Weed, marijuana, cannabis, this plant has a lot of different names and even more numerous uses. Millions of Americans turn to weed everyday as a sort of escape from reality. And, a lot of people turn to it for its purported medicinal benefits. Despite the growing popularity of this illegal narcotic, many people still view this plant as a dangerous psychedelic or a gateway drug that will lead to methamphetamine or heroin addiction. One of the biggest debates going on in the US today is the legalization of marijuana. There are many reasons why marijuana should be legalized - and not only just for recreational use. “Cannabis has been making a lot of noise lately. Two States have already successfully legalized Marijuana for recreational use, …show more content…
With weed most likely being legal in all states in the not too distant future, government officials need to develop a way to test if the applicant is currently under the influence of marijuana. Marijuana has many medicinal purposes. It helps people deal with eating disorders glaucoma, depression, anxiety, pain management, and insomnia. Cancer patients have been using marijuana to help with chemotherapy. It helps these patients with their appetites and the nausea. While some people say marijuana is helpful, others argue that the more they smoke it the more addicted they will get and possibly get hooked on harder drugs. Some call marijuana a “gateway” drug. “Of all the arguments that have been used to demonize marijuana, few have been more powerful than that of the ‘gateway effect’: the notion that while marijuana itself may not be especially dangerous, it ineluctably leads to harder drugs like heroin and cocaine”.