Pros And Cons Of Legalizing Marijuana

For the past several decades, the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes has received increasingly more attention. Marijuana has been the subject of frequent arguments and debates in terms of both its medical and recreational use. Many people think that marijuana has just recently made an appearance in the medical limelight. But the facts show that marijuana has been featured in a great deal of medical literature throughout history. It is no secret that many advocates and opponents want to be heard on the topic of legalizing marijuana. Everyone has his or her opinion and for good reason. Before discussing a position and making an argument on the legalization of marijuana, first let’s define what it is.

What is Marijuana?

Marijuana also known

As mentioned earlier the cons of legalization will outweigh the pros. The cons of legalization show how harmful the drug is to one’s health. We all know as with any drug there can be side effects, but we also know why certain drugs or more contained, controlled, and illegal. Advocates for legalization continue to argue that marijuana will be great for many medical purposes but they fail to bring to light all of the terrible side effects cannabis will have. Number one side effect is addiction. Marijuana is an addictive substance. Many treatment specialists have firsthand experience in seeing how long term use does lead to marijuana addiction. Research suggests many marijuana users will develop dependence over time. As with other substances and drugs, stopping marijuana use leads to withdrawal symptoms that range from irritability to anxiety. Legalizing marijuana would sky rocket the cost of treating a user that has become addicted to the

What about the long term affects? Why are there no advocates speaking about recreational use of marijuana and the afflictions of its long term use? When marijuana is smoked, the body absorbs THC right away. As mentioned earlier THC is the mind altering ingredient found in the Cannabis plant. Long time users can experience physical withdrawal symptoms such as cravings, irritability sleeplessness, and loss of appetite. Advocates are not speaking about how research shows that marijuana smoke has up to 70% more cancer-causing substances than tobacco smoke. Also, studies on road safety indicate that marijuana slows reaction time and impairs distance perception behind the wheel. Another negative aspect surrounding marijuana is that it also temporarily impairs an array of mental abilities, especially memory and attention. For example, more and more studies have shown that people who use the drug, perform worse on tests of working memory, which is the ability to temporarily hold and manipulate information in one's mind. Marijuana blunts concentration, weakens motor coordination and interferes with the ability to quickly scan one's surroundings for obstacles. With all the facts and dangers that surround the use of marijuana many groups continue to fight for the legalization of this dangerous drug.