Arguments Against Legalizing Marijuana

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Today, there are nine states that have legalized marijuana, however, marijuana is still being regulated by the federal government. Nevertheless, marijuana has caused a nationwide epidemic around society, especially in young teenagers. When people have access to marijuana, they believe it will help with their certain lifestyle, but find themselves unaware around the unwanted high risk marijuana causes along with the harmfulness it contains. For instance, the Food and Drug Administration has found scientific studies that do not support the use of marijuana as a medication. They also express the overwhelming concern in regards to the overall condition it will cause when prescribed. The problem with legalizing marijuana is that it will not absolutely …show more content…
The demand for marijuana would instantly increase, since the product would become cheaper, more-readily available, and more widespread without any legalization. Another problem is that marijuana will not eliminate the use among young population using this drug. According to John P. Walters on page 340 in No Surrender, he states that,” If law enforcement is unable to distinguish “legal” marijuana from illegal, growing marijuana at home becomes a low-cost (and low-risk) way to supply your neighborhood and friends. “Official marijuana” will not drive out the black market, nor will it eliminate the need for tough law enforcement. It will only make the task more difficult.” In order to handle this marijuana debate, the best case scenario is to keep having strict controls over this dangerous drug substance and create this drug become less accessible. One study addressed that,” Marijuana’s role in emergency-room cases has tripled in the past decade. Yet no judge is sending people to emergency room. They are there because of the dangers of the drug, which have greatly increased because of soaring potency” (Walters 341). With marijuana being more accessible in today’s society, marijuana could lead to an addition across its …show more content…
In the article,” Legalizing Marijuana: Why Citizens Should Just Say No” by Charles Stimson, uses a study from the National Institute on Drug Abuse involving the use of marijuana has wide-ranging negative health effects by stating that,” Long-term marijuana consumption “impairs the ability of T-cells in the lungs’ immune system to fight off some infections.”These studies have also found that marijuana consumption impairs short-term memory, making it difficult to learn and retain information or perform complex tasks; slows reaction time and impairs motor coordination; increases heart rate by 20 percent to 100 percent, thus elevating the risk of heart attack; and alters moods, resulting in artificial euphoria, calmness, or (in high doses) anxiety or paranoia. And it gets worse: Marijuana has toxic properties that can result in birth defects, pain, respiratory system damage, brain damage, and stroke.” In addition, the study further examined around the prolonged use of marijuana may cause cognitive degradation and is “associated with lower test scores and lower educational attainment because during periods of intoxication the drug affects the ability to learn and process information, thus influencing attention, concentration, and short-term

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