Why We Should Marijuana Be Illegal

Chase McQuade
Ms. Niespodziany
English 10-2
9 May 2013
Should Marijuana be Illegal? Cannabis Sativa is a Schedule 1 controlled substance. This drug has been known to treat and even cure certain diseases. This drug is also known as Marijuana. Marijuana gives the user a relaxed and sleepy side effect. This is one of the many side effects of this drug. Marijuana has many beneficial side effects and also many grave side effects. “Marijuana can be used to prevent cancer growth” (www.infowars.com). This will be further explained later in the report. “Marijuana is also used for AIDS, anxiety, and other diseases” (Gottfried 20). Marijuana is used recreationally, illegally smoking, and medicinally for medical use when needed. When used medicinally,
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is usually removed from Marijuana. Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States of America. This topic, along with the research accompanied it, very much peaked my interest. This led me to pose the question: Should Marijuana be Illegal? This question leads to an open “argument that dates back to the early 1960’s” (Dudley 29). I believe that Marijuana could either stay illegal or the United States government can finally legalize it. I say “finally” because this “War on Drugs” has gone on too long, and is exhausting. I stand neutral because society has proven to function alright without Marijuana, but also Marijuana can be used to benefit society and maybe even improve how society works. “Marijuana is smoked in a variety of ways, such as a pipe with or without added tobacco, a joint cigarette with or without added tobacco, or a bong or bucket with or without tobacco” (Marijuana). One of the worst ways to smoke marijuana is through a bong. “Inhaling smoke through the water makes it cooler, which makes it easier for the user to inhale a greater volume of smoke more deeply into the lungs” (Marijuana). This, to me, sounds like people who present an argument for marijuana to stay illegal have a valid point. Marijuana does have its ups and downs, but some people do not see the benefits it can present. Also, they might realize that some things that are legal now, maybe should not be, for people’s safety. “The United States Center for Disease Control reports more than 37,000 deaths occur each year due to alcohol abuse” (infowars.com). Alcohol is just as much as a danger, if not more of a danger, as marijuana. “The Center for Disease Control does not have a category for marijuana related deaths, because there has never been a single reported death for the consumption of marijuana” (infowars.com). Alcohol has been the reason for many drunken drivers, murders, assaults, and other terrible crimes. Why is alcohol legal when marijuana is actually better for everyone? “Alcohol will hinder your neurological system, effectively blocking many of the brain’s receptors (infowars.com). When someone has one night of drinking, they effectively destroy two weeks of exercising, fitness, or lifting weights. Too much alcohol and they will develop a “beer-gut,” which makes the stomach extend, and they look fat. “Alcohol also slows down brain responses, and can be fatal, ultimately ending subconscious controls like breathing and heartbeat” (infowars.com). Also, when drunk, “ethyl alcohol molecules are surging through the user’s bloodstream” (infowars.com). These ethyl molecules are very dangerous, and can cause severe damage when the user drinks often. “Ethyl molecules pass through lipids and fats and can even pass through cell membranes” (infowars.com). Ethyl molecules can literally pass through everything in their body and travel anywhere in their body and cause damage. “The Ethyl molecules will wander through your muscles and even into your heart and brain” (infowars.com). “Extensive use of alcohol leads to the increased risk of cancers in the mouth, throat, larynx, liver, colon, and breasts” (infowars.com). Alcohol use is very dangerous when not used properly, can be very fatal. Marijuana, even when not used properly, is not fatal. Statistically, a common marijuana user would have to smoke approximately 2,000 pounds of marijuana for the user to die. This next part of this report is about the negative side effects of marijuana.
“People who smoke marijuana often develop the same kinds of problems that a common cigarette smoker has: coughing and wheezing” (Dudley 51). “If someone is high on marijuana, he or she might seem dizzy and have trouble walking, seem silly and giggly for no reason, have very red, bloodshot eyes, and have a hard time remembering things that just happened” (Dudley 52). While marijuana can be used to treat major diseases and ailments, some of the side effects are just too great. Even though with every medication someone will suffer negative side effects, marijuana poses a great threat to people’s health, while at the same time it can benefit others. “Marijuana contains some of the same, and sometimes even more, of the cancer-causing chemicals found in tobacco smoke” (Dudley 51). This is especially interesting, because in the report earlier, I stated that marijuana can essentially cure cancer with the chemicals that are in it. If that was so, why can we not legalize marijuana and take the cancer-causing chemicals out of it? This sounds more reasonable than keeping marijuana and its beneficial side effects away from the people who can greatly benefit from it. Doing drugs during pregnancy, at any time, is not safe. Alcohol is included because it can result in early birth, and other birth defects. That being said, “some studies have found that babies born to marijuana users were shorter, weighed less,
