Marijuana Argument Paper
To Legalize or Not to Legalize The question of whether or not to legalize marijuana has been a hot spot for this generation and is something that has enflamed a lot of passion in people. This issue plays a big part in the lives of Americans because marijuana is the most commonly used, and abused, drug in the United States (DuPont par. 3). Some people think it should be legalized because it would be good for the economy, it would help stop the drug wars, and because they believe it’s the right of individuals to smoke marijuana if they so desire. Other people think that it should not be legalized because of its negative health effects, dangers to society, and because they don’t think that marijuana has any benefits to the community of our country. Because of the scope of this issue, there are many strong arguments for and against the legalization of marijuana. However, in my opinion, marijuana should not be legalized due to its harmful side effects, negative impact on our economy, and overall danger to society.
The first reason marijuana should not be legalized is that it leads to numerous health concerns for the user and those around him or her. Marijuana will increase the heart rate by 20% to 100% after using it and this can lead to later heart problems. It also affects the lungs and because when smoking marijuana, one inhales more deeply and for a longer time than when smoking cigarettes, so the effect on the lungs is even worse (“Marijuana” screens 1-2). It can lead to coughing, pulmonary infections, and lung cancer, and marijuana also represses the immune system, which exposes the body to numerous diseases (“What are the medical dangers of marijuana use?” screens 1-2). Finally, marijuana is very unhealthy for the brain. According to the web page “Marijuana” written by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, marijuana causes one to have distorted perceptions, impaired coordination, and problems with learning and memory. These results can last for multiple days.
The first reason marijuana should not be legalized is that it leads to numerous health concerns for the user and those around him or her. Marijuana will increase the heart rate by 20% to 100% after using it and this can lead to later heart problems. It also affects the lungs and because when smoking marijuana, one inhales more deeply and for a longer time than when smoking cigarettes, so the effect on the lungs is even worse (“Marijuana” screens 1-2). It can lead to coughing, pulmonary infections, and lung cancer, and marijuana also represses the immune system, which exposes the body to numerous diseases (“What are the medical dangers of marijuana use?” screens 1-2). Finally, marijuana is very unhealthy for the brain. According to the web page “Marijuana” written by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, marijuana causes one to have distorted perceptions, impaired coordination, and problems with learning and memory. These results can last for multiple days.
Cited: “Arguments For and Against Legalizing Marijuana.”Pros & Cons of Legalizing Marijuana.University of Missouri at St. Louis.Web. 11 Sept. 2012. DuPont, Dr. Robert L. “Why We Should Not Legalize Marijuana.”Marijuana & Money.CNBC. 20 Apr. 2010. Web. 11 Sept. 2012. “Effects of Smoking.”Diseases & Health Conditions.Livestrong.2012. Web. 11 Sept. 2012. “Marijuana.”DrugFacts.National Institute on Drug Abuse. Nov. 2010. Web. 11 Sept. 2012. “What are the medical dangers of marijuana use?” Health Concerns.Harvard.Web. 11 Sept. 2012.