Legalizing Recreational Marijuana

Legalization can lower the crime rate. Not to mention that marijuana is an affordable alternative for those seeking it for medical purposes. In the same sentiment the health benefits of marijuana have surpassed the expectations of even the most skeptical. To end, the taxing of recreational use will impact our public schools significantly in a positive way. The children of the future deserve any chance for success.

636). Thus, they argue that the legalization of marijuana, should be similar to those of alcohol and tobacco where there are regulations for the sale to minimize any health related problems it may cause (Joffe & Yancy, 2004, p. 636). Additionally, tobacco and alcohol are among the most abused substances used by adolescents; despite having regulations for their sales through enforcing legal ages for purchase, they still find ways to purchase and consume these substances. Moreover, the legalization of marijuana would assist in pain relief as a less toxic, addictive and essentially safer drug in comparison to what some individuals use for chronic pain such as opiates and alcohol. It has been reported that there has been 25% of a decrease in the deaths related to opiate overdose; essentially, marijuana could contribute to the harm reduction that other substances cause (Mitchell 2016, p. 63)

In the “Marijuana: A Continuing Concern for Pediatricians” article the author points out the fact that marijuana is in fact “an addictive, mind-altering drug capable of inducing dependency” (Marijuana: A Continuing Concern). After some research this statement has been clearly supported. According to the author of “Marijuana: Breaking Down the Buzz” being under the influence of the drug has led to very poor decisions. Some of the poor decisions teenagers make while being under the influence include; people not completing high school, having failing grades if they are still in school, and doing reckless things while behind the wheel of a vehicle.

This subject has been debated numerous times over the past few years. People’s points of view and researches about the topic have varied greatly. Some people believe that marijuana should be legalized, while the rest feel should stay prohibited. Proponents of marijuana argue that there are numerous medical benefits and that the drug is not more harmful than tobacco or alcohol. On the other hand, opponents argue that marijuana is too dangerous; its legalization would increase the chances of the drug falling into the hands of teens and that marijuana use often progresses to the use of more dangerous drugs like heroin and cocaine.

Marijuana effects your logic and motor skills, while cigarettes do not. Though cigarettes have long term harmful side effects, marijuana has short term as well as long term harmful effects. Loss of memory, depleting brain cells, and hallucinations have been reported with constant use of marijuana, although none of these accusations have been scientifically proven as a fact in all users. Studies have shown that women who frequently smoked marijuana on a regular basis since a young age have had an increase of testosterone and problems developing

These people claim that smoking marijuana is harmful to the lungs and brain development of teenagers. Cigarettes have the same, if not greater, damaging effect on human lungs yet the government does not infringe upon Americans’ right to take such health risks. Although there have been no scientific study to validate that smoking marijuana damages brain development, a simple resolution would be to make the legal age for smoking and possessing marijuana in the mid 20’s when the brain is completely developed. The argument of the dangers of marijuana can also be made for the opposing side. Illegal and unregulated marijuanna posing far more dangers to people than if marijuana was regulated by the government.

The question of debate is what is genuinely worse for your health, alcohol or marijuana? Both alcohol and marijuana consumption can affect the body, and both can ultimately result in long and short-term health effects. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC), alcohol intake has been linked with annually 88,000 deaths. Whereas for marijuana users, there is no specific number because the deaths are harder to count for since it 's easier to detect alcohol within the body.

People believe that if marijuana is legalized users will get addicted. Marijuana use disorder become what is known as addiction when “the person cannot stop using the drug even though it interferes with many aspects of his or her life” (“Is Marijuana Addictive”). Although addiction is a problem, out of all the people who use marijuana, only 9% become dependent on it (“Is Marijuana Addictive”). Also, opioids and painkillers are very addictive as well, and they can lead to an overdose resulting in death. The second concern is abuse.

Teenagers who smoke weed are more likely to move on to harder drugs, and it prevents their mind from developing properly. In a study by Lancet Psychiatry, it was reported that teenagers who smoked marijuana daily were 60 percent less likely to graduate from high school than students who did not use. In

The legalization of marijuana, for both medical and medicinal reasons, was prominent in the November 8, 2016 national election. Four states out of the five that had it on the ballot legalized the use of marijuana for recreational purposes. Three states voted to legalize medicinal marijuana, and one state (Montana) voted to reduce restrictions that were previously with their medical marijuana laws. In total, thirty states now have laws legalizing the use of marijuana for medical or recreational purposes.1¬¬¬¬ In Oklahoma, a state with a long standing tradition of very traditional and conservative voting, voters passed a bill decriminalizing2 simple drug possession as well as some property crimes from a felony to a misdemeanor.3 These election

If legalized, marijuana could cause societal problems in many areas. First of all, the easy access to legal marijuana would mean that more of it would get into the hands of kids and teens. Police officers worry that we will see increased crime on the streets as marijuana lowers inhibitions and users will do whatever is necessary to feed their addiction. There are also problems with people who use marijuana and drive.

Today the demands are changing in different states. In States such as Colorado and Washington, marijuana has been legalized for recreational use. This move raised several questions as far as decriminalization of marijuana is concerned. Besides portraying the US in a bad light, legalization of marijuana for recreation increases the risk of developing mental problems, increases government expenditure on public health, jeopardizes the future of children, and is a gateway to other dangerous drugs. Increased health problems and public health expenditure-

“Legalization would increase the use by teens by making the drug more readily available for the public” (Jonker). “A 2020 study of more than 230 teens and young adults in Washington State, one of the first states to legalize recreational marijuana for adults, concluded that teens may be more likely to use the drug now than before legalization” (The effects of Marijuana on teens). Legalizing marijuana would increase use by teens and young adults, which could lead to addiction, by making the drug more readily available for the general

Contrary to popular belief, the legalization of marijuana has not, and will not increase the use of it among minors. Infact, according to Forbes.com a 2013 report from the Colorado Department of Health and Environment found that high school marijuana use decreased from 22% in 2011 to 20% in 2013. Dr. Larry Wolk, the CDPHE director states, “As with tobacco, youth prevention campaigns will help ensure adult legalization of marijuana does not impact the health of Colorado kids.” Fours years ago, in 2012, a study called, “Medical Marijuana Laws and Teen Marijuana Use” by D. Mark Anderson, Ben Hanson, and Daniel Rees did not find that the legalization of medical marijuana increased use in teens. Instead they discovered that marijuana use increased among teens in the states where medical marijuana was illegal.

In a large survey published in 1994 epidemiologist James Anthony, then at the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and his colleagues have asked more than 8000 people between between the ages of 15-64 about their utilization of marijuana and other drugs. The researchers confirmed that “those of who had tried marijuana at least once, about 9% eventually fit a cannabis dependence. The corresponding figure for alcohol was 15%; for cocaine, 17%; for heroin, 23%; and for nicotine, 32%” (Arkowitz & Lilienfeld). Additionally, some opposers have been consistent with the notion of marijuana being a “gateway drug”,  however according to the National Institute of Drug Abuse “the majority of people who use marijuana do not go on to use other, ‘harder substances’” (NIDA). While 111 million Americans have attempted marijuana, only a third try cocaine and 4% heroin.