• Home Page
  • The Pros And Cons Of Recreational Marijuana

The Pros And Cons Of Recreational Marijuana

Improved Essays
Show More
You must be high! Especially if you believe legalizing a substance that has more overall disadvantages than advantages is the right thing to do. Cannabis, also known as marijuana is the most abused illegal drug in the United States. The debate on the legalization of recreational marijuana has gone on for many years. As always, there are two sides to a debate. In the marijuana debate there are individuals who want marijuana to become legal and then there are the individuals who want marijuana to remain illegal. Recreational marijuana should remain illegal due to there being too many health risks. With marijuana being legal the number of dependent users will increase which can be harmful and the legalization of marijuana has had disastrous outcomes …show more content…
Drug dependence is the body’s physical need to a specific substance. A CNBC report found that marijuana is the leading substance dependence other than alcohol in the United States. With over 7 million Americans who claim substance abuse, 2/3 of them claim to be marijuana dependent. According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) there are over 22 million monthly marijuana users in the United States. If marijuana was to be legalized that number would rise. An increase in the amount of marijuana users would lead to an increase in emergency room drug related patients and an increase in drug impaired driving. The NIDA reported that nearly 456000 emergency room visits in the United States had marijuana mentioned in the medical record. Marijuana can be a factor in highway crashes and deaths. The legalization of marijuana would increase the amount of drug related accidents. A clinical chemistry research journal by Dr. Rebecca L. Hartman and Dr. Marilyn A. Heustis; Cannabis Effects on Driving Skill, found evidence that suggested smoking marijuana was associated with substantial driving impairment and that THC in the blood led to poor judgement, concentration and a worse reaction time when behind the …show more content…
A few notable places that have legalized marijuana are Amsterdam and Colorado. In Amsterdam marijuana under the amount of 5 grams is considered legal and pot is allowed to be smoked in public places. To many the tourism boom in Amsterdam due to the legalization of weed in small amounts seemed like a success story, but that is where they are wrong. The legalization of marijuana led to Amsterdam becoming the first city in the Netherlands to ban students from smoking the drug at school because it became such a problem that the mayor of Amsterdam Eberhard van der laan declared “no smoking zones” near school property because students were arriving to school stoned reported by the UK’s Daily Mail. this just shows that marijuana legalization will affect the youth. 2014 was the first year recreational marijuana was made legal in Colorado. During that first year according to the National Incident Based Reporting System (NIBRS) the crime rate rose by 7 percent compared to the 2013 year. Also in a Huffington Post article which interviewed the president of the Colorado Drug Investigators Association Ernie Martinez, he spoke of how since the legalization of marijuana the “availability of black market marijuana is ever present and cheaper than legalized.” Even with government regulations, individuals are still finding ways to get weed

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    The Benefits Of Legalizing Marijuana
    • 1056 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The Benefits Of Legalizing Marijuana

    Marijuana is one of the most used recreational drugs in the United States of America. It can be consumed in ways such as eating, smoking or pill form. Marijuana has been argued about for many years in the United States. In 1937, the United States declared possession and use of marijuana be illegal. Due to the law that marijuana has become illegal, there have been many cases where using the drug leads to some serious legal consequences. In 2008 alone, hundreds of millions of people in the United States were using illegal drugs; between 123 and 203 million were using marijuana (Armentano). There is a lot of research that has proved that marijuana is not addictive, even though there is almost an equal number who believe marijuana can be addictive.…

    • 1056 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    The Pros And Cons Of Decriminalizing Marijuana
    • 1181 Words
    • 5 Pages

    The Pros And Cons Of Decriminalizing Marijuana

    For every action there is a reaction, the decision to legitimize or repudiate the use of cannabis goes beyond ethical opinion. When weighing the data provided, could the use of cannabis become more detrimental or become an aiding factor into society? Just like everything else that had its time in prohibition, could there be more uses of cannabis than thought to be? Might it be possible to provide and instruct the use to the masses in order to ensure safety throughout the environment? The factor of allowing any use of marijuana has been greatly debated, especially over the last decade as society begins to grow. New attempts in research have been focused on the way Marijuana may be used, but is it really something that should become legal?…

    • 1181 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Why Connecticut Should Not Legalize Marijuana
    • 629 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Why Connecticut Should Not Legalize Marijuana

    Decriminalizing marijuana can expose children to the idea that it is safe. and they may have access to it and use it themselves. In the article by Eva Botkin Kowacki, it states that “more young children are becoming exposed to marijuana by accident’’. This can especially happen to kids if someone in their house is smoking marijuana legally. Children are not strong enough to resist the temptation. And, their peers might try to…

    • 629 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    The Pros And Cons Of Smoking Marijuana
    • 1427 Words
    • 6 Pages

    The Pros And Cons Of Smoking Marijuana

    “It is an obscenity that we stigmatize so many young Americans with a criminal record for smoking marijuana. But not one major wall street executive has been prosecuted for the near collapse of our entire economy.” Says Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. So many young lives are disrupted or destroyed because they have sold or smoke a plant that has never killed anyone or even contributed to anyones death. I have researched the various pros and cons of Marijuana over the past year, looking at various statistics from various sources including the F.B.I. and the D.E.A. Opponents say Smoking Marijuana is illegal you should be put in jail for using. Everyone should be able have access the medicine that they need without discrimination.…

    • 1427 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Superior Essays

    The Pros And Cons Of Marijuana
    • 1500 Words
    • 6 Pages

    The Pros And Cons Of Marijuana

    Marijuana has been an increasingly controversial topic in America for years, playing a central role in American culture and countercultures. Although polls suggest that there is not a large gap between those who believe it should be legalized or kept illegal, the majority believes that it should remain illegal (Milligan, 2014). This opinion is reinforced by the media’s stereotypical portrayal of a marijuana consumer, commonly referred to as a “pothead” and depicted as unmotivated in such propaganda. This perspective is typically found among the older generations, however, as science and politics are now revealing the pros of marijuana legalization, the younger generations are getting behind the movement to legalize marijuana (Milligan, 2014).…

    • 1500 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Why Should Recreational Marijuana Be Legalized?
    • 813 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Why Should Recreational Marijuana Be Legalized?

    “In 2013, around 4.2 million people 12 and older had a marijuana abuse or addiction problem,” (Volkow par. 2). In Governing Magazine, State Marijuana Laws Map reveals that both Colorado and Washington legalized the use of marijuana in 2012. In the United States, twenty-three states have legalized Marijuana. Nineteen states have legalized marijuana for medical use only. Four states (Washington, Oregon, Colorado, and Alaska) have legalized the use of recreational marijuana. The use of recreational marijuana should not be legalized in the United States. Not only is marijuana detrimental to a person’s health, it is also a potential addictive drug.…

    • 813 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Persuasive Essay On Recreational Marijuana
    • 1654 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Persuasive Essay On Recreational Marijuana

    Teenagers in the United States claim that it would be easier to obtain marijuana than cigarettes and prescription drugs, both of which are already legal, and 5.7 million teens admit that marijuana could be available to them within an hour (Conley). According to a study conducted in the Netherlands, despite having legalized marijuana completely for over thirty years, adolescents in the Netherlands use marijuana at a lower rate than American adolescents (Bedard). With the prohibition of marijuana, the black market becomes stronger and in ways it is easier for teens to obtain marijuana. Despite contrary beliefs, legalization does not promote marijuana use among the youth. Fungi and other toxins found in unregulated marijuana can cause lung problems when smoked (Fifer). Also, unregulated marijuana often carries an uneven concentration of THC that can be dangerous if a person were to ingest the more concentrated pieces of marijuana (Rutch). However, if marijuana were legalized, the government would ensure that marijuana gets tested for impurities. Black market marijuana is unreliable, and if the government had control over marijuana, many of the unsafe side effects would be reduced through safety regulations and…

    • 1654 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    The Controversy Of Legalizing Marijuana
    • 104 Words
    • 1 Pages

    The Controversy Of Legalizing Marijuana

    Marijuana has been legalized in a few states over the years and has made it a controversy for other states to legalize it or not. Many citizens, whether they smoke or not, have their own opinions of why or why not marijuana should become legal. Researchers have proved that the misuse of marijuana has negative effects on the human body mentally and physically, but medicinal marijuana has actually saved lives. Medicinal use of marijuana should become legal for those who need to improve their health directed by doctor's orders instead of the recreational use for people to experience a high and later become addicted.…

    • 104 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Great Essays

    Pros And Cons Of Legalizing Recreational Marijuana
    • 2707 Words
    • 11 Pages

    Pros And Cons Of Legalizing Recreational Marijuana

    Legalizing cannabis ought not to be a matter of yes or no answers, we have to take into consideration the potential harm we will be subjecting to the youth as the majority of the users (Pacula & Kilmer, 2014). The more one uses marijuana the more they are risking their own health. Pushing for the drug to be legalized can have its benefits for economical values but there is reason enough to consider the drug illegal as far as health for the potential users are concerned.…

    • 2707 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Great Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    The Pros And Cons Of Medical Marijuana
    • 863 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The Pros And Cons Of Medical Marijuana

    The marijuana industry in this country is a sensitive subject for many. There are opposing sides, many that feel that legalizing it would be best for the country, while others feels as if it will hurt our country forever. Currently, there are two types of legalization in our country. The first being under the title medical marijuana where there are currently 20 states. Those states are Massachusetts, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, Delaware, New Jersey, Maryland, Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada, and most recently Pennsylvania. Throughout those states, there are many different specific lawns that regulate when, where, and how much a person can legally have. The second type of legalization is medical as well as recreational use. There are four states that have these laws and they are Colorado, Washington, Oregon and Alaska (24 Legal Medical Marijuana States and DC, 2016). When people think of this topic across America, these are the states they look towards when it comes to discussing the topic.…

    • 863 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    The Pros And Cons Of Medical Marijuana
    • 1306 Words
    • 6 Pages

    The Pros And Cons Of Medical Marijuana

    Alcohol and cannabis target different parts of your body, but over time the effects are similar. If consumed during adolescence both substances can cause neurological deficiencies, but what is different is marijuana tends to alter the cardiovascular system in ways that could cause serious heart disease, where alcohol tends to destroy your liver while sometimes lowering blood pressure which prevents heart disease. The most similar way these two drugs connect is when it comes to operating a vehicle. In 2010 over 10 million people, ages 12 and older, admitted to driving under the influence of some drug; this means that those drivers experienced lane weaving, reduced response time, and altered attention to the road that not only causes self-endangerment but also endangers others (Drugged Driving). Legalizing marijuana directly affects the amount of teen drivers driving under the influence, because in states where medical marijuana is legal, teen users is higher than those in states where it is not legal; 12 of the 21% of teens who drive under the influence are influenced by marijuana and not of alcohol…

    • 1306 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    The Pros And Cons Of Decriminalizing Marijuana
    • 1250 Words
    • 5 Pages

    The Pros And Cons Of Decriminalizing Marijuana

    Over the last couple of years there have been extensive debates and discussions on whether marijuana should be decriminalized. Canada is divide on the issue of legalization, some individuals consider marijuana a hardcore drug which should remain illegal while others are convinced that not only is it not a drug but rather its medicine. When the Conservative party was in power under the leadership of Stephen Harper, there were little to no talks of legalization of marijuana but that changed when the Liberal party came to power. When Justin Trudeau was elected Prime Minister, one of his campaign pledges was to decriminalize marijuana nationwide. So far Justin Trudeau has taken significant advances towards legalization and he plans to pass a bill…

    • 1250 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    The Pros And Cons Of Medical Marijuana
    • 855 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The Pros And Cons Of Medical Marijuana

    Marijuana consists of hemp and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol is the reason for most of the psychological effects of marijuana. Marijuana affects the human mind by altering senses and impairing memory. It is also known for changing mood and causing difficulty in problem solving. The effects on the human body include pain relief, giving the mind and body a dose of dopamine, the ability to cause bronchitis and an accelerated heartbeat. If marijuana became legal, the number of drug arrests would lower because people with conditions needing treatment could acquire the drug legally, and state governments would have a larger amount of money. Medical marijuana, since the legalization in half the states within the U.S., has been used for treatments in pain and nausea going hand in hand with multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, treatment for concussions and Crohn 's disease. In the future there are hopes to use it against cancer, Alzheimer 's disease and mental…

    • 855 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    What Are The Pros And Cons Of Legalizing Marijuana
    • 640 Words
    • 3 Pages

    What Are The Pros And Cons Of Legalizing Marijuana

    In the United States there are many debated arguments whether marijuana should be legalized or not. Marijuana has been used for centuries and is the most common drug used. It is used for recreational purposes and medical purposes. Marijuana has many pros and cons, but the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. The U.S government spends nearly $10 billion a year to keep marijuana out of the hands of individuals (Johannigman, & Eschiti, 2013). Marijuana is not any more harmful than drinking alcohol as long as an individual uses it in moderation. Cigarettes are legal as well as alcoholic beverages. Alcohol can cause liver problems, and cigarette smoking can cause cancer. The only difference between marijuana, alcohol, and cigarettes is marijuana is not legal in most states (Pro's of Marijuana Legalization, n.d). Prior to 1957 marijuana was prescribed for medical use, and it was outlawed in 1957. Today marijuana is considered a crime and frowned upon by many, and is considered a schedule 1 drug by the drug enforcement agency.…

    • 640 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Marijuana Legalization
    • 1359 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Marijuana Legalization

    Colorado and Washington has legalized marijuana for recreational purposes. A person has to be the age of twenty-one to purchase medical marijuana. Many people would say crime rates would go down and drug dealers would stop selling marijuana to minors. Marijuana should be legalized because it is not fair to people who actually need marijuana to help with pain or other conditions that they may have. Legalizing marijuana would help the police focus on another downfall that’s happening in the world today. Marijuana is not the issue, the issue is that people use marijuana in the wrong way. The article “going to pot” it states Marijuana is more popular and accessible in the U.S. than any other street drug. In national surveys, 48 percent of Americans say they have tried it, and 6.5 percent of high school seniors admit to daily use. So it was not too surprising when two states, Washington and Colorado, became the first to legalize recreational marijuana in the November 2012 general election, albeit in limited quantity, for anyone over the age of 21.( Khamsi,2013) Marijuana should be legalized because if the government was to give the world access to the drug it would cut down crimes. The government would make a huge profit if they were to legalize marijuana. The article “keeping marijuana illegal “states” Marijuana is perceived by many, mostly older, adolescents as no more harmful than alcohol or tobacco and far less risky to use occasionally than crack or heroin.” (Clark, 1997) Because people use marijuana does not mean that people will turn to other drugs. A person might just be going through a stage in life where they gave in to peer pressure and tried the drug. Eventually some people will stop using marijuana and some will continue but there has not been any record of a person harming another human being while using…

    • 1359 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More

Related Topics

Ready To Get Started?
Discover
Company
Follow
©2023 Cram.com
Privacy Policy |  About Ads |  Site Map |  Advertise  | 
  • Cookie Settings