Legalization of Marijuana- Don't Do It.

Legalization of Marijuana--Don’t do it! Legalization of marijuana has been a hot political topic for many years. Some states have legalized medical marijuana. Others are considering following the example of those 18 states. A few of the 18 states that have already legalized medical marijuana are considering moving beyond to the legalization of recreational marijuana. Many people have conflicting ideas about the legalization of marijuana. Some would argue against public smoking because of the foul odor the smoke produces. I will argue against legalization of marijuana because smoking is unhealthy for users and non-users, it impairs the judgment of users, and can cause financial difficulties associated with the smell and production of smoke and plants. Some people will argue that marijuana is bad for the health of users and non-users alike. Many people will agree that medical marijuana can be harmful if ingested by young children. The use of marijuana can cause serious long-term health complications to both the user and non-user. In the article “Pot smoking may leave mark on teen brains” by Amanda Gardner, Gardner states, “People who smoked pot heavily as teens had consistently lower IQs at age 38...” (Gardner1). This article argues how the excessive smoking of marijuana can cause a decline in the IQ of someone who has smoked pot for a number of years beginning at a young age. There has been “a decades long study” (Gardner1) proving the argument. Gardner states, “…researchers found that adolescents who used marijuana at least four days per week lost an average of eight IQ points between the ages of 13 and 38-- a pattern not seen among people who began smoking heavily only in adulthood” (Gardner1). Teens who start smoking at such a young age should realize the consequences of their actions will follow them into adulthood. She states, “Heavy pot smokers tended to show deficits in memory, concentration, and overall brainpower in relation to their peers, but

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