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The Impact Of Marijuana Legalization On Youth

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Marijuana is a drug made of cannabis which provides a feeling of intense happiness and excitement or intoxication. Due to marijuana’s potential dangerousness, it has been strictly prohibited in most countries since the late 1930s (Guither, 2015). However, five jurisdictions in the United States legalized marijuana because of its incredible uses for medical purposes and low probability of harm, and it causes other countries to consider marijuana legalization (Owen Poindexter, 2014). Today, there is a trend in marijuana legalization like a domino in the states which could eventually affect all the state to legalize marijuana (Smith, 2015). There is a great diversity of opinions about marijuana legalization but the United States has shown its …show more content…

The youth could be influenced by marijuana more easily than adults because the maturity of mindset is still not built up completely (Mrug, Gaines, Su, & Windle, 2010). Hence, appropriate education system for child and adolescent is important, but there is a potential impact of marijuana legalization on youth due to its disturbance in education. First, marijuana promotion attracts children. In Colorado, after marijuana was legalized, marijuana industry produced marijuana products with appealing packages and promoted to children because children are the next customers of the market (DARE, 2015). Moreover, Joffe et al. (2004) claim that the young have inclination to follow and depend on to the trend which could result an increase in marijuana use of the youth after marijuana legalization. Children and adolescents could feel relieved and become curious about marijuana after it is legalized which could be a reason for them to try or start consuming marijuana (Joffe et al, 2004). Therefore, unban marijuana could negatively impinge on the youth about educating them the appropriate lesson such as …show more content…

There are two real consequences of marijuana legalization in the states, which disrupted the social order. In Colorado, special assemblies and businesses in marijuana market have guaranteed that, “marijuana is widely promoted … deaths have been attributed to ingesting marijuana cookies and food items.” (Sabet, 2014). Furthermore, Hopfer (2014) indicates the latest report showing the influence of medical marijuana demonstrated a higher proportion of marijuana use in the states where have such laws. Also, National Household Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) found not only a significant decline in teenage awareness of marijuana risk in Colorado more than nonmedical marijuana states but also a greater young marijuana addiction prevalence after extensive legalization of adult medical. In this way, marijuana legalization in Colorado could hardly be concluded as a success. Marijuana legalization has caused social corruption and damaged the youth with a wrong educational environment. The use of marijuana had grown more through the legalization and become more common and familiar to adolescents. As Hopfer (2014) states marijuana legalization arouses a growth of marijuana use and associated issues, as it has been proved and therefore, the rest states should continue to prohibit

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636). Thus, they argue that the legalization of marijuana, should be similar to those of alcohol and tobacco where there are regulations for the sale to minimize any health related problems it may cause (Joffe & Yancy, 2004, p. 636). Additionally, tobacco and alcohol are among the most abused substances used by adolescents; despite having regulations for their sales through enforcing legal ages for purchase, they still find ways to purchase and consume these substances. Moreover, the legalization of marijuana would assist in pain relief as a less toxic, addictive and essentially safer drug in comparison to what some individuals use for chronic pain such as opiates and alcohol. It has been reported that there has been 25% of a decrease in the deaths related to opiate overdose; essentially, marijuana could contribute to the harm reduction that other substances cause (Mitchell 2016, p. 63)

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In the 1960’s marijuana use had no outstanding effects on the United States people but in today's society the use of marijuana had become a huge epidemic over the past years. Even though it has been scientifically proven that marijuana can help seizures, Crohn’s, and effects of cancer, yet many people in today's society still believe that it has no use. In the United States 45 percent of drug arrest in 2013 were due to marijuana, but at Woodstock in 1969 when there was a controversial “Drug War” no one was arrested for marijuana (Merino par. 3). The use of marijuana is more strict in the United States now then it was in

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With many states legalizing recreational marijuana, it can seem like kids smoking weed is a non-issue. In reality, marijuana serves as a gateway drug to more addictive, more harmful substances. In addition, kids smoking weed can lead to problems with the way that their brain develops. The human mind does not stop forming until the mid-20s, so early marijuana use can inhibit the mind 's ability to function. Why Kids Smoking Weed Is a Problem

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Since pot is legal, many kids may believe it can't really be harmful”. Teens would disagree about this quotation because teens that smoked marijuana and eat edibles know and see the way how it can affect people in different ways. The author did a good job arguing about the use of marijuana and the impact it has on teenagers brain ,because when someone is intoxicated and high they can’t remember what took place .Teenagers should avoid the use of marijuana because their brain hasn’t fully

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“In recent years, Monitoring the Future, the NIDA-funded annual survey of drug, alcohol, and tobacco use in 8th-, 10th-, and 12th-grade students, has shown persistently high rates of marijuana and nonmedical prescription drug use in our Nation’s teens” (Most

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Ignorance about its use can cause serious damage to the body and its long-time use can affect the brain development, memory, and learning functions. It can even cause vomiting, dizziness, hallucinations and the body’s other abilities deteriorate too. A research conducted has shown that teens using marijuana early, lost an average of eight IQ points between the age of 13 and 38. (Marijuana 2017, p-3) Along with all this, the inconsistency of laws is another hurdle in this ongoing process.

