Legality
The National Institute on Drug abuse (2016) states that“Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug (22.2 million past-month users) according to the 2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.” In the United States 23 states since 1996 currently allow medical use of this …show more content…
The short term effects are the THC reacts with with specific receptors and then they overreact the part of the brain with the most receptors, allowing a high where they experience numbness and impaired movement/memory (NIH, 2016). It is discovered that marijuana affects brain development, especially if started in teenage years. This can lower memory, sound learning, and basic thinking (NIH, 2016). Although studies have shown these can cause harmful things to the body, the same is true of any substance. Marijuana is still on a much smaller scale of severity compared to other harmful drugs including ones that can be prescribed. Also alcohol and cigarettes are shown to have a severe effect on body systems and yet we are still allowed to consume those so in some people 's opinion marijuana should be no different. It is reported that marijuana use can be a gateway drug and that it is addictive if it is consumed regularly (NIH, 2016). Now although this is whats reported here, there are different studies and results being discovered all the time. The average showing of any type of addiction to this substance is 30% and that 's not even full addiction like nicotine creates with cigarettes. New tests are being done all the time and eventually we’ll fully understand THC and a way to make this substance a safer version of itself that is better for the human