Under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), drugs are categorized into five schedules based on “whether they have a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, their relative abuse potential, and [their] likelihood of causing dependence when abused” (Controlled). Among the five categories, marijuana is classified as the Schedule I Controlled Substances, which has “no currently accepted medical use in the United States, a lack of accepted safety for use [even] under medical supervision, and a high potential for abuse” (Controlled). It is a dangerous drug that should not be legalized across all 50 United States. My opinion that marijuana should remain as an illegal drug has strengthened after studying substance use in
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“Family conflict, lack of nurturing and attachment, and caregiver drug abuse are frequently cited as risk factors for later substance abuse” (Shatkin 296). Another risk factor is “low socioeconomic status” (Diagnostic 514). These risk factors might form a sense of incompetence among teens and lead to later substance abuse behavior. In the macaque monkeys’ studies, researchers noted that “the subordinate animals not only had lower D2 receptor density, but also readily self-administered high doses of cocaine, whereas the dominant monkeys had relatively no interest in the drug” (Shatkin 294). The legalization of marijuana might form a vicious cycle of substance abuse behaviors across …show more content…
“The younger one is at initiation of drug and alcohol use or experimentation, the greater the risk for adult abuse and dependence” (Shatkin 296). We learned that “drug use by 13 years of age triples the odds of drug dependence as compared to those who begin use at age 21 years or after” (Shatkin 301). “Early onset and childhood vulnerability” are also considered as “the greatest risk factors for chronicity” (Shatkin 297). Furthermore, “a 25-year longitudinal study of adolescents who began using marijuana prior to 21 years of age found that high levels of cannabis use in adolescence were related to worse educational outcomes, lower income, greater welfare dependence and unemployment, and less relationship and general life satisfaction” (Shatkin 297-298). In order to minimize the cost for society and the number of cannabis use disorders cases, government should push the age of marijuana use as late as
“Family conflict, lack of nurturing and attachment, and caregiver drug abuse are frequently cited as risk factors for later substance abuse” (Shatkin 296). Another risk factor is “low socioeconomic status” (Diagnostic 514). These risk factors might form a sense of incompetence among teens and lead to later substance abuse behavior. In the macaque monkeys’ studies, researchers noted that “the subordinate animals not only had lower D2 receptor density, but also readily self-administered high doses of cocaine, whereas the dominant monkeys had relatively no interest in the drug” (Shatkin 294). The legalization of marijuana might form a vicious cycle of substance abuse behaviors across …show more content…
“The younger one is at initiation of drug and alcohol use or experimentation, the greater the risk for adult abuse and dependence” (Shatkin 296). We learned that “drug use by 13 years of age triples the odds of drug dependence as compared to those who begin use at age 21 years or after” (Shatkin 301). “Early onset and childhood vulnerability” are also considered as “the greatest risk factors for chronicity” (Shatkin 297). Furthermore, “a 25-year longitudinal study of adolescents who began using marijuana prior to 21 years of age found that high levels of cannabis use in adolescence were related to worse educational outcomes, lower income, greater welfare dependence and unemployment, and less relationship and general life satisfaction” (Shatkin 297-298). In order to minimize the cost for society and the number of cannabis use disorders cases, government should push the age of marijuana use as late as