Arguments Against Legalizing Marijuana

.. Improved Quality and Safety Control is another reason The U.S should legalize marijuana. For example, when a person buys marijuana off the street, there’s no way to know exactly what dangerous substances are cut into the drug. Even though the actual legalization efforts don’t directly resolve safety issues, they do try to create a safety control system, which would work to eliminate some of the risk that comes from smoking a substance potentially mixed with toxic ingredients. Improved quality and safety control also means a less of a burden on the medical system, since there is less chances of serious problems happening due to overdoses on unknown, dangerous substances mixed in the marijuana that the users purchase off the streets. Legalizing

The primary reason against weed decriminalization in the U.S is the addictive nature of this drug. Scientists are still divided on this subject. Some claim cannabis is not as addictive as harder drugs like cocaine and heroine are, while others claim, one in ten marijuana users develop dependence over time. As with other substances, stopping marijuana use leads to withdrawal symptoms that range from irritability to anxiety. Opponents of legal recreational weed argue that any savings that would come from legalization would be offset by the cost of treating the additional addicted users of marijuana. Addiction treatment specialists also believe that weed is a gateway drug that potentially leads users to more serious illegal substances of abuse such as cocaine, heroine, and meth. According to studies made by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), “marijuana users use it thinking it is harmless, but it causes a high and then a bigger high is needed to have an effect, so people turn to harder drugs, such as the one’s mentioned above”(INDA, 2010). Legalization, then, could increase societal and financial costs for treating those who are introduced to heavier drugs by smoking marijuana. In addition studies suggest a link between marijuana use and mental illnesses, like depression and schizophrenia. A 2013 study from the University of Maryland School of Medicine found that “Regular marijuana use during

Legalizing marijuana would send out the wrong message to drug dealers and criminals. It would weaken how people view the power of law enforcement and help to advertise unhealthy lifestyles in our young people, especially teens. Therefore reducing marijuana use would be very essential to improve the nation’s health, education, and productivity. Even though it would be medically beneficial, most users do not actually use them for medical reasons, but because they want to get “high”. Since decriminalizing weed for medical or general use would increase the users rather than reduce it and would increase the number of addicted to marijuana among youth and adults, legalizing marijuana would not be a smart public health or public safety move for our country. We have already lose so many Americans to cigarettes, alcoholism, and drunken driving. Do we really want to encourage/support the loss of millions more possibly productive Americans due to Marijuana? Do we want proceed from marijuana to Heroin or Meth? Some people would say, “If they want to do it, okay, that’s none of our business.” But, then those same people will be complaining about all the danger and welfare cases that will be created by the strategy they support. So, before legalizing marijuana U.S should think about the consequences and ask some key questions. Is