Decriminalizing Marijuana Research Paper

An Illegal Drug is defined as “any chemical that affects the human body or mind when it is swallowed, breathed in, or consumed in another way.” by the Webster New World Dictionary. Marijuana can also be defined as so, but it is completely legal in two of the fifty states, and completely illegal in twenty-one of the fifty, and the rest either allow Marijuana for medical purposes, or is decriminalized. There are both harmful and beneficial properties of this drug. But Marijuana can do more harm than good. Many cultures have used it during meditation, religious worship, and for intoxication. Marijuana itself comes from the Indian Hemp plant. Marijuana is so popular that an estimated one out of every three people in the US have tried it and around
The user’s eyes may get a bloodshot red, one will experience dry mouth and throat, nicknamed as cottonmouth, an increased heart rate, impaired concentration and coordination, a decrease of inhibition, hunger, nicknamed the munchies, mild euphoria, hallucinations, paranoia, fantasies, and perceptions that appear to be clearer or intense (drugabuse.gov, WEB). Although some short term effects can fade a while after the user has consumed this drug repetitvly, the long term effects will not. Problems in the long run for the user include personality and mood changes, the inability to understand things clearly, growth disorders, suppression of the immune system, reduction of male sex hormones, reduced thinking, reduced memory, poor mental and physical health, and even relationship problems (drugabuse.gov, WEB). In spite of the fact that marijuana is technically a “safer” drug than tobacco or alcohol, this information does not make Marijuana safe to use. Smoke inhalation of any sort is harmful to the lungs and can increase the risk of lung cancer or other diseases of the respiratory system. Adolescents who are regular users of marijuana are at risk of permanent damage to their intelligence, attention span and memory. Studies show that those who started smoking marijuana heavily in their teens lost an average of 8 IQ points between the ages 13-38, unable to gain their intelligence back. Expecting mothers who also
Synthetic cannabinoids happen to fit into the same receptors that THC latches onto in the brain, so they can have an effect similar to THC in natural marijuana. However, some synthetic cannabinoids are one-hundred times stronger than THC. This can cause a number of significant negative side effects including high blood pressure, blurred vision, heart attack, vomiting, seizures, hallucinations, and severe anxiety and paranoia. Deaths have also been associated with use of the drug. Synthetic marijuana is not sold as a single brand, nor does it include just one ingredient, thus making synthetic marijuana more harmful and dangerous than