Essay On Why Weed Should Not Be Legalized

There is absolutely no legitimate reason as to why “weed” should be legalized. As The United States of America has evolved, the legalization of marijuana has been a heated debate topic. Truly, there is no reason as to why any citizen needs the legalization of this drug. It is said that marijuana has medical benefits, but according to ‘The Business Insider’, only 6% of studies on marijuana have analyzed its so called “medical benefits.” Marijuana’s most influential uses are not in medicine, but for negative uses such as smoking and misuse. When they are overused or abused, marijuana can lead to dependency and memory and emotional disruption.
Cannabidiol and tetrahydrocannabinol are the two active chemicals scientists believe have medical benefits (The Business Insider). Neither of these have been scientifically proven to have any positive effects on the human body. Citizens Against Legalizing Marijuana (CALM) has taken a position that the Federal laws against the use, cultivation, and transportation of marijuana should be maintained and
enforced and should in no event be weakened (Calmusa.org). According to CALM, marijuana is a schedule 1 drug, meaning there is a high risk for infatuation and exploitation. CALM believes that there are no current accepted medical uses of marijuana and a lack of a true safety for use. Marijuana can easily become addicting and negatively life changing and should not be legalized. Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Alaska, and Washington D.C have all changed their laws to legalize the use of small amounts of marijuana. As well as these jurisdictions new changes, recent polls have shown over half the country in favor with the legalization (Drug Policy). As times have changed and America has evolved, the legalization of marijuana would be a step in the wrong direction. Smoking would increase the effects of lung cancer, second hand smoking, and addiction. Trade however would likely increase throughout America, brining benefits to the economy. While all that would be fantastic, the negatives are too strong for these laws to be able to be passed, the negative effects that marijuana causes, the disgusting odor filling cities, polluting the air, all of these override the market boost the legalization of marijuana would cause. Citizens would be less likely to care about important things in their lives, would pay less attention in school, and have less of a desire to be successful. Instead of spending money on obligatory items that would benefit their lives, marijuana uses would be more interested in purchasing more of the drug, in a never ending cycle that would see them losing thousands of dollars each year, just to watch it evaporate into the air as smoke. Americas reputation would be harmed by the legalization as well, decreasing the number of tourists wishing to visit due to the wicked smell and vibrant diseases caused by marijuana. With less tourists, the amount of money being brought into the United States would decrease, harming our economy. As well as this, the number of immigrants wishing to enter the U.S. would change from people striving to make a successful living, and people wishing to receive a high education, to immigrants wishing to sell drugs and make a profit off this and possibly even scam their constituents. These new immigrants would harm the United States reputation even more and the use of drugs and the trafficking of it would increase. As more immigrants enter and more of the population gets hooked on the drug, the greater downhill the United States would fall, losing power and possibly harming the friendship established with other countries. If these friendships are hurt, the amount of trade and the ability to trade with these countries would be impaired which would result in the decrease of The United States’ economy. It is said that marijuana is a helpful medicine, used to calm people down and make them feel good. People who are pro-legalization say there are few or no negative effects of marijuana and they say it is not dangerous or harmful. If all of these statements were true then yes, the legalization of marijuana would make sense, but this is not true in any way. Marijuana must stay illegal in the United States because if it does become legalized, the number of smokers will increase, and in result, negative effects on users and families of user’s health will occur. Current Marijuana smokers must hide the fact they do so, unless they live in a district in which it has been legalized. If it was legalized, people would believe smoking could be done anywhere at any time. Once they know they can smoke without the risk of being arrested or fined, users will increase use and abuse the drugs in public places. Also, the cost will decrease and it will become cheaper to buy which will get more people, especially minors, addicted. If younger generations become addicted to marijuana they will bring the downfall of America. Another problem that would sprout would be the sales of fake drugs, which could lead to arguments about the legitimacy of drugs and could end in fights and more trouble.
The increase in drug use often leads to negative health effects. Marijuana users often experience depression or use the marijuana to “help with their depression.” Marijuana has been proven to worsen depression (Teen Ink) and can even cause effects such as respiratory illness, lung infections, and many cancers such as lung, mouth, throat, and esophagus cancer (Teen Ink). When using marijuana, heart rates often increase immediately, even faster than smokers heart rates. Marijuana has a higher risk of heart attacks and lowers users blood pressure more then cigarette smokers (Teen Ink)
Overall, the legalization of marijuana would have many negative effects on the users, their family, and the entire United States.
The number of students whom would skip school to abuse the drug would increase, and future generations would be greatly damaged. Marijuana effects teens ability to concentrate and once a teen become addicted, it is often a struggle for them, to become completely removed from the drug. Overuse of the drug would increase which would result in more deaths and medical problems. The legalization of marijuana would only give bad ideas to teens, and their families. These families would be spending their money on smoke and health diseases. Marijuana must not be legalized, otherwise the future of the United States would be disrupted, less teen would become educated, and there would be an increase in cancer rates as well as depression. America must not take the risk of legalizing this disorderly addictive
drug.