment and balance. Another side effect includes change in mood, altered sense of time, and altered sense such as seeing brighter colors. Mental illnesses in some users includes temporary hallucinations and temporary paranoia.

Respiratory problems may arise from continued use as well as the usual coughing and wheezing associated with smoking marijuana. Other common side effects of marijuana are decreased motor skills, light headedness, and redness of the eyes.

The short term effects on the individual cannabis consumer is that they will have a mood change. Some people may feel relaxed, sleepy, quiet or lazy while others may be full of laughter, talkatively and excitement. Other short term effects on the cannabis user may include a bigger appetite, a limited concentration time, a dry mouth, slower reaction times, reduced coordination, hallucination, blurred vision and anxiety. The short term effects of cannabis use on the community is a slower reaction time and reduced coordination which may cause a car crash. This could potentially kill a person or even a group of people from the short term use of cannabis. Cannabis use may also cause misunderstanding or miscommunication of someone which may cause

Contrary to popular belief, marijuana is addictive. Research showed that up to 9% of marijuana user became addicted and that number is doubled if the user started using at a young age. In addition, the withdrawal symptoms are very similar to most other drugs. Some