Harrison Wald
EG 102
Professor Wrampe
10 April 2017
An Argument for Marijuana Legalization Did you know marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States? Medical marijuana has been one of the most controversial subjects in politics. The government has made weed an illegal substance because it can have an effect on your body. But the issue is that the government has not formulated an efficient system to regulate the distribution of marijuana for their benefit. If the government could watch the supply of weed in a profitable manner, then maybe its illegalization would not seem so corrupt. The ideas of marijuana have been changing rapidly over the recent years due to the legalization in some states. Studies have been going
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Marijuana is cannabis, which is a preparation of the cannabis plant intended for use as a psychoactive drug or medicine. The main ingredient in cannabis is delta-9 tetra hydro-cannabinol, also known as THC. That is part of the plant that gives the feeling of being “high”. Cannabis is usually smoked in hand-rolled cigarettes, also known as “joints” or in waterpipes, also known as “bongs”. According to a 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, “7.3% of Americans aged 12 or older had used marijuana within the previous 30 days. The average age at first use was 17.9 years” (SAMHSA). People using this drug aren’t just adults; There are kids that aren’t teenagers yet. People usually use cannabis to get the “high” feeling. It changes the user’s mood and affects how they think and perceive the environment. Everyday actions can become more intense. But on the other hand, it can cause long-term or possibly permanent adverse changes in the brain. Some short-term effects of cannabis include: Drowsiness, decreased nausea, loss of co-ordination, dryness of the eyes, mouth, and throat. Just using marijuana for a short time can already make an impact on your health and well-being. Regarding the short-term effects, marijuana can possibly have permanent long term effects. If teenagers start using marijuana at a young age, it may reduce thinking, memory, and learning functions and can also affect how the brain builds connections between the areas necessary for these functions. Using marijuana can have some physical effects as well such as: breathing problems, increased heart rate, even problems with child development during and after pregnancy. According to Drugabuse.gov, “Marijuana smoke irritates the lungs, and people who smoke marijuana frequently can have the same breathing problems as those who smoke tobacco” (Drug abuse). Using marijuana puts your lungs at a higher risk of lung infections; however, researchers don’t know if people who smoke marijuana