and had smaller head sizes” (Dudley 53). Also, using marijuana when behind the wheel of a car, or any drug for that matter and also alcohol, is definitely wrong. While people still do this, studies have found that “marijuana affect drivers’ ability to focus, visually follow, and pay attention to what is going on around their peripheral vision of their vehicle” (Dudley 107). Also, “drivers who are high become disorientated. This increases the chances of missing turning cars or cars entering a highway from a ramp” (Dudley 107). Obviously, anything that can alter your vision is dangerous when behind a moving vehicle. Bad decisions made by people cannot be fully blamed on marijuana. While marijuana does affect your judgment, it is ultimately the user’s decision to make the bad choice to drive when they know they are under the influence. The same is said for alcohol. Marijuana, while a Schedule 1 controlled substance, is still connected with other hard drugs. “Studies in Italy revealed that marijuana affects the levels of dopamine, a sensor in the brain that controls satisfaction, in the brain in a manner similar to heroin” (Dudley 80). Now heroin is a hard drug. Heroin is completely illegal, and for very good reasons. Heroin can kill somebody the very first time they use it, if somebody uses too much. As said previously, Italy conducted studies on the effects of marijuana on the brain. The United States conducted a study also and found that “nicotine, which is found in cigarettes, and cocaine also affect dopamine in a similar way” (Dudley 80). Marijuana is considered a gateway drug.
What is a gateway drug? A gateway drug is a drug that is less powerful than many other hard drugs, but will give others the desire for the stronger drugs, such as heroin, cocaine, or crack. “A 2002 report by the Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse claimed that marijuana users are eighty-five times more likely than non-marijuana users to try cocaine” (Dudley 82). Extensive use of marijuana can lead to a lack of initiative. In fact, “you could start to lose interest in how you look and how you’re getting along at school or work” (Dudley 50). Also, “the short term effects of marijuana include: problems with memory and learning, distorted perception, trouble with thinking and problem-solving, a loss of coordination, and finally anxiety” (Dudley 49). Others effects were mentioned previously but these side effects can be temporary, or some, like thinking and problem-solving, can last for a prolonged time. Time periods for these effects are not existent because these effects can change someone’s life forever. Marijuana can ruin their brain and destroy their brain cells. “All forms of marijuana are mind-altering. They change how the brain works” (Dudley 47). “Some users can experience paranoid thoughts constantly, with prolonged use” (Dudley 49). THC is the most commonly known chemical in marijuana. This is the chemical that induces the high that is associated with marijuana. Still, “Tetrahydrocannibal in marijuana is strongly absorbed by
fatty tissues in various organs” (Dudley 48). This is similar to the ethyl molecules in alcohol. The ethyl molecules can travel through cell membranes, while the THC can be absorbed through organs. In a way, these two are similar because they can travel anywhere through the body. THC can also travel to the brain; “chronic administration of THC can…lead to permanent memory impairment” (Dudley 113). “Regular use of marijuana or the THC may play a role in some kinds of cancer and in problems with the respiratory, immune, and reproductive systems” (Dudley 50). Earlier I stated that marijuana can essentially cure cancer with certain chemicals and return them to normal function. THC can also cause cancer. This actually contradicts these statements. Teens are a major user of the drug marijuana. Teens claim to use marijuana to relieve stress or escape from reality for a while.

Works Cited

ADAI, University of Washington. “Marijuana.” University of Washington ADAI. Washington: University of Washington ADAI, 12/2012. Webpage <http://adai.uw.edu/marijuana/factsheets/tobacco.htm>
Dudley, William. “Facts, opinions, and testimonies about drugs.” Drugs. (2002): 19-113. Print.
Gambino, James. Marijuana vs. Alcohol: The Stoned Cold Facts. Planet Infowars. Webpage. < http://planet.infowars.com/health/cannabis-sativa- v-alcohol>
Gottfried, Ted. Should Drugs be Legalized. Twenty-First Century Books, 2000. Print.