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Therefore, any state is not allowed to produce or distribute of any unhealthy substances due to the goal of the state, which is to protect the health of the citizens and not expose them to risk. Marijuana is also considered to become a gateway drug for users to discover a stronger or longer high, for examples like the use of heroin or cocaine. Researchers claim that marijuana is linked to a higher risk to use of prescription drugs, according to a recent Yale University medicine study, teenagers who abuse soft drugs are two to three times more likely to be addicted to prescription pills in early adulthood. Also, an increase in teenage girls who abuse prescription was found during the study. Therefore, the legalization of marijuana may cause an increase in societal and financial costs due to new drug consumers looking to expand their

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A most comprehensive and informative report on this subject is, “The Legalization of Marijuana in Colorado” by Kevin Wong and Chelsey Clark, concludes that the ones in favor of making the prohibition come to an end, greatly outweigh the possible negative effects it could have. People who are in favor believe that ending the prohibition could eliminate arrests, resulting in fewer people with criminal records and lessening prison population, cause law enforcement resources and funding to target more serious and violent criminals, not increase in use due to tight regulations, added generated revenue through taxation, and eliminate the black market. On the other hand the population opposing the legalization of marijuana, claim that lifting prohibition can be harmful preventing success or development. Some of the consequences include increase in use among youth and young adults, increase in impaired driving fatalities and rise in marijuana-addicted users in treatment, and adverse effects of physical and mental

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After recreational marijuana is legalized, more teenagers will begin using the drug. It will become normalized and easier for them to access, especially at home. Because the Cannabis Act will allow adults to smoke marijuana and even grow their own plants at home (“No Shortage,” 2018), many teens will decide to try marijuana for themselves. In addition, society could pressure them into using the drug, because it will be acceptable to use, like alcohol. For example, Colorado has seen a seventy-four percent increase in marijuana users since it legalized the drug in 2012 (Hunt, 2017).

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“Legalization would increase the use by teens by making the drug more readily available for the public” (Jonker). “A 2020 study of more than 230 teens and young adults in Washington State, one of the first states to legalize recreational marijuana for adults, concluded that teens may be more likely to use the drug now than before legalization” (The effects of Marijuana on teens). Legalizing marijuana would increase use by teens and young adults, which could lead to addiction, by making the drug more readily available for the general

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Accessibility rises the less fight there is to slow production down. If the government declares marijuana legal, a dramatic increase in substance participation is inevitable. Even with an age limitation, the youth know ways to cross that barrier similar to alcohol and tobacco. Illegally, “…there are 15.2 million current marijuana users in comparison to 129 million alcohol users and 70.9 million tobacco users” (Marijuana). A major ethical concern with marijuana is its attribute of being a gateway drug, or a habit-forming drug that, while not itself addictive, may lead to the use of other addictive drugs.

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Although some may argue that the legalization of the plant would be harmful to society, marijuana has been proven to help individuals suffering from AIDS, cancer, epilepsy, depression, and a slew of other disorders and diseases. These disorders and diseases affect people globally, and those people should have the right to safe, legal access to something that can help them. Unlike the typical prescription drug, there haven’t been any recorded deaths attributed to marijuana use. Without the risk of overdose or harmful side effects, marijuana needs to be reevaluated in terms of its overall safety in order to accentuate these claims. Once marijuana is examined in an unbiased manner, the overall decision on its federal legalization can be made.

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Contrary to popular belief, the legalization of marijuana has not, and will not increase the use of it among minors. Infact, according to Forbes.com a 2013 report from the Colorado Department of Health and Environment found that high school marijuana use decreased from 22% in 2011 to 20% in 2013. Dr. Larry Wolk, the CDPHE director states, “As with tobacco, youth prevention campaigns will help ensure adult legalization of marijuana does not impact the health of Colorado kids.” Fours years ago, in 2012, a study called, “Medical Marijuana Laws and Teen Marijuana Use” by D. Mark Anderson, Ben Hanson, and Daniel Rees did not find that the legalization of medical marijuana increased use in teens. Instead they discovered that marijuana use increased among teens in the states where medical marijuana was illegal.

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Sabet later went on to state “We’ve seen lives damaged. We’ve seen deaths directly attributed to marijuana legalization . We’ve seen marijuana slipping through Colorado’s borders. We’ve seen it getting into the hands of young teenagers.” Each of theses statements should be cautionary lessons for other states tempting to loosen marijuana

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In the past decade, a number of movements to legalize the use of marijuana has been gaining momentum. According to the 2016 Gallup survey, a record high 60% of Americans say that marijuana should be legalized and this figure marks a 9% increase compared to 2014. Support for legalizing marijuana was 31% in 2000, 50% in 2016 before reaching 60% last year. This shows that despite government efforts to eliminate its use, marijuana is becoming more popular. It is clear that

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