Preview

The Impact of Marijuana on Society.

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
397 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
The Impact of Marijuana on Society.
The use of marijuanna has a large impact on society. Many people do not feel as though marijuanna can affect them seriously. But the truth is that marijuanna is in fact a drug. It slows down your motor reflexes, impairs your ability to make good judgemnet calls, and convinces people that they are making good choices. Smoking marijuanna can take away a persons goals, dreams, and desires. They begin to live minute by minute.

The biggest problem that is associated with the use of marijuanna is that some people use it while driving. "Smoking and driving" is just as bad as drinking and driving. Studies have shown that marijuanna does in fact play a significant role in car accidents. Marijuanna affects a driver's ability to focus, visually follow, and pay attention to what is going on around their vehicle. Drivers who are "high" become disoriented. This increases the chances of missing or turning cars or cars entering a highway from a ramp. Because distances seem longer and objects seem larger, drivers who are "high" may run into vehicles stopped at stoplights. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, one study of patients in a hospital's shock-trauma unit who had been in traffic accidents found that 15 percent had been smoking marijuanna.

Marijuanna affects people differently. Some may feel nothing when they first try it. Others may feel high or intoxicated, as if they are drunk. Because they are so relaxed and drowsy, they may fall asleep behind the wheel.

Users often become engrossed with ordinary sights, sounds, or tastes, and minor events may seem extremely interesting or funny. This is bad news for drivers. Users do not focus on driving and instead get wrapped up in music on the radio, for example. While high, time seems to pass slowly, so minutes seem like hours. Users ten to have poor reaction yimes while driving, misjudging how long it takes to slow down or stop the car.

Bad reactions can occur when a driver is using marijuanna. Marijuanna reacts

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    PCN 527 Final Exam 112011

    • 516 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The drug Marijuana has been widely used for many years. This illegal drug has caused much controversy over being legalized. It is the third most popular abused substance worldwide. Heavy users of this drug often argue that alcohol, which is legal and more dangerous than Cannabis. People see marijuana as a gateway drug. Teens who often start with marijuana often times become users of a more addictive and dangerous drug. The use of marijuana causes many health issues such as lung cancer, loss of brain cells, impaired motor ability, blood vessel blockage and many other problems. “Children ages 12-17 are 85 times more likely to use cocaine Marijuana has also been linked with teen violence, suicide, crime and unsafe sex-HIV transmission” (http://marijuanatoday.com/cons.php).…

    • 516 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Dare Report

    • 212 Words
    • 1 Page

    While participating with D.A.R.E., I learned that drugs and alcohol are not good for you. I also learned that tobacco and alcohol and any other drug can hurt different parts of your body. Marijuana causes breathing problems, short term memory loss, slows coordination and reflexes, and effects ones ability to judge distance, speed and reaction time. Marijuana can become addictive and is illegal in the United States. Smoking tobacco has over 200 unknown poisons in the smoke, and contains nicotine which is very addictive.…

    • 212 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Chapter 1

    • 1278 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Marijuana is addictive. It is often considered “benign” because to the many users of the drug, it isn’t harmful, like alcohol and cocaine; it just gives a high. But any substance that alters the mind and behavior has high risk of the user becoming addicted to it. The pleasure or euphoric sensation marijuana gives the user can be desired to the point where they are dependent upon the substance to keep their mind and body in that pleasurable sense of high. Basically, when the pleasure center of the brain is activated, the substance that is keeping it activated (like using marijuana) will be used more and more to maintain it, which often leads to addiction of the substance. Heavy use of marijuana can lead to many brain and behavioral disorders, which in the end is why it is harmless to society.…

    • 1278 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, marijuana is a Schedule 1 substance, which means that it has no medicinal purpose and has a high risk for abuse. Although marijuana is not federally legalized or approved by the FDA, 20 states (including Hawaii and Washington D.C.) have already legalized medical marijuana, and two of those states (Colorado and Washington) have already legalized marijuana for adult recreational purposes. When marijuana is ingested or smoked, THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) a chemical naturally found in marijuana, targets neural receptors in the brain giving users a “high.” Altered perceptions and mood, impaired coordination, difficulty with thinking and problem solving, and disrupted learning and memory are some of the effects that marijuana users may feel. Long term effects of heavy marijuana use include: respiratory problems (daily cough and phlegm production, frequent acute chest illness, and increased risk of lung infections), increased heart rate by 10-100 percent, and mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts among adolescents, and personality disturbances, including a lack of motivation to engage in typically rewarding activities. Studies have also shown marijuana to be psychologically addictive.…

    • 806 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    First is what many have heard about the drug, just some basic known affects that the drug has on the human body. The drug can make you feel relaxed, feel happy, getting munchies (which could also be considered negative), increased enjoyment of music and art, more appreciation of the surroundings, forgetting cares and worries, better imagination and visualization, increased creativity, and increased feelings of excitement. Besides these effects, there are many studies done that show marijuana can actually help someone who is sick.…

    • 982 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Smoking marijuana has many important medical effects. Smoking effects the body, the brain, and one's memory. Marijuana cause you to lose memory and being able learn. Perceiving ideas while high can be hard to understand and distorted to you. Marijuana seems to have many physiological effects. The physiological effects of smoking is difficulty with thinking clearly and being able to solve problems.You start to lose coordination within your stance and the way you walk. As you begin the use of the drug your heart rate increase making you become paranoid. In some cases it has caused a panic attack. While under the influence of marijuana you can become very clumsy and care-less. Smoking sometimes makes you move and talk in slow-motion. Marijuana is a downer drug. It makes to tired and lazy, but some might say they feel relaxed. After smoking many people become hungry wanting to eat even if they just ate right before smoking. Bronchitis, emphysema,bronchial asthma and many more conditions are health problems not only to tobacco users but marijuana users also. All drugs affect your body rather if its in a positive or negative way. Medicine heals and replenish the body while marijuana harms and tear the body down. Smoking is smoking no matter what it is that you are inhaling.…

    • 971 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    In fact, there are many cases of driving, especially long distance driving use marijuana because it considered as "tranquilizers" to stay awake at work. However, using marijuana during driving leads to bad effects such as slows our reaction time and ability to make decisions. Besides, another effect of marijuana is strongest during the first hour.…

    • 513 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Another main societal issue associated with medical marijuana is the effect the substance has on individuals medically. Marijuana contains a chemical called THC that is known to affect the brain and human growth development. However, these medical issues do not begin to acknowledge the major health-related issues associated with the substance. Some of the most common issues related to marijuana use are excessive respiratory damage, increased risk of cancer and a weakened immune system. Studies have shown that 1 joint is just as damaging as 5 cigarettes to the lungs, due to the carcinogens present in…

    • 1079 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    Being on drugs affects people's ability to drive and makes them a hazard on the road, even if others don’t agree for health reasons. The involvement of drugs is seen throughout many drivers; whether it be by prescription or not. Misusing drugs changes your capability of driving in a dreadful way. The NCADD declared, “According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) National Roadside Survey, more than 16% of weekend, nighttime drivers tested positive for illegal, prescription, or over-the-counter medications (11% tested positive for illegal drugs).”(Driving while Impaired n.p.). Multiple people go out on the weekends making the possibility of an accident more likely. The use of drugs can correlate to the effect of alcohol. The NIH explained, drug abuse and misuse of prescriptions makes driving unsafe and is compared to drunk driving as it puts everyone on the road at risk (Drugged driving n.p.). Abusing the use of prescription drugs is a form of distraction as well as drugs that are more commonly known throughout the world. According to the NIH, research provided after an accident showed the use of nicotine, alcoholic drinks, and over the counter painkillers taken by the driver (Drugged Driving n.p.). Drugs found in households today contain drugs that cause dangers on the road. In the end, operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs causes…

    • 1622 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Marijuana

    • 1679 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Some people advocate this issue and believe that legalization is the only solution left for the nation while other oppose because it will increase the numbers of drug users and drug related crimes. Marijuana is a drug that is legal in the United States. This drug is bad and cause some side effect to your brain and body. Scientists have found smoking marijuana can cause you to loses your memory. Marijuana has many psychological and physical reaction.…

    • 1679 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Problematic behavior remains an effect of teen marijuana use. “A 2008 longitudinal study of heavy cannabis users from ages 14 to 25 in a New Zealand birth cohort found that increasing cannabis use in late adolescence and early adulthood is associated with a range of adverse outcomes in later life” (University of Washington ADAI). Ashbridge found that there is an increased risk of driving, a doubled risk of being in an accident, under the influence of marijuana (qtd. In U of W ADAI). Driving while under the influence of marijuana risks not only the user’s life, but also the lives of others. An accident caused by a driver under the influence of marijuana could potentially ruin many lives, and could easily be prevented with smart behavior. Marijuana affects ones concentration, perception, coordination, and reaction time; all skills needed for safe driving (courtinfo.ca.gov). Data has shown people who drive under the influence of marijuana show the same lack of coordination as those who drive under the influence of alcohol (courtinfo.ca.gov). Driving under the influence of marijuana is…

    • 1334 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Conditions that marijuana is typically prescribed to treat are cancer, AIDS, and multiple sclerosis. Medical cannabis is a highly controversial subject because cannabis is still considered illegal under federal law. In fact, Federal law classifies marijuana as a Schedule I drug, which means that it has no safe medical use and a high potential for abuse. Both of these statements are completely false. Marijuana has been proven to be beneficial as a form of medical treatment. Also, marijuana is not physically addictive and therefore, has low potential for abuse. Some people can develop minor dependence issues from a psychological standpoint. When comparing marijuana's drug classification to the most popular drugs in the United States it is illogical. Alcohol and Tobacco are both far more addictive and harmful than cannabis is. Each year new research is released documenting the harmful effects that tobacco and alcohol have on the body. Including direct links to cancer and death. Unlike tobacco marijuana has never been linked to cancer. In addition, there has never been a single documented death from cannabis usage. Alcohol causes people to use poor decision making and it causes people to become violent and aggressive. When comparing marijuana to modern day pharmaceuticals one again is forced to conclude that marijuana's classification is unjustified.…

    • 1150 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Policy Analysis Paper

    • 784 Words
    • 4 Pages

    References: Florio, G. (2011, January 17). Driving under influence of marijuana a growing problem. Missoulian. Retrieved from http://missoulian.com/news/local/article_1d9f6f8a-2137-11e0-a0be-001cc4c002e0.html…

    • 784 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Marijuana has a vast amount of negative effects on the user’s health which is why it should continue to be illegal. Marijuana affects the body both mentally and physically. There have been a number of studies that show association between chronic marijuana use and increased rates of anxiety, depression and schizophrenia (NIDA, 2010). The strongest evidence they have found against marijuana and its mental effects is that it can cause the onset or relapse of schizophrenia in vulnerable individuals (NIDA, 2010). This shows that marijuana negatively impacts individuals mentally. A substance that is linked to triggering a disorder should not be allowed to be used freely in society.…

    • 886 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Week 3 Appendix J

    • 536 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Many studies show that when smoking marijuana in cigarettes increased heart rate, motor test, and driving skills were impaired (Hollister, 1971).…

    • 536 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays