In 2006, A Drug Free World's "The Harmful Effects of Marijuana” emerged in the media. ADFW reasons that marijuana is harmful in numerous ways, including cerebral damage and debilitation to the immune system. Throughout the article, they also try to persuade the reader that cannabis is a "gateway drug" that undoubtedly leads the users into much harder drugs. When reading this article, one must consider that research to support anything can be found if one searches hard enough, but without a doubt the fallacy of their conclusion is due to their research seeking facts to support an already-assumed conclusion. Consequently, I have found that many of their points simply do not justify their conclusion. One of ADFW’s strongest supporting claims is of the physical harms of marijuana. They claim that "marijuana smoke contains 50% to 70% more cancer-causing substances than tobacco smoke”; however, they fail to mention that these studies are exaggerated and the real fact is that it contains 5 times as many cancer causing agents, but those are counteracted by the THC and CBD within the drug that cigarettes don't contain, a point brought to light by articles like “Marijuana Cures Cancer” by Arjun Walia. More present-day examinations of people who are frequent marijuana users show no signs of cerebral damage. Additonally, the American Medical Association has officially endorsed the legalization of marijuana. I find this to be quite a bit more persuasive than an obsolete and poorly
For the last century there has been an abundance of false information being spread about the drug marijuana. Even in commercials on television, misleading facts about the drug have been presented to the audience. Some misconceptions about the drug include its potential to cause addiction, the damaging of brain cells, genetic damage, violent behavior, and damage to the immune system. These misconceptions, which have plagued a large percentage of the population into thinking that marijuana is a bad drug, have caused many set backs in the process of gradual legalization. (http://legalizationofmarijuana.com/ )
“Research Supports Medicinal Marijuana” was written by Rick Weiss and published by the Washington Post on Tuesday, February 13, 2007. The argument the author is trying to convey in this article is that new research is is being conducted that concludes and proves that medical cannabis is in fact beneficial for patients and does have medical properties. Weiss’s conclusion is that the government should allow more research into medical cannabis and the DEA should reschedule cannabis to a schedule two drug because of the studies conducted. Weiss’s main study discussed in his article was a five day study with patients in a hospital ward. Patients would smoke three cannabis cigarettes a day, with over half of them having pain relief because of the
Driving under the influence of marijuana it’s one of the biggest concerns for the small group against its legalization. In fact, several marijuana consumers argue that it is safer to drive under the influence of marijuana than alcohol which motivates them to perform such action feeling safe. However, it is proven that driving under the influence of marijuana could be as or even more dangerous than alcohol. Due to marijuana’s impairment of psychomotor skills and reaction when mixed with alcohol, it shall not be consumed while driving.
Recently the drug policies and war on drugs has been increasingly seen in the headlines. Policies taken by the United States government against illegal drugs like marijuana are becoming apparent, and are coming into question. This has caused quite a controversy among supporters and opponents about legalization issues. Should marijuana be used as a medicine, as its advocates say? Or is it a dangerous drug of abuse that exposes users to brain damage and lung cancer? The debate over legalizing marijuana in all probability will continue for a long time, and it is a shame that this debate is so polarized. Marijuana produces long-term effects and damage on the brain. Although there have been reports of successful treatment in the use of marijuana as medicine, there appears to be more negative reasons why marijuana should not be used. Marijuana has been used for treatment of many diseases, some of which include cancer, post traumatic stress disorder, arthrosclerosis, digestive diseases, and HIV/AIDS. Despite the success for some medical issues, marijuana continues to be a “dangerous, addictive drug that poses significant health threats to users. Marijuana has no medical value that can't be met more effectively by legal drugs” ("U.S Drug Enforcement Administration"). The government and medical professionals should make it a point to emphasize the increasing problems of marijuana and its harmful effects on the body, as well as providing alternatives to
2. Once they discover that the government has been lying about marijuana, they are less inclined to believe official warnings about other drugs. 3. Once they buy marijuana on the black market, they are more likely to have the opportunity to buy other drugs” (Sullum). There is an obvious connection between pot smoking and other drug use because people who like the “high” that they get from pot, will enjoy a different “high” from another drug. However there is no connection between using marijuana and the desire to use other drugs. It is a matter of personality, environment, and personal influence. Even a National Academy of Sciences panel stated “There is no evidence that marijuana serves as a stepping stone on the bases of its particular drug effect” in a recent report (Sullum). Many other pro-prohibitionists have stated that marijuana is responsible for a long list of health problems. Although marijuana is connected to immediate lung problems like occasional coughing and phlegm production, and an increased risk for acute chest infections, there has never been a single tie to cancer. The results of studies linking marijuana smoking to lung cancer have also been hindered by small test sizes and subject bias, and the true results are saturated with unconfirmed studies and secret procedures with public results (Buddy). Marijuana is gaining headway with the most recent Gallup poll reported that 48 percent of the population supports decriminalization of marijuana, while
People might think smoking marijuana is cool. They might try it without knowing what it is or what affects is has on you. Once someone smokes it for the first time, they might keep doing it again and again and they could get hooked on it for life. People who use marijuana usually never use any other type of illegal drugs, but more than seven thousand five hundred people get arrested for using marijuana every year. There is a wide variety of marijuana, but they are all based off of two marijuana plants, Indica and Sativa. Marijuana is very popular in America, and all over the world. Marijuana affects the body, it can be used as medicine, and marijuana can be addictive.
In our world today, it's often told to use that marijuana is bad for our health. The government has to put a lot of effort to put the people who do smoke into jail. But people no longer think the reasoning for illegal marijuana is to keep us healthy. Quote from Ronald Reagan, “ the most reliable scientific sources says permanent brain damage is one of the inevitable results of the uses of marijuana” Ronald base this information of an statement on Tulane University Study of 1974. This puzzled people for six years, making them think it would cause carbon monoxide poisoning.
Although the truth can only remain as the truth, the opponent’s views are antithetical to mine. According to Bill Frist, a former US Senator, “Marijuana is a highly dangerous drug and the truth is that there are less dangerous medicines that offer the same relief.” However, this is just a hypothetical statement that is unsubstantiated. According to a study conducted by the National Institute of Health on November 4, 2013, “Natural, herbal cannibis(marijuana) is far more effective than pharmecuetical medicines.”
THC disrupts the nerve cells in the part of the brain where memories are formed. This makes it hard for the user to recall recent events (such as what happened a few minutes ago), and so it is hard to learn while high. A working short-term memory is required for learning and performing tasks that call for more than one or two steps. Some studies show that when people have smoked large amounts of marijuana for many years, the drug takes its toll on mental functions. Among a group of long-time heavy marijuana users in Costa Rica, researchers found that the people had great trouble when asked to recall a short list of words (a standard test of memory). People in that study group also found it very hard to focus their attention on the tests
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.
As an adolescent, I am aware of the frequent use of recreational drugs by adolescents, in particular cannabis. Many people believe that ‘smoking pot’ is harmless. I have undertaken this research project on the long term effects of cannabis on the developing, adolescent brain to establish whether there are long term effects on the brain from the use of cannabis as an adolescent, and to consider what scientific and medical evidence there is on this topic.
But only 9 percent of marijuana users develop a dependence” (Boffey). Even still, of those 9 percent that develop a dependence, marijuana addiction is dissimilar to that of heroin, alcohol, or nicotine, from which withdrawal is often an extremely painful, physical experience. In addition, the long-held belief that marijuana is a gateway drug has been debunked, and even quietly removed from D.A.R.E’s list of gateway drugs. As far as medical research is concerned, the clear consensus is that marijuana use is less harmful to human health than most other banned drugs. While tobacco causes cancer, and alcohol abuse can lead to cirrhosis, there is no clear causal connection between marijuana use and any deadly diseases. Furthermore, it is less dangerous than highly addictive but legal substances like alcohol and tobacco. Marijuana use cannot, in and of itself, lead to fatal overdoses, and there is little evidence that it causes cancer. Like tobacco and alcohol, public policy concerns support the notion that it should be kept out of the hands of minors. The downsides to marijuana use are less compelling as reasons to foist criminal penalties on its possession, especially not in a society that allows nicotine use and celebrates
One of the most prominent opposing viewpoints are the medical risks of marijuana. The potency of marijuana has more than doubled from 1993 to 2008 (well.blogs.nytimes.Rabin). This increase in potency concerns health professionals as it pertains to young marijuana users and how it affects developing brains. The legalization of marijuana can give young people a false sense of safety. They can assume that if it’s sold in a legitimate store, that it must be safe to use, which is not always the case. The substance contains addictive properties and even in the states that have legalized it for medicinal and recreational use, have not instituted a comprehensive testing regiment to ensure the safeness of the drug. Without federal recognition, the FDA does not involve itself in ensuring the ingredients and purity of the
Marijuana, a plant that humans have used for thousands of years, grows ever closer to decriminalization and legalization around the country. Now that states like Washington and Colorado have legalized the recreational use of Marijuana, the opposition proclaims that usage of this plant will lead to harder drugs. This claim simply isn’t true and studies done by numerous organizations discredit the gateway drug theorem. Marijuana affects psychomotor skills because of the chemical tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active ingredient in marijuana; however, there has been no evidence to say that this plant will cause more accidents. Also, another theory about an individual failing in the cycle of abuse associated with marijuana has no validity
First, the opposition states that marijuana has dangerous side-effects when smoked. This includes cancer, and stunted growth. To counter this, the author of the essay stated earlier that there are different ways to administer marijuana. Inhalation of the fumes is not the only method. Cannabis can be taken intravenously, orally, and topically. These methods remove the risk of the abovementioned health problems. Another statement is that although natural, the plant still contains toxic chemicals and these produce dangerous side effects. To start with, the opposition claims that THC is the chemical responsible for the harmful effects in one’s body. Marinol, which is what the opposition prescribes, also contains