Category: Marijuana

Exploring the Controversies and Benefits of Marijuana Legalization and Use

Exploring Marijuana’s Controversial Status

Everyone is familiar with the recreational drug marijuana. It is one of the most used drugs among Americans today. Even though it is legal in some states, the government still debates whether it should be legal in all states.

Debunking Misconceptions: Marijuana’s Potential Benefits

While most people feel like marijuana is bad for your body, there is a good percentage of the population who feel like marijuana can be used for some good. Many people just want to focus on the negative when it comes to marijuana, but they fail to realize that it can help the body in numerous ways. The main problem people seem to have with marijuana is that they seem to think that it kills your brain cells when it has been scientifically proven that it does not. People have to come to realize that all drugs have their side effects, but marijuana is one of the better recreational drugs.

Balancing the Scales: The Positive and Negative Effects of Marijuana

Marijuana can be used for many other things other than the average person “getting high.” Marijuana has relaxing effects that can help people who are battling depression, social anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and many more health problems. These are just some of the more serious health problems. People who are battling with these disorders are seeking help and want a way out. Marijuana has been legalized in some states for medical uses only. But what about the people who live in the states where it is not legalized? What about the people who can’t afford the proper insurance they need to get a license for medical marijuana? If the United States would go ahead and legalize weed, there would be a decrease in health problems.

Just like any other recreational drug, marijuana does have its negative effects. Smoking marijuana can lead to problems with coordination; hence, people should not operate a vehicle under the influence of weed. It can cause one to have difficulty with problem-solving and thinking. Your brain is not processing the situations at hand as quickly as it should because you are in a state of relaxation. Those are just a few short-term problems. The main long-term problem some people have is that marijuana can affect how the brain develops if it is not used for the right reason. It can affect the way the brain works to connect all the pieces together, such as your learning functions, your memory, and your thinking. Even though these side effects are not really minor, these effects only come if you abuse the drug.

Comparing Marijuana’s Impact to Other Drugs

If you were to compare the negative side effects of marijuana to the side effects of other drugs, you would see that marijuana is harmless compared to them. You have heard of many people dying in car crashes under the influence of alcohol, but you rarely ever heard of people dying under the influence of marijuana. Marijuana does not cause one to act out as alcohol does because marijuana helps the body go into a stage of relaxation. Alcohol is one of the leading causes of death, but it is legal.

The government just tells people not to drive under the influence of alcohol, but what is that stopping? People are still dying almost every day from car crashes while under the influence, especially young adults and high school teenagers. It has been said that marijuana can help cure cancer, whereas tobacco is one of the main causes of lung cancer. The side effects of marijuana just do not seem to compare to the side effects of many other drugs.

Many people always use marijuana for their own personal reasons. People use marijuana to help them go to sleep at night, eat during the day, and sometimes just to relax their bodies. Marijuana can cause an increase in your metabolism, causing them to eat and snack more throughout the day. People should still watch what they eat when they are under the influence because weight gain is a possible outcome. It can also cause drowsiness. This is one of the main side effects. Some people know that their bodies can not fight the drowsiness that comes with smoking marijuana, so it is possible for them to sleep through the night under the influence of weed.

Current Legal Landscape

Out of all 50 states, 10 states have legalized the use of marijuana for recreational use to adults over the age of 21. Thirty-three other states have legalized medical marijuana for the time being.

References:

1. Volkow, N. D., Baler, R. D., Compton, W. M., & Weiss, S. R. B. (2014). Adverse health effects of marijuana use. New England Journal of Medicine, 370(23), 2219-2227.
2. Hasin, D. S., Saha, T. D., Kerridge, B. T., Goldstein, R. B., Chou, S. P., Zhang, H., … & Grant, B. F. (2015). Prevalence of marijuana use disorders in the United States between 2001-2002 and 2012-2013. JAMA Psychiatry, 72(12), 1235-1242.
3. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2020). Marijuana Research Report: What are marijuana’s effects on lung health? Retrieved from https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/marijuana/what-are-marijuanas-effects-lung-health
4. Center on Addiction. (2021). Marijuana Use Increases Among Adults, but Remains Stable Among Teens. Retrieved from https://www.centeronaddiction.org/addiction-research/reports/marijuana-use-increases-among-adults-remains-stable-among-teens
5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Impaired Driving: Get the Facts. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/impaired_driving/impaired-drv_factsheet.html
6. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2021). Marijuana as Medicine. Retrieved from https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/marijuana-medicine
7. National Cancer Institute. (2021). Cannabis and Cannabinoids (PDQ®)–Patient Version. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/cam/patient/cannabis-pdq
8. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2021). Key Substance Use and Mental Health Indicators in the United States: Results from the 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Retrieved from https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/reports/rpt29393/2020NSDUHFFRPDFWHTML/2020NSDUHFFR1PDFW090120.pdf
9. ProCon.org. (2021). Legal Medical Marijuana States and DC. Retrieved from https://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/legal-medical-marijuana-states-and-dc/

