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The number of people pointing out the numerous reasons why should marijuana should be legal is growing daily. In the most commonwealth, self-control and use of cannabis that is also commonly known as marijuana is considered illegal. In fact, it can be noted that for many years age, cannabis has been considered to an illegal drug in the most nation. Nevertheless, today, some countries have legalized cannabis while other countries have not. In particular, the small amount of cannabis has been allowed in regions such as European countries, North America and South America.
Moreover, in the United States, some states such as Washington and Colorado have also legalized the self-possession and usage of marijuana for medical purposes. On the other hand, various penalization is mandatory for use or possession of cannabis in most countries.
The penalties generally orbit from simple to severe punishments. Self-control of small quantities of marijuana is not punished the same way as possession of large quantities.
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In this argumentative essay, I seek to argue the cause why cannabis should be legalized, and why it should not. Marijuana has been regarded as a harmful plant that can endanger lives and is thought to be nothing more than an extra problem to be dealt with in today's society. Over time, marijuana has become less prohibited and more socially acceptable, but is America ready for legalization and the legal changes that would come with it? In this essay, I will explain my reasoning for my personal opinion that, should marijuana should be legalized all around the world?
Marijuana is a psychotropic drug that comes from the plant cannabis and is intended for either medical or activity use.
Cannabis can be used in either form such as smoking, vaporizing, within the food or as a solution. It is often used for it’s mental and physical effects to experience a feeling called “high” or “stoned”. Certain effects occur within minutes of smoking or 30-60 minutes when eaten. These effects could last to about 6 hours. It’s a drug that has been used since the 3rd millennium BC however since the early 20thcentury cannabis has been subject to legal restrictions and increased regulations. In most countries in the world, it is illegal for possession, use, and sale of cannabis. However, if it’s legalized, it could destroy society if it were legal. It might seem not so bad but when looked upon closer it carries a lot of negative side effects to it.Literature review
It was exactly in March 2016 that the AP-NORC centre of public affairs research has reported that 61% of Americans are actually supporting the legalization of marijuana.
There are some short-term consequences regarding the use of marijuana this includes acute psychiatric reactions. Survey research done indicated that acute psychiatric reactions which are common amongst new users include psychological state and psychotic symptoms (Hall & Degenhardt, 2009). Another effect arises called acute marijuana poisoning which can be associated with impaired judgment, leading to risky behaviors such as driving while intoxicated (Jacobus, Bava, Cohen-Zion, Mahmood, & Tapert, 2009).
Another short-term consequence is the ability of a person to make mental decisions or processes and collecting thoughts to make a conclusion. This is a condition known as temporal action (Oltmanns, Thomas; Emery, Robert (2015). Also, studies have shown that using cannabis during adolescence is linked to impairments in memory that endure beyond short-term intoxication. (Yücel, M, April 2015)
There are a lot of long-term consequences of marijuana when heavily consumed. Normally one such consequence is cognitive damage. In an research study comparing control subjects and persistent marijuana users who have abstained from use at least 24 hours. Acute users have shown signs of impairment in visual skills which are necessary for a day -to- day tasks such as driving or reading (Huestegge, Radach, & Kunert, 2009). These effects, without doubt, are deeply dangerous for a person’s ability to live a normal day to day life.
According to a study done (Fergusson & Boden, 2008), heavy use of marijuana could lead to psychosocial adjustment after a 25-year study on effects that marijuana has on a person. It was linked that increasing levels of marijuana before the age of 21, were linked to lower income plane, lower educational attainment, higher unemployment and lower level of life satisfaction at the age of 25. This research has pointed out the connection between increased dose and response relationship, which means the more marijuana is used the more psychosocial problems increase.
One of the more serious effects that the use of marijuana causes is the effect on the respiratory system. Both marijuana and tobacco smoke have the same substance present in each other (Tetrault, Crothers, Moore, Mehra, Concato, & Fiellin, 2007) which shows that using both are harmful to the human health as they contain substance which are toxic to human health and could cause illnesses. Also, damages to the respiratory system can occur even after short-term heavy use of cannabis (Kalant, 2004; Taylor, Poulton, Moffitt, Ramankutty, & Sears,2000).
However, one issue that is too big to ignore is the issue of dependency. In the US, marijuana dependence is the third most common type of substance dependence (foreshadowed by alcohol and tobacco). There's a general estimate that 8.5% of the U.S. population will experience a marijuana-use disorder during their lifetime (Stinson, Ruan, Pickering, & Grant, 2006). It is estimated that of those who initiate use during adolescence one in six will go on to become marijuana dependant, however, this can cause withdrawal issues such as anxiety, restlessness, insomnia, appetite disruptions, stomach pain, and mood disturbance (as cited in Ashton, 2001).
Most of the benefits of using marijuana are related to checkup uses of it such as pain and inflammation. Studies have proven that marijuana is slightly better than medicine in reducing acute inflammation however various controlled drugs have shown to be moderately effective for reducing chronic neuropathic pain. Also, several studies have shown that smoking marijuana reduces pressure level inside the eye, relieving glaucoma-related discomfort for about three to four hours. Yet many pharmaceutical drugs have been shown to be more effective and longer lasting than medical marijuana. (scientific American journal)
One of the main consequences that would happen if marijuana was lawful is that there would be more people getting arrested or going to prison for possession or using marijuana, This is one of the most important concepts that would happen. If it is legalized then it would be subject to taxes that would mean more revenue for the government. However, criminals and gang who use the black market to sell marijuana will lose out on revenue thus black-market business would reduce, and people will no longer be able to buy with fear of getting caught buying marijuana. Furthermore, people who work in companies and subject to random drug tests would no longer be fired.
As stated above using marijuana carries a significant risk to the use marijuana as to create both long and short-term effects. The risks exceed the benefits as most of the benefits are related to medical uses, which users may or may not need. It increases the unnecessary risk taken place, as marijuana contains the substance which are harmful and toxic to humans. As well it is illegal in most countries around the world, Therefore, getting caught buying something illegal is not worth the risk of using it for such short-term effects or so-called hallucinations which makes the user feel relaxed when instead it just increases respiratory problems and increases dependency on using it just to feel relaxed. It's a habit that can spread to a child easily if the user is not careful and can cause significant cognitive problems in children.
Primarily, marijuana should be legalized since it is used for the practice of medicine, and it’s legalization authority better and higher quality wellness standards. For example, Sativex is a recent drug that has been discovered to cure Multiple Pathology (Kmietowicz 89). The drug has been used in the United Kingdom to serve MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS affected role, and it has been finding to work effectively. Therefore, forbidding of hemp would be a disadvantage to people who suffer from a disease that use hemp as a major ingredient in their medicine. The use of cannabis for medical intention is the strongest tenability to legalize it. Marijuana helps a consideration that is known as Crab chemotherapy. The condition causes extreme vomiting to its affected roles. It also helps to open up lung of an asthma patient (Kmietowicz 89). On the other hand, people who argue the marijuana should not be legalized argue that marijuana is more leather to the human consistency than alcohol. According to them the effect of alcohol and coffin, they cause cancerous neoplastic disease and liver cirrhosis. The United States department of health and human subject field (Deuce 008) conducted a study that finds that in the land, 69.7 trillion people use tobacco plant, while about fifteen million people misuse alcohol. Moreover, the study also uncovering out that foursome .2 million of the American population misuse cannabis while every 1000 end were 2 senses of find to have been caused by smoking-related diseases, while 550 expires were 2 senses of find to have been caused by alcohol-related diseases and chance event. The critic of illegalization of cannabis use such interrogation Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun finding to claim that cannabis is already being widely used in the United States and other percentages of the humanity and it does not cause more deaths while compared to other drugs. Therefore, an exponent of the legalization of marijuana argues that marijuana should be legalized since it is less harmful than other substances that are already legalized.
To conclusion, it is clear that there are various arguments for and against the legalization of marijuana. In my opinion, marijuana should not be legalized in any country. The legalization of marijuana leads to a lot of wickedness and increased crime rates. The arguments in favour of marijuana only compare marijuana's effects with the effects of other drugs, but this does not imply that the effects of cannabis are not bad to the human body. It can thus be summed up that if most governments across the world were to legalize cannabis, there will definitely be a notable change in the stability and well-being of people around the world.
Kmietowicz, Z... "Countries Should Consider Legalization Cannabis In Light Of Futility Of Bans.
Hall, W., & Degenhardt, L. (2009). Harmful health effects of non-medical cannabis use. LancetJacobus, J., Bava, S., Cohen-Zion, M.,
Mahomood, O., & Tapert, S.F. (2009). Structural consequences of marijuana use in immature. Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and BehaviorOltmanns, Thomas; Emery, Robert (2015). Abnormal Psychology. New Jersey: Pearson.
Lubman, DI; Cheetham, A; Yücel, M (April 2015). "Cannabis and adolescent brain development". Pharmacology & Therapeutics.
Huestegge, L., Radach, R., Kunert, H.J. (2009). Long-term effects of cannabis on oculomotor nerve purpose in humans. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 23(6)
Fergusson, D.M., & Boden, J.M. (2008). Cannabis use and later life outcomes. Kalant, H. (2004). Adverse effects of cannabis on health: an update of the literature since 1996. Progress in NeuroPsychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry, 28, 849-863.
Stinson, F.S., Ruan, W.J., Pickering, R., & Grant, B.F. (2006). Cannabis use disorders in the USA: prevalence, correlates, and comorbidity. Psychological Medicine, 36, 1447-1460.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/medical-marijuana-how-the-evidence-stacks-up/
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/medical-marijuana-how-the-evidence-stacks-up/
How Does Marijuana Affect a Person’s Health?. (2020, Sep 02). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/how-does-marijuana-affect-a-persons-health-essay
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