The short-term effects of marijuana are enough to cause alarm and to show that marijuana should not be legalized. The opposition tells us that marijuana is not harmful and that it is even considered less harmful than alcohol or the harder drugs in its category. But to say this is just ridiculous, as marijuana still effects the brain and its functions just like alcohol and other drugs. A person who is under the influence of marijuana can lead to poor judgment and impairment just like alcohol and other drug substances. It is shown the marijuana reaches the same pleasure centers in the brain that are targeted by heroin, cocaine, and alcohol. Short-term problems with marijuana can affect thinking, memory, and function. These short-term problems …show more content…
More adolescents today believe that marijuana is not harmful, that it cannot damage their minds and will not affect their future, as it is acceptable now. Several large observational studies suggest that using marijuana, particularly in the early teenage years, can increase the risk of developing psychosis. Studies have shown that the effect of marijuana is one of the causes for a decrease in grades, high school dropouts and lack of ambition. More adolescents are smoking marijuana, then cigarettes, studies show. Once we legalize marijuana it will be more accessible for kids to find. We teach our children to say no to drugs, but yet we legalize a drug. What message is this sending to our youth today? The message we are sending is a mixed message and not a suitable one.
What consequences can legalizing marijuana have for California? Have we truly thought about that? In November of 2012, recreational use of marijuana became legal in the state of Colorado. The Rocky Mountain High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (RMHIDTA) has been tracking the impact of marijuana in its state since then. The purpose of their annual report is to show the impact that legalization of marijuana has had on their state so other states can see the impact of legalizing marijuana in their state. The latest report was published in October of 2017, Vol.5. The report shows the statistics