The Harmful Effects Of Legalizing Marijuana
The Harmful Effects of Legalizing Marijuana
Courtney Batts
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana
The Harmful Effects of Legalizing Marijuana
The legality of marijuana has been the subject of debate and controversy for decades. Cannabis, another name for marijuana, is illegal to consume, use, possess, cultivate, transfer or trade in most countries. Marijuana is the most commonly abused illegal drug in the United States. It is a greenish brown mixture of dried leaves, stems, seeds, and flowers from the hemp plant. It has been used most commonly as a medicine, a food, a fiber and an intoxicant for thousands of years (“Why People,” 2010). Marijuana intoxication can cause distorted perceptions, impaired coordination, difficulty with thinking …show more content…
and problem solving, and problems with learning and memory. Evidence shows marijuana has no medical benefits, can lead to addiction, and is just as harmful as alcohol or tobacco.
Marijuana contains a strong chemical called THC (tetrahydro-cannabinol).
THC rapidly passes from the lungs into the bloodstream, which carries the chemical to the brain and other organs throughout the body. This chemical can make people feel relaxed and can distract them from problems. The relaxed feeling, also known as a high, lasts only a few hours, but the drug remains in the body for days and can affect users even when they do not feel high. In addition to being the most commonly used illegal drug, marijuana is also the most controversial. While some people believe marijuana is a relatively harmless drug that should be legal for recreational and medical use, others argue that marijuana is a dangerous drug and should remain illegal. The federal government “classifies marijuana as a Schedule I drug, believing it to be dangerous and addictive with no medical value” (“Background to Controversy,” 2007, p. 11). According to the federal government Schedule I drugs have the highest potential for abuse with no medical use. Therefore, marijuana is currently illegal for any use, medical, or recreational. However, many Americans have used or tried marijuana at one point in their life, and some users believe it to be beneficial. In addition, ten states have laws allowing marijuana use as a medicine, despite the federal government’s prohibition of …show more content…
it.
Proponents of the legalization of medical marijuana create the impression that it is a reasonable alternative to conventional drugs. However, unlike conventional drugs, marijuana has not passed scientific investigation, and was found to be harmful with no medical benefits. Marijuana, whatever its value, is intoxicating. Although some people will report relief of their symptoms when they smoke it, it is important to know there is a difference between feeling better and actually getting better. The job of modern medicine is to establish this distinction. According to Barthwell (2008), “There is no scientific evidence that qualifies smoked marijuana to be called medicine. Further, there is no support in the medical literature that marijuana, or indeed any medicine, should be smoked as the preferred form of admiration (“Setting the Record Straight,” para. 1)
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the agency responsible for approving drugs as safe and effective medicine based on valid scientific data.
They recently noted, “While there are no proven benefits to smoked marijuana use, there are many short- and long-term risks associated with marijuana use” (Barthwell, 2008, “Setting the Record Straight,” para. 3). Some evidence suggests that smoking marijuana may result in long-term impairment of the immune system, which is responsible for fighting infections. Marijuana can have negative effects on the body’s natural defenses, which leads to serious health consequences for users with weak immune systems. Furthermore, there are several reasons why marijuana is an unlikely candidate for medication. Including impaired short-term memory, slowed reaction time and impaired coordination, altered judgment and decision-making, increased heart rate, and altered moods (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2011). In addition marijuana is an unpurified plant, containing numerous chemicals that could have potential adverse effects when mixed with FDA approved
medications.
Courtney Batts
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana
The Harmful Effects of Legalizing Marijuana
The legality of marijuana has been the subject of debate and controversy for decades. Cannabis, another name for marijuana, is illegal to consume, use, possess, cultivate, transfer or trade in most countries. Marijuana is the most commonly abused illegal drug in the United States. It is a greenish brown mixture of dried leaves, stems, seeds, and flowers from the hemp plant. It has been used most commonly as a medicine, a food, a fiber and an intoxicant for thousands of years (“Why People,” 2010). Marijuana intoxication can cause distorted perceptions, impaired coordination, difficulty with thinking …show more content…
and problem solving, and problems with learning and memory. Evidence shows marijuana has no medical benefits, can lead to addiction, and is just as harmful as alcohol or tobacco.
Marijuana contains a strong chemical called THC (tetrahydro-cannabinol).
THC rapidly passes from the lungs into the bloodstream, which carries the chemical to the brain and other organs throughout the body. This chemical can make people feel relaxed and can distract them from problems. The relaxed feeling, also known as a high, lasts only a few hours, but the drug remains in the body for days and can affect users even when they do not feel high. In addition to being the most commonly used illegal drug, marijuana is also the most controversial. While some people believe marijuana is a relatively harmless drug that should be legal for recreational and medical use, others argue that marijuana is a dangerous drug and should remain illegal. The federal government “classifies marijuana as a Schedule I drug, believing it to be dangerous and addictive with no medical value” (“Background to Controversy,” 2007, p. 11). According to the federal government Schedule I drugs have the highest potential for abuse with no medical use. Therefore, marijuana is currently illegal for any use, medical, or recreational. However, many Americans have used or tried marijuana at one point in their life, and some users believe it to be beneficial. In addition, ten states have laws allowing marijuana use as a medicine, despite the federal government’s prohibition of …show more content…
it.
Proponents of the legalization of medical marijuana create the impression that it is a reasonable alternative to conventional drugs. However, unlike conventional drugs, marijuana has not passed scientific investigation, and was found to be harmful with no medical benefits. Marijuana, whatever its value, is intoxicating. Although some people will report relief of their symptoms when they smoke it, it is important to know there is a difference between feeling better and actually getting better. The job of modern medicine is to establish this distinction. According to Barthwell (2008), “There is no scientific evidence that qualifies smoked marijuana to be called medicine. Further, there is no support in the medical literature that marijuana, or indeed any medicine, should be smoked as the preferred form of admiration (“Setting the Record Straight,” para. 1)
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the agency responsible for approving drugs as safe and effective medicine based on valid scientific data.
They recently noted, “While there are no proven benefits to smoked marijuana use, there are many short- and long-term risks associated with marijuana use” (Barthwell, 2008, “Setting the Record Straight,” para. 3). Some evidence suggests that smoking marijuana may result in long-term impairment of the immune system, which is responsible for fighting infections. Marijuana can have negative effects on the body’s natural defenses, which leads to serious health consequences for users with weak immune systems. Furthermore, there are several reasons why marijuana is an unlikely candidate for medication. Including impaired short-term memory, slowed reaction time and impaired coordination, altered judgment and decision-making, increased heart rate, and altered moods (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2011). In addition marijuana is an unpurified plant, containing numerous chemicals that could have potential adverse effects when mixed with FDA approved
medications.