Marijuana Use on College Campuses
Ever since there has been illicit substances, there has been substance abuse. However, in recent years no substance has gotten more national attention than marijuana. With a push for the legalization of medical and now recreational marijuana in many states, marijuana has become a hot topic. In Colorado, marijuana is legal recreationally for those over 21 on private property through the passage of Amendment 64. However, marijuana is illegal federally and still considered a Schedule 1 substance. This has stirred the controversy over the potential harms and the potential benefits of marijuana use. Commonly, those who are against the legalization of marijuana will argue the drug is harmful and can be a gateway …show more content…
The social aspect of the substance could be seen as an aid in meeting new people and may give a sense of ease while also lowering inhibitions. Not only do users claim that marijuana increases their social experience, they also attest that the substance helps them emotionally. College is a high stress environment where there is a lot of pressure to do well and make something of oneself. Emotionally, marijuana might provide a release, or feeling of letting go to the users. Marijuana might fill a need as a de-stressor, in the same way that the need might be filled in other students through binge watching Netflix or drinking alcohol. If there is anxiety over the overarching questions of life, marijuana may be used to calm that anxiety. Some turn to drug abuse when there is a void in their life in which spirituality might be missing for them to make sense of the world and their lives. Where spirituality is absent, one might try to distract themselves or fill the void with substance abuse. Marijuana use can quickly become a valid option for stress relief when one is in an environment where the drug is easily available and socially acceptable. Consequently, in some, use can quickly spiral into a pattern of …show more content…
Whether using socially or to cope with stress, there are associated dangers. Typical dangers that apply to most other substance abuse problems are present here as well. These include, but are not limited to damaging personal relationships, harming a family unit, accidents while driving or endangering others, and the risk of doing something regrettable while on a mind altering drug. However, there are also marijuana specific dangers such as amotivational syndrome. This syndrome is categorized by a lack of motivation that permeates throughout one’s life. There is a decrease in aspiration and a lack of interest in previous passions or hobbies. The research supports that among users there is a 16-21% incidence of amotivational syndrome (Ari, Sahpolat, Kokacya & Copoglu, 2015). Amotivational syndrome is dangerous in that marijuana use shifts from being an addition to one’s life, to being the only important thing in that person’s life. This alteration of priorities can happen gradually— sometimes being referred to as a ‘Brown
Ever since there has been illicit substances, there has been substance abuse. However, in recent years no substance has gotten more national attention than marijuana. With a push for the legalization of medical and now recreational marijuana in many states, marijuana has become a hot topic. In Colorado, marijuana is legal recreationally for those over 21 on private property through the passage of Amendment 64. However, marijuana is illegal federally and still considered a Schedule 1 substance. This has stirred the controversy over the potential harms and the potential benefits of marijuana use. Commonly, those who are against the legalization of marijuana will argue the drug is harmful and can be a gateway …show more content…
The social aspect of the substance could be seen as an aid in meeting new people and may give a sense of ease while also lowering inhibitions. Not only do users claim that marijuana increases their social experience, they also attest that the substance helps them emotionally. College is a high stress environment where there is a lot of pressure to do well and make something of oneself. Emotionally, marijuana might provide a release, or feeling of letting go to the users. Marijuana might fill a need as a de-stressor, in the same way that the need might be filled in other students through binge watching Netflix or drinking alcohol. If there is anxiety over the overarching questions of life, marijuana may be used to calm that anxiety. Some turn to drug abuse when there is a void in their life in which spirituality might be missing for them to make sense of the world and their lives. Where spirituality is absent, one might try to distract themselves or fill the void with substance abuse. Marijuana use can quickly become a valid option for stress relief when one is in an environment where the drug is easily available and socially acceptable. Consequently, in some, use can quickly spiral into a pattern of …show more content…
Whether using socially or to cope with stress, there are associated dangers. Typical dangers that apply to most other substance abuse problems are present here as well. These include, but are not limited to damaging personal relationships, harming a family unit, accidents while driving or endangering others, and the risk of doing something regrettable while on a mind altering drug. However, there are also marijuana specific dangers such as amotivational syndrome. This syndrome is categorized by a lack of motivation that permeates throughout one’s life. There is a decrease in aspiration and a lack of interest in previous passions or hobbies. The research supports that among users there is a 16-21% incidence of amotivational syndrome (Ari, Sahpolat, Kokacya & Copoglu, 2015). Amotivational syndrome is dangerous in that marijuana use shifts from being an addition to one’s life, to being the only important thing in that person’s life. This alteration of priorities can happen gradually— sometimes being referred to as a ‘Brown