Legalizing Marijuana
Marijuana continues to be one of the most used illegal drugs in the United States. Marijuana has been used for many years and at one time was legal to consume. Throughout the years, marijuana has been used for treatment of different medical conditions and has been used recreationally by people of all ages. While the use of medicinal marijuana has proven to be effective in treating medically ill patients, society continues to question its recreational use and the long term effects it will have on its users. Some feel that legalizing marijuana will only open up avenues for the use of more potent drugs, causing an increase in criminal activity. However, a number of people question why it is considered illegal being it is …show more content…
At which time, marijuana consumption was legal. It wasn’t until 1965 that a chemical called tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) was identified in the flowering head of the cannabis sativa plant. This chemical is considered to be the primary psychoactive component in marijuana (Danovitch). At that time, it was found that tetrahydrocannabinol was the main chemical in marijuana. This chemical stimulates receptors that are inside the human body and brain. THC is what causes the “high” feeling that users get after consuming marijuana (Danovitch). In addition to the “high” feeling, a user may experience several short term effects which usually last only a few hours, differ from user to user, and may be intensified by the amount consumed. These short term effect may include, but or not limited to, impaired memory, altered sense of time, mood swings, difficulty with thinking, sensory perception, verbal fluency, problem solving, and reaction time (Davovitch). With little studies done, the majority of controversy regarding marijuana continues to arise from those that question the long term effect it will have on the body and brain. Although no solid studies have been performed to accurately document the long term effects, it has been shown that marijuana use has less effect on the body and brain than that of alcohol or cigarettes. With that being said, legalizing marijuana is being supported by more and more state governments and society …show more content…
Marijuana has been documented as being one of the largest cash crops in the United States, bringing in billions of dollars. This is due to the fact that marijuana is easily produced, harvesting a high profit. The legalization of medical and recreational marijuana has the potential of producing enough tax revenue to assist in decreasing the national debt. According to information given by Barry, Hiilamo, and Glantz, “Legalizing marijuana opens the market to major corporations, including tobacco companies, which have the financial resources, product design technology to optimize puff-by-puff delivery of a psychoactive drug, marketing muscle, and political clout to transform the marijuana market” (208). These corporations will in return generate income and tax revenue resulting in a gain of economic growth. Since the legalization of marijuana in Colorado, the tax revenue in that state has exceeded the initial expectations, recording a profit of $40 million. This money has been allocated to Colorado’s school districts to help with the improvement of education (Wyatt). In addition, marijuana can be used in items such as paper products, pet food, and clothing. All of which would produce revenue and decrease the use of other natural resources. The above are just a few ways that legalizing marijuana would be
Marijuana continues to be one of the most used illegal drugs in the United States. Marijuana has been used for many years and at one time was legal to consume. Throughout the years, marijuana has been used for treatment of different medical conditions and has been used recreationally by people of all ages. While the use of medicinal marijuana has proven to be effective in treating medically ill patients, society continues to question its recreational use and the long term effects it will have on its users. Some feel that legalizing marijuana will only open up avenues for the use of more potent drugs, causing an increase in criminal activity. However, a number of people question why it is considered illegal being it is …show more content…
At which time, marijuana consumption was legal. It wasn’t until 1965 that a chemical called tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) was identified in the flowering head of the cannabis sativa plant. This chemical is considered to be the primary psychoactive component in marijuana (Danovitch). At that time, it was found that tetrahydrocannabinol was the main chemical in marijuana. This chemical stimulates receptors that are inside the human body and brain. THC is what causes the “high” feeling that users get after consuming marijuana (Danovitch). In addition to the “high” feeling, a user may experience several short term effects which usually last only a few hours, differ from user to user, and may be intensified by the amount consumed. These short term effect may include, but or not limited to, impaired memory, altered sense of time, mood swings, difficulty with thinking, sensory perception, verbal fluency, problem solving, and reaction time (Davovitch). With little studies done, the majority of controversy regarding marijuana continues to arise from those that question the long term effect it will have on the body and brain. Although no solid studies have been performed to accurately document the long term effects, it has been shown that marijuana use has less effect on the body and brain than that of alcohol or cigarettes. With that being said, legalizing marijuana is being supported by more and more state governments and society …show more content…
Marijuana has been documented as being one of the largest cash crops in the United States, bringing in billions of dollars. This is due to the fact that marijuana is easily produced, harvesting a high profit. The legalization of medical and recreational marijuana has the potential of producing enough tax revenue to assist in decreasing the national debt. According to information given by Barry, Hiilamo, and Glantz, “Legalizing marijuana opens the market to major corporations, including tobacco companies, which have the financial resources, product design technology to optimize puff-by-puff delivery of a psychoactive drug, marketing muscle, and political clout to transform the marijuana market” (208). These corporations will in return generate income and tax revenue resulting in a gain of economic growth. Since the legalization of marijuana in Colorado, the tax revenue in that state has exceeded the initial expectations, recording a profit of $40 million. This money has been allocated to Colorado’s school districts to help with the improvement of education (Wyatt). In addition, marijuana can be used in items such as paper products, pet food, and clothing. All of which would produce revenue and decrease the use of other natural resources. The above are just a few ways that legalizing marijuana would be