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John Hawkins's Argument For The Legalization Of Marijuana

701 Words3 Pages

In 2014, John Hawkins wrote an article about marijuana, and the position of its legalization. At this time, the states of Colorado and Washington had already legalized cannabis for recreational use for those twenty-one years of age and older. Many other states, such as New Jersey, Michigan, and Arizona, had legalized the use for medical reasons. Hawkins does not specify what class of legalization he is focusing on, but it is inferred he is speaking in general. Hawkins asks the question should marijuana be legalized? His conclusion is no. Hawkins brings up the point that marijuana is a highly addictive drug for some people. He quotes a doctor, who has experience treating those with addictions for many years. Dr. Drew Pinksy claims that although …show more content…

He states that marijuana has negative effects on a human’s mental and physical health. Those who use marijuana have a high rate of bad memory, and the structure of their brain is not normal. These changes in the brain show comparison to schizophrenia. The earlier the human is introduced to cannabis, the more severe the effects will be. As for physical health, the use of marijuana is considerably worse than cigarette smoke. Lung problems occur near twenty years earlier than those who smoke tobacco. Marijuana usage in pregnant women can lead to birth defects and mental abnormalities. There is also an immensely higher chance the child may suffer from leukemia. People may argue the fact that smoking weed is arguably a better choice compared to other drugs such as meth and crack, but that does not take away the harmful medical effects it still has on …show more content…

In the case when Hawkins states that, “we all realize smoking(tobacco) is a dirty habit…. While drinking is potentially dangerous”, he assumes that everyone agrees that smoking is frowned upon and alcohol is not as bad as marijuana or not as a dangerous. This is a value assumption that can cause a flaw in his argument because if one does not think that smoking tobacco is “dirty”, then they may not agree with the other points Hawkins makes, and as for the alcohol contribution, if one believes alcohol is more dangerous than marijuana then his arguments would be invalid because they are all about the dangers of marijuana

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Ironically, this piece of evidence actually strengthens the argument for legalizing marijuana. If an absence of legal means to obtain marijuana increases crime, then will not a complete legalization of marijuana drive the crime rates down? Overall, the problems that Hawkins describes in his second point simply do not exist and even strengthen the case of legalization of

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969 Words | 4 Pages

The use of Marijuana affects the learning ability of the user even after weeks of consumption. This leaves the user in a distraught\ dream-like state. Elyn Saks, Fellow schizophrenic and Professor of law and psychology at USC said “ The schizophrenic mind is not so much split as shattered. I like to say schizophrenia is like a waking nightmare.” ( “A tale of mental illness -- from the inside”)

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Using any drug has side effects. The side effects could be just be headaches, or being tired. There is worse effects too, like poor school performance and addiction. Marijuana has a lot of side effects, long term and short term. Some of them are panic, hallucinations, loss of sense of personal identity, severe anxiety, increased heart rate, and problems with coordination.

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Having presented on side effects of marijuana I know marijuana has adverse consequences. For example, it effects the brain system being disoriented. More specifically in those who start at a younger age it impairs the maturation process interfering with physical and mental maturation process and impeded emotional development. Using marijuana and driving can alter sense of time and space that impairs overall coordination and motor functioning to track other vehicles is difficult because it requires judging time, distance, and the speed of other cars. Addictions can lead to adolescents to skip school and grades drop and creates a disturbance in

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It causes safety issues, can get in the hands of minors, and leads to other dangerous drugs. People think that marijuana cures and relaxes cancer patients. True, it has some benefits, but there are numerous other medications and treatments that relax patients and compromise the risk of cancer. Marijuana is a big safety risk, it causes the multitude of car accidents and other crimes. It also can affect minors who use it, causing them lower life satisfaction and later in life, psychosis.

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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

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An article recently posted on CNN caught my attention. Stuart Gitlow, wrote an article called “Marijuana legalization is a risk not worth taking” bashing the possible positive outcomes that can be brought from marijuana legalization and viewing this delicate situation from a very narrow point of view. The opinions presented are strictly Gitlow’s views, not brought about by anyone else. In this article, Gitlow starts out by comparing marijuana to cigarettes back in the 1980s. He references back to when he was in college and how he would see cigarette smokers everywhere.

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Someone’s heart can increase by 20-100% when smoking weed, and can also change their heart rhythms. The result of this is that weed users are 4.8% more inclined to have heart problems and a heart attack sometime during the first hour of smoking. Similarly, mental health can get affected by marijuana too. Smoking weed regularly can cause hallucinations, anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts. Furthermore, using marijuana can negatively affect close relationships with friends and family, which can increase mental health problems.

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Long-term, chronic, use of cannabis can lead to abnormalities in the brain that are also shown along with other drugs that are more infamous than marijuana. In a study that conducted the exposure of THC to baby rats, showed that the rats later in life had more difficulty with memorization than rats that were not exposed to THC.Regular use is associated with an increased risk of developing a psychotic illness, such as schizophrenia. A psychotic illness is one where you experience hallucinations. Your risk of developing a psychotic illness is higher if you start using cannabis in your teens and if you have a family history of mental illness. Cannabis use has also been shown to increase the risk of a relapse in people who have schizophrenia, and could make existing symptoms worse.

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Health risks appear to be in those who start using as teenagers or young adults while their brains are still developing. (Armand). Another concern is marijuana becoming a gateway drug for avid users. Marijuana users have disputed that it is not as addictive as other street drugs, such as heroin and cocaine. A common belief is marijuana is less harmful and more acceptable to use than “harder” drugs,

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Too much of this drug can cause (THC damaging brain cell receptors): change in senses, changes in mood, uneven body movement, problems with thinking and solving problems, and damaged memory. It also has many health effects which include: paranoia and hallucinations, breathing problems, and fetus’s brain might get damaged while in their mother’s womb. The depressant Cannabis intoxicates the person in specific ways. Its intoxication causes a person to relax but sometimes could have serious side effects. Smoking pot has faster signs and symptoms than eating it.

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the drug can cause many problems especially in heavy smokers of this drug like cancer loss of memory have no or little concentration and struggle with the ability to learn new things it can also cause psychotic breaks like the signs of schizophrenia. Cannabis is usually smoke like you would smoke a cigarette or they take it through things like a bucket a bong or a pipe. The drug I know has been smoked by people from the age they start

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Not only does marijuana have severe long term effects, but it also drastically affects a person in the short term as well. A few examples of this are: temporary memory loss, lack of concentration, changes in mood, altered perception of time,

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Interference with the hippocampus may also lead to lasting memory less. When smoking marijuana may increase the risk of heart attack and lung cancer because it has some of the same cancer causing substance found in tobacco. Marijuana smokers also tend to inhale more deeply and hold their breath longer than cigarette smokers, so more smoke enters the lungs. Other harmful effects include respiratory illness, compromised immune system, accidental injuries, cardiovascular disease, and cognitive

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1.0 Introduction This report aims to determine those who think that marijuana should be legalized and those who think otherwise. The report will also provide background to the debate, its social significance, identify the parties involved and put forward the differing arguments related to the views held. 2.0 The issue and background to the debate Marijuana is defined as dried leaves and female flowers of hemp plant known as Cannabis sativa which is used in cigarette. It also defined as the most illicit drug and which is smoked or ingested for euphoric effect.

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