Legalizing Marijuana Research Paper

Marijuana is a plant that has been used by people for many purposes for thousands of years. However, it has been a very controversial topic to several since the beginning of the twentieth and twenty-first century in the United States. The proposal of legalizing marijuana is important because it has affected our society in a variety of ways and has raised many issues. Some people such as Stephen P. Thomas think that marijuana has high health risks and impacts our society while others such as Bill McCarberg and Lynn Zimmer argue that the harmful effects of marijuana are not as harmful as they are said to be. Although marijuana may increase one's heart rate, marijuana should be legalized for recreational use and medical use to alleviate pain.
Health issues are debated when the question of legalizing marijuana is asked. For example, "claims of other biological harms –for example, brain damage, infertility and immune-system impairment –are based on animal and cellular studies using doses of marijuana up to 1,000 times the psychoactive dose in humans. None of these effects have ever been found in studies of people who use marijuana" (Zimmer). n. page.). However, "marijuana's only clear health risk is respiratory damage from smoking, and this risk is confirmed to long-term, heavy marijuana smokers" (Zimmer). n. page.). Through several studies, marijuana has shown to help in the treatment of certain diseases or illnesses such as insomnia, migraines, bipolar disorders, cancer, and muscle tension. It has also been used to treat patients with AIDS to help their appetites increase and reduce symptoms such as nausea. "No dose of marijuana is fatal" (Zimmer). n. page.). "People who have used the least-popular drugs, such as heroin and cocaine, tend to also have used more popular drugs, such as alcohol, tobacco, caffeine and marijuana. However most marijuana users never use another illegal drug" (Zimmer). n. page.). "According to government surveys, for every 100 people who have tried marijuana, only one currently is a regular user of cocaine" (Zimmer). n. page.). This could aid in the treatment of addiction to other drugs,
The effects of drinking are a lot more dangerous than that of the effects of smoking marijuana. Many people who drink, especially those who abuse it, become extremely violent to the point of having no self control and become a danger to those who surround them. Those who smoke marijuana are in a more relaxing state and have not shown any signs of aggressiveness or violence. Also, the long-term affects of consuming alcohol, as well as smoking tobacco, are a lot more life threatening than those affects of marijuana. How do we respond to a government that allows these substances, that can cause much more harm, to be legal in society? Where is the morality in that? People who rather smoke a herb and get high instead of drinking alcohol and getting drunk, are unfortunately punished. Sometimes these punishments take a father away from their family, one can lose their job, student can be denied financial aid and so on. The supposed "consequences" of smoking marijuana are actually more harmful than actually smoking the substance itself. Also, many argue that the prohibition of recreational use of marijuana is going against a person's freedom of will. Some cultures, such as the Indians, used marijuana as a way to become one with nature, while others have different beliefs of what they experience when under the effects of marijuana. People should be able to smoke the