Throughout history there has been many viewpoints on marijuana. Marijuana is cannabis sativa, which is a herbal plant. It’s used for both medical and recreational purposes, although when used medically it has a greater effect for the patient. Marijuana has been legalized in 28 states and statistics collected during the period of the legalization supported that marijuana helped many patients with serious diseases, such as aids, and cancer. Other then being used for diseases, marijuana can be used to deal with stress, sickness, and other disorders. Some people may even use marijuana in place of prescription or store bought drugs because it’s more effective. In the recent years that marijuana has been legalized there has been a great increase …show more content…
Under federal law marijuana is illegal. In 1970 marijuana was categorized under the Controlled Substances Act. Although some states legalized marijuana, the government still has the power to arrest, fine, and confiscate marijuana from people. Technically speaking marijuana shouldn't even be used or sold by anyone (Marijuana, 2016). Because marijuana is illegal the government pays billions of dollars a year for crimes and possessions of marijuana. In the La Brea Fire in 2009 the government had to fund 35 million to repair the damage done by the marijuana wildfire. The clean up for each acre can cost anywhere from $14,400 to $17,700 (Office of National Drug Control Policy, 2016). Growing Marijuana is harmful to the environment because it contains over 400 chemicals and needs to be harvested with certain …show more content…
Those who did marijuana can possibly experience learning impairments for at least 24 hours. Some studies done by small organizations say theirs a link between students being tardy and getting bad grades (US Drug Enforcement Administration, 2011). Marijuana can affect one’s respiration and is a risk for heart attacks during the first hour after you smoke it. These respiration problems can include coughing, wheezing, and bronchitis (US Drug Enforcement Administration, 2011). According to some research organizations marijuana can harm some teens and kids in adolescence because that is when their brain is developing. A study showed that people, who smoked marijuana everyday, saw a decrease by IQ points (US Drug Enforcement Administration,
Marijuana has always been a very controversial topic because of its recreational use. Cannabis, Pot or Weed are other names used when referring to Marijuana. There are a lot of things made out of Weed like clothing, food, drinks, ropes, construction supplies, paper, jewelry, plastic, fuel, soil, medicine and cosmetic goods among many other things. Cannabis has been used for decades by many ancient cultures. It is believed that the plant came from Asia and arrived in America thru the colonist. In the beginning, this plant was mainly used for its healing components, but later on, it was used for recreational purposes. This plant brings a lot of benefits to people suffering from terminal diseases. Cancer
The legalization of marijuana has been a debated subject in America since the 1970's. The pro-marijuana society in America has made claims as to how marijuana can help cure or lessen the effect of some diseases and that by legalizing the drug; the use of pot will actually decline. The fact of the matter is that marijuana is a drug that can be placed into a similar category as cocaine or heroine. Like these other drugs, pot (marijuana) smoking carries with it serious side effects that can effect the user forever, and sometimes-even cause death. Marijuana was first cultivated in America during the colonial time period and was used as a fiber for rope and even clothing. The plant was not used for its psychoactive properties until 1910,
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).
According to Jessica Atkins many crimes in several states are increasing due to the “selling and possession” of the substance. Atkins also pointed out that marijuana is a “natural herb” and it is extremely less dangerous than any other illegal substance. With that being said many also worry about parents who also consume this drug and the effects it would have on their children. Dr. Melanie Dreher conducted many experiments and has inferred that children who are born to marijuana consuming parents show no factors of birth defects, also the child tends to be more intelligent than children not born to marijuana consuming parents. There is also a lot of benefits towards consuming medical marijuana also, it can benefit anyone who has a mental illness and could also help a woman's pregnancy with decreasing the sense of nausea and vomiting. Marijuana is a very controversial topic especially legalizing it but people need to realize that there are substances that are killing many people today that are completely legal under the federal law and it is injustice to keep a drug that has many benefits and could help people
Marijuana creates many short-term and long-term effects on the body and brain. Some short-term effects include: impaired memory, altered senses, changes in mood, and difficulty with problem solving. Some long-term effects include: breathing problems, reduce memory, and decrease IQ. A study from New Zealand conducted in part by researchers at Duke University showed that people who started smoking marijuana heavily in their teens and had an ongoing marijuana use disorder lost an average of 8 IQ points between ages 13 and 38. The lost mental abilities didn't fully return in those who quit marijuana as adults (National). This study can be seen as reliable evidence because it was conducted by researched from Duke University, which is a private research
First and foremost, majority of society is uneducated and unaware of the many benefits legal marijuana can bring about. These benefits are for us as individuals, for our economy, and for our government as a whole. You can have thoughts and opinions, criticize ones who use marijuana, say that they are a drug attics or bad people, but you would clearly be uneducated having said that. The plant, cannabis, “marijuana”, has a class of
Marijuana can be used by the public for many purposes. Medicine is an important part of our lives and marijuana has been tested to cure cancerous cells as well as help people with their epilepsy. Using marijuana for medical purposes is one major aspect that people should take into consideration for legalizing it. Marijuana’s market has also been brought to many people’s attention because it has been poised to grow faster than smart phones. Together, these reasons have been more than enough for people to consider legalizing marijuana.
The use of marijuana for medicinal purposes is a long-standing controversy. For centuries marijuana was prescribed to alleviate symptoms associated with a variety of illnesses. Anti-medical marijuana sentiments began with the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937. In 1970, the Controlled Substances Act banned the use of marijuana completely, categorizing it as a drug with no medicinal value, high abuse rates, and detrimental health effects (http://www.farmacy.org/prop215/apha.html). Since 1996, numerous states including California, Alaska, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon and Washington have passed medical marijuana initiatives supporting the right to prescribe marijuana for seriously or terminally ill patients (http://www.marihemp.com/marimed.html). The American Public Health Association and the Institute of Medicine represent two organizations that have recently researched and endorsed advancements in the study of medical marijuana. Both groups support the use of marijuana for specific treatments, such as reducing nausea in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, stimulating the appetites of AIDS victims, and limiting spasticity in MS patients.
Marijuana has been deeply studied in the past few decades and has shown scientist many things that weren’t evident before. Marijuana has been linked to many health issues good and bad. It has shown to reduce stress and anxiety, help with headaches, lower blood pressure and one of the most evident and positive health affects is that it has been shown in many studies to stop and even kill cancer cells in the body. There are however negative effects that have been looked into and studied by scientist. These include, blocking memory formation, psychosis, and an increased risk of depression while using marijuana regularly. Not everything revolving around marijuana is a “health issue” though, the biggest reason that people use marijuana today is because it simply makes people feel good. That is a positive effect.
Marijuana has been used in religious ceremonies or for medical purposes for thousands of years. I have always been against the use of Marijuana up until four years ago when my husband at the age of twenty seven underwent invasive surgery on his knee and has never been the same since. Colorado took a huge step several years ago legalizing marijuana for medical use and in recent years took the plunge to legalize it for recreational use. Marijuana is not always a bad thing nor is it always a good thing. A lot of people will compare it to any other mind altering substance and have very valid points. I would rather have a loved one or myself smoke marijuana or ingest it, instead of popping pain pills or other harmful substances put on the market by the pharmaceutical industry; Recreational use can be safe and accepting if it is regulated correctly and used responsibly.
In out society drugs are considered to be addictive and lethal. People tend to abuse drugs regardless of their side effects. In many cases government agencies regulate their use. Also there are drugs that are illegal to use, produce and sale. One of those illegal drugs is marijuana. For thousands of years, marijuana has been used to treat a wide variety of sickness. It became illegal in 1937 under The Marijuana Stamp Tax Act. This act prohibits the use, sale and growing of marijuana. It was made illegal because no one understood why smoking marijuana made people feel the way they did and because appropriate researches had not been conducted about it. Though marijuana remains illegal
However, there are many debates over whether or not medical marijuana should be legalized. Essentially, marijuana is a plant with leaves like any other plant (Blachford 267). What sets it apart is tetrahydrocannabinol, otherwise known as THC. This component is responsible for the psychological effects of marijuana (Gerdes 89). An initial evaluation of its usefulness earns marijuana to be classified as a schedule I drug, meaning there is no valued medical use and it’s highly abusive (Dresser web). Although, in the past, the Food and Drug Administration allowed AID patients to use it because it was their last hope (Stempsey web). Then in 1937, marijuana was made completely illegal. Illegalization of the substance was enacted by the Marijuana Tax Act, which also made marijuana for medical purposes illegal (Blachford 265). Some states in 1996 tried to combat its illegal status by proposing propositions to allow prescribed marijuana usage, but it was denied (Dresser web). Eventually, by 2009, fourteen states made medical marijuana acceptable, and currently, in 2014,
Marijuana has become the topic of discussion. Should marijuana be legalized is the big question in today’s society. Many states have legalized this drug. Other states are following in those states footsteps. There are people who think this is a revolutionary drug for medication or for the practice of medicine and others who believe that society will abuse it. Then there is the group who wants it legalized because they will get less of a charge or not, get in trouble for the possession of this drug. With the legalization of the drug marijuana, many people can self medicate to help with the relief of symptoms or to help them get better with the sickness they have. Medical marijuana or cannabis should be legalized for the advancement of society
When it comes to the discussion of marijuana, several controversies and debates emerge and individuals are able to express their standing on the topic. Despite the misleading statements made about the substance, marijuana has numerous advantages that outlook the negatives. Marijuana has been studied by many doctors and organizations, and it has been proven that there are no serious complications or side effects to the drug. In fact, doctors suggest marijuana to be used for medicinal use because it can help individuals suffering from cancer or other diseases. Marijuana should be legalized because it causes little to no harm on society, is safer than alcohol and other hard drugs, and can potentially save the lives of those who are in tribulation.
Marijuana has been used by people over many centuries for medical uses. It is a natural pain killer used today as a recreational drug by people all over the world. According to Noel Merino in, “Introduction to Gateway Drugs: Opposing Viewpoints”, “a drug is something other than food intended to affect the structure or function of the body”. Marijuana is a very controversial drug and has been outlawed in many countries for its affect on the function of the body. “Effects may involve hallucinations, impaired judgment, and mood swings.” Describes the effects of marijuana in “Marijuana” Current Issues Macmillian social science library. During the past century Marijuana has been legal, made illegal, strictly enforced, decriminalized,