The Potential of Legal Marijuana: Unlocking Opportunities and Benefits

Legalization: Paving the Way for Prosperity

If marijuana were legal, marijuana stocks would be permitted to be listed on trustworthy U.S. exchanges. This would advance their liquidity and strengthen reporting standards. More importantly, it would provide investors the chance to take advantage of what could be double-digit growth rates for decades to come. The marijuana market would be a stable one. There is not much that changes about marijuana except the avenues of taking it and its potency. These are both factors that could only advance the profitability of the stocks themselves. Someone who is wise or even someone who only possesses common sense could make money in the marijuana industry.

Stability and Evolution of the Marijuana Market

As of now, there are drug dealers being put out of business due to the fact that marijuana is becoming legal across the nation. If the trend is to continue, the average woman or man would have the chance to never go out of work. The next step that is needed, the next step that would be the greatest advancement, is the ability of the average person to be able to legally sell marijuana without the use of a dispensary. Of course, this would require a license and herbal safety testing from state-regulated pharmacists. However, this would allow any person to generate his or her own money without needing to invest money in anything other than the marijuana itself. This is similar to how companies like Uber and Lyft gave the average person the opportunity to make money on their own terms. If this was made possible, it would create an unanticipated boom in the pockets of American citizens across the nation.

Empowering Individuals: A New Era of Entrepreneurship

Marijuana benefits the mind, body, and pocketbook. If it were to become federally legal and completely decriminalized, the nation would prosper. There is much to learn in the field of marijuana. Though, as time passes, more research will be done, and the industry will grow exponentially. The smartest move to make at this point is to petition for better laws regarding marijuana reformation. One should also save their money so when marijuana is legalized in their region, they will possess the currency to actually forge a better future revolving around marijuana. If done correctly, marijuana can be the fuel to the fire that is capitalism.

Marijuana’s Multifaceted Benefits: Mind, Body, and Economy

Many frown upon capitalism, though there are positive aspects to it. The only reason there are issues concerning capitalism is that the money is not equally distributed amongst all ethnic groups. Marijuana could create a bridge between the wealth gaps in this country. Therefore, a surge of solutions to the many problems people face in this nation could come about. State by state, marijuana is becoming legalized. It is a shame it was illegal, to begin with. In the near future, the primary breadwinner of the nation may be the marijuana industry. When this is accomplished, hunger and poverty may be demolished. Time will tell.

The Disadvantages of Legalizing Marijuana: A Closer Look

Understanding Marijuana and Its Effects

Legalizing Marijuana has no advantages but creates more problems in the fight against illegal drugs, such as addiction, health issues, and danger to society. “Marijuana is any part of the plant Cannabis sativa, including viable seeds, resin, and derivatives of the plant, but not the stalk of the plant, or fiber, such as hemp, created from the stalk. The intoxicating element of Marijuana is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).” Marijuana, like any other drug, gives you the feeling of euphoria that can become addictive. The numerous health issues caused by Marijuana outweigh its medical use to prevent nausea caused by chemotherapy. It can impair the ability of the person to function normally, thus causing a threat to themselves as well as others.

The Pitfalls of Addiction and Health Implications

Marijuana use can lead to addiction problems. As per the research report by the National Institute of Drug Abuse, “marijuana use can lead to the problem of marijuana use disorder which in severe cases takes the form of addiction.” “People who use marijuana frequently often report irritability, mood and sleep difficulties, decreased appetite, cravings, restlessness, and/or various forms of physical discomfort that peak within the first week after quitting and last up to two weeks.” As with addiction to any other drug, a person experiences withdrawal symptoms when not taking the drug. As a result, a person cannot stop using the drug even though it affects his life.

Health Risks and Societal Dangers of Marijuana Use

Volkow et al. found that the use of Marijuana affects an individual’s health in numerous ways. It influences brain development, resulting in a decline in IQ. Its use is associated with psychosis. It affects school performance, resulting in poor grades. Marijuana smokers are more likely to report symptoms of chronic bronchitis than non-smokers. There have been increased rates of respiratory infections and pneumonia. It has been associated with vascular conditions that increase risks for strokes and Myocardