By: Monica H.
The legalization of marijuana is highly debated topic in America. According to whitehouse.gov, marijuana is a highly addictive and unsafe drug. They believe this because they claim that the drug changes how the brain works. But when you look into the “science” behind this statement you see that all the examples that are provided are for methamphetamines.
The legalization of marijuana is highly debated topic in America. According to whitehouse.gov, marijuana is a highly addictive and unsafe drug. They believe this because they claim that the drug changes how the brain works. But when you look into the “science” behind this statement you see that all the examples that are provided are for methamphetamines.
The website also mentions some “long term consequences” of marijuana use. One of these consequences includes addiction. The statistics behind marijuana addiction stem from rehabilitation clinics around the country. When polled, these clinics showed that out of all the substances that their juvenile members were in rehab for, marijuana was the most often seen in addiction consoling. This would show that marijuana was highly addictive, if these facts were telling you the whole story.
When a person under the age of 17 is charged with possession of marijuana they are given two options. Those options are juvenile detention center, or rehabilitation. The choice is obvious. There is also the use of medical marijuana. If we are taught that marijuana is bad, and will make you lazy and stupid, why is medical marijuana good? According to the FDA only smoking marijuana is “ineffective and harmful”. But if it is orally administered it has medical value. Obviously smoking anything is terrible for your health. Your body cannot handle the many detrimental effects of smoke. But marijuana smoke is actually less harmful to you than cigarette smoke. It is in a more natural form that doesn’t have all the harmful chemicals that cigarettes do.
Research shows that cigarettes can directly cause cancer, such as throat, lunch, and mouth cancer. How many cases of cancer are directly related to marijuana use? Zero. The only side effects that are directly connected to marijuana use is increased happiness and hunger. So why is it illegal?
Works Cited:
"Marijuana." whitehouse.gov. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Oct. 2012. <www.whitehouse.gov/ondcp/marijuana>.
Audience. " Drugs and the Brain | National Institute on Drug Abuse ." Home | National Institute on Drug Abuse . N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Oct. 2012. <http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/science-addiction/drugs-brain>.
Okay so I am going to be open and honest and try not to sound judgmental because that’s not what I’m trying to do. Many people have tried this drug and have either decided to try it again and get "addicted" to it or they have decided it’s not for them. I am proud to say I am one of few in our school who have decided to not to try it again. I haven’t had a lot of research done on this topic because frankly it doesn’t interest me. I can’t really say it shouldn’t be illegal or it should. In my own opinion I think that marijuana can’t make you smarter and can’t make you dumber. So i really don’t know what the harm is besides using a drug that puts you somewhere other than life. Why make it legal? What’s the big deal? Like now, people do it anyways and if you get caught that’s your own problem. You know the law. I just don’t understand why people have to use a drug to make themselves feel good?
ReplyDeleteThe way I look at it is if marijuana were legal and you could just walk to the gas station to get it, there would be a lot less violence. I say this because the person selling the product to younger kids would not have to go through (gang-bangers) who are very violent people to get the drug. If they could go to the gas stations the state, would actually make a lot of money. Have you ever heard of someone dying from smoking marijuana? I have not. The worst thing I have ever heard about someone smoking marijuana is they went into a coma, and honestly I don't even know if that's true. People say it messes up your lungs and puts tar on them, but what do cigarettes do?
ReplyDeleteGranted it is proven that alcohol is more deadly then weed but it is not as addictive as marijuana is. If marijuana would be legal it should be only used for medical problem. I know that they give it to cancer patients and also people with eating disorders. The reason is after you smoke it you get the “munchies” and need to eat something. So there for the people that have the eating disorder can get some food in them. So if it was legal it should only be use in the medical field and not for the average Joe to go and just smoke a big heap of it.
ReplyDeleteDaniel Wettstein
Actually alcohol is just as addicting if not more addicting as marijuana. And if marijuana should only be legal for medical patients then maybe the alcohol companies should reconsider who they endorse to as well.
DeleteIn my opinion marijuana is not worst then Alcohol or Cigarettes. I have never heard of a death from marijuana but the other two on the other hand are death prone. Meaning there are drunk driving deaths all the time and cigaretts cause cancer. So basically marijuana is curing the things cigarettes do to you(Cancer).
ReplyDelete-curtis Mcray
First of all, Monica, I think that you chose a very good topic, for the fact that people can turn it into a huge debate. I agree with you when you stated that people say all marijuana does to you is make you lazy and stupid, then why is it used in the medical field? One thing I don't understand is the fact that cigarettes, which have been endlessly proven to kill you, are sold at basically every corner of the street; when, Marijuana is "such a bad thing" and is illegal, yet, it has never been proven to kill and has actually cured big issues, such as cancer. In conclusion, I believe that marijuana should be a legal thing to both lower the crime rate and also to help the health of different individuals.
ReplyDeleteI don't really have a view on this issue because I feel like either it never will become completely legal. Yes, it would definitely be taxed by the government, but it would increase revenue tremendously. I believe crime rates would decrease as well. However, I always have this thought that if it was legalized, the nation would become super lazy and not as productive as it is now. The motivation and dedication to get up early to work would be gone out the window. But, I don't know. That's just what I believe.
ReplyDeleteI agree that marijuana should be legalized. Washington, Colorado, and California have already legalized it so why can't the rest of the states do it? Gas stations and stores would create a lot more money if marijuana was able to legally be sold. Also, there would be less violence in the world. I have never heard of a death or anything seriously bad that has happened by smoking marijuana, so what's so bad about it?
ReplyDeleteMarijuana should be legal. There are so many stereotypes about people who use this drug that are just not true, just because you use a drug doesnt mean that you are a bad person. The only bad thing that i have heard said about marijuana is that it is a gateway drug, but so is alcohol and other things that are legal. Unlike alcohol, marijuana can actually improve your intelligence and help with concentration. Yes there should be a limit on the drug just like there is on alcohol but other than that, i don't really see anything wrong with it.
ReplyDelete