What Are The Arguments Against Legalizing Marijuana

One of the most controversial topics of the twenty-first century is the legalization of marijuana. You most likely know something about the drug and have your own opinion about it whether you smoke it or not. You may recall people telling you that drugs are bad and warning you to stay away from them. You may also remember the D.A.R.E. program. You probably didn’t know why they would say drugs are bad, but listened to your authority figures anyway. According to Procon.org, marijuana has been used since about 2900 BC when Emperor Fu Hsi concluded it to be a popular medicine. Since then, marijuana has been used for medical treatments. In 1621 a popular English mental health book recommended cannabis to treat depression and by 1840 it became mainstream medicine. However, in 1911 Massachusetts
Some don’t even think medical marijuana should be legal. Some people are against it because of their morals or religious aspects. They argue that marijuana will cause harm to the body. This fear may be attributed to people saying that one joint is equal to 4 cigarettes. When it comes to medical marijuana, those against it don’t think it should be legal because there are other prescription drugs that help ease pain. Pitzevans writes, “ legalizing the drug will just increase addiction by making it readily available to the users and tempt non users to engage in its consumption.” They believe that marijuana is addictive and also one of the most abused illegal drugs. “This abuse [to marijuana] leads to risky behaviors like experimentation with alcohol, other drugs and reckless engagement in dangerous sexual activities”(pitzevans). They claim marijuana is a “gate way drug” or a “stepping stone” because it is not as bad as drugs such as heroin or cocaine, but it will lead you into drugs like those because once you feel the high you get from marijuana, you may move on to get a bigger or better high from a stronger