Preview

What Are The Arguments Against Legalizing Marijuana

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1190 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
What Are The Arguments Against Legalizing Marijuana
One of the most controversial topics of the twenty-first century is the legalization of marijuana. You most likely know something about the drug and have your own opinion about it whether you smoke it or not. You may recall people telling you that drugs are bad and warning you to stay away from them. You may also remember the D.A.R.E. program. You probably didn’t know why they would say drugs are bad, but listened to your authority figures anyway. According to Procon.org, marijuana has been used since about 2900 BC when Emperor Fu Hsi concluded it to be a popular medicine. Since then, marijuana has been used for medical treatments. In 1621 a popular English mental health book recommended cannabis to treat depression and by 1840 it became mainstream medicine. However, in 1911 Massachusetts …show more content…
Some don’t even think medical marijuana should be legal. Some people are against it because of their morals or religious aspects. They argue that marijuana will cause harm to the body. This fear may be attributed to people saying that one joint is equal to 4 cigarettes. When it comes to medical marijuana, those against it don’t think it should be legal because there are other prescription drugs that help ease pain. Pitzevans writes, “ legalizing the drug will just increase addiction by making it readily available to the users and tempt non users to engage in its consumption.” They believe that marijuana is addictive and also one of the most abused illegal drugs. “This abuse [to marijuana] leads to risky behaviors like experimentation with alcohol, other drugs and reckless engagement in dangerous sexual activities”(pitzevans). They claim marijuana is a “gate way drug” or a “stepping stone” because it is not as bad as drugs such as heroin or cocaine, but it will lead you into drugs like those because once you feel the high you get from marijuana, you may move on to get a bigger or better high from a stronger

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    The consumption of Marijuana has had a very extensive part throughout history, with many cultures and societies having used Marijuana. Marijuana was popularly used in America in the 1960’s music culture and has become increasingly popular in recreational usage as the years have progressed. However it didn’t start there, Marijuana has been around for…

    • 2403 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    My main reason for supporting the legalization of medicinal marijuana is that it helps people that deal with various health conditions on a day to day basis. The positive attributes that marijuana holds are pretty much countless.1 Marijuana has been proven to provide relief with Alzheimer’s disease, Anorexia,HIV/ AIDS, Arthritis, Cancer, Epilepsy, Migraines, Multiple Sclerosis, and many more. The prescription drugs that people use to get comfort or even cure those illnesses that I've listed above ,kills about 100,000 people worldwide each…

    • 485 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Within the last year and half leading up to the 2016 election, news sources have been strongly reporting their views about which candidate belonged to be in the white house. This spurred opinions and bias across both spectrums left and right politically, which showed just how subjective the news we are hearing can be depending on which outlet we are exposed to. While politics is the obvious example for bias, another area of debate that is heavily opinionated is the field dealing with medical and recreational marijuana. This can be seen in an article by Fox News in which Dr. David Samadi stated that a study claiming marijuana is 114 times less harmful than alcohol is “a very deceiving and flawed study” (Fox 1). Right off the bat the fact that…

    • 454 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Opponents of medical marijuana argue that it is too dangerous to use, lacks FDA-approval, and that various legal drugs make marijuana use unnecessary. They say marijuana is addictive, leads to harder drug use, interferes with fertility, impairs driving ability, and injures the lungs, immune system, and brain. They say that medical marijuana is a front for drug legalization and recreational use. (http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/)…

    • 3286 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    Medical marijuana is not the same as street marijuana, which is highly believed among the people who I have talked to about this subject. Now, I cannot speak for everyone in this state, so do not take this as a “state-wide” opinion. While street marijuana is very mind altering and highly addictive, medical marijuana is made from “whole unprocessed marijuana plants or its basic extracts to treat a disease or symptom”. The chemicals, cannabinoids, specifically THC and CBD, found in these unprocessed marijuana plants has led to two FDA-approved medications in pill form. THC, the mind-altering component to marijuana, although mind-altering, does have its perks. It can be used as an anti-nausea or appetite reducing medication and also can aid with inflammation and muscle problems. CBD, is not mind or behavior altering and aids in reducing inflammation and pain, controlling epileptic seizures, and some mental illnesses. Medical marijuana can be dispensed in many forms such as oils, inhalants, and pill form including suppositories. Now, like everything else, medical marijuana does have its cons to its pros. Majority of the cons I’ve found when researching the topic has been its harm…

    • 1077 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    One of the arguments against legalization of drugs is what we have all grown up hearing which is “drugs are bad”. This reason has been said throughout most of our life and is what we learn in schools. However, legal drugs like alcohol and tobacco have caused more harm than illegal drugs. Another argument against legalization is that it would send mix signals to children. Drugs are bad and “just say no” have been sayings we have all learned growing up. However, if drugs were suddenly legal children would be confused. The rates of use can fluctuate in high school students with their confusion about drugs. Another argument against legalizing drugs is that the drug epidemic for late 1800s to 1900s ended because of society’s shift in attitude…

    • 359 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Medical marijuana should be legalized at the federal law for medical purposes because marijuana helps many people manage pain or illnesses. There is a lot of illnesses and pain that marijuana can treat. Marijuana does have side effects but what medication does not? Many people deal with the slight side effects and people who cannot deal with the side effects quit smoking marijuana. A problem in society is the federal law arresting people selling or smoking marijuana and giving them more years in prison than a rapist or serial killer. So what people are mostly scared of is the risk of arrest.…

    • 1641 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Marijuana is one of the most controversial topics in the U.S today. Many associate the substance with some of the most highly addictive and dangerous drugs used in our society. While others claim marijuana to be the safest substance to use to date. One of the biggest debatable topics amongst marijuana use is the legalization of the substance medically. Many people believe marijuana should be accessible to those with terminally ill diseases. While others believe the drug should be illegal at all cost. Medical marijuana presents many negative issues in our society emotionally, medically and socially. Due to the negative effects from the substance, the use of marijuana should remain illegal in the United States.…

    • 1079 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Marijuana has been a part of humanity for almost as long as history has been recorded. Written references to the use of marijuana as a medicine date back nearly 5000 years.(L. Grinspoon and J. Bakalar. 1997 )…

    • 1051 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Marijuana has been around and used for many years. Marijuana is “ a common crop George Washington raised during the 1760s on his farms in Virginia. It was…

    • 1727 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    The subject of marijuana is a very charged topic, both politically and socially. Because of its status as a DSM IV Schedule One drug, much of the arguments for or against marijuana use have been the result of speculation and anecdotes. Recently, however, scientists have been able to study the molecular biology of some of the chemicals in marijuana and elucidate some of the biochemical pathways which they affect. Despite the intense controversy surrounding the subject, there have been quite a few breakthroughs in the past decade. The most notable being the identification of the endogenous cannabinoid ligand. In social and political discussions one often hears two extreme opinions on opposite ends of the spectrum with regard to this subject. Some people feel that marijuana is a dangerous drug which should be kept at its current status as a Schedule One controlled substance. Others feel that the drug should be made available for both medical and recreational purposes.…

    • 938 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The situation of the legalizing marijuana is a very popular topic, I think it needs to be legalized. I myself with complete honesty, do not smoke or have any use of marijuana. In my opinion the legalization of marijuana can benefit the United States. The idea of legalizing marijuana in the country might be exceptional for others, but it’s more towards the economy. The legalization of marijuana can have excellent changes, but also can contain minor flaws.…

    • 405 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Grinspoon, Lester. "Medical Uses of Marijuana ... [Archive] - Student Doctor Network Forums." Medical Uses of Marijuana ... [Archive] - Student Doctor Network Forums. N.p., 1 Mar. 2007. Web. 16 Oct. 2013.…

    • 1863 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    The argument of legalizing marijuana in the United States has been an ongoing situation for many years. Since the use of marijuana is becoming legal in certain states, the argument has continued to rise. The debate is both for medicinal and recreational use. Medicinal use is supported much more then recreational use. Like any other argument, there are many pros and cons. A total of five uses of marijuana have been discovered. These uses include, hempen fibers, oil from the seeds, the seeds for food, a medicine, and for its narcotic properties (Marijuana Today). The two most popular uses, whether legal or not, are medicine and for its narcotic properties.…

    • 1506 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    empty prisons and save millions of dollars in tax money), creating a new industry that can be…

    • 1295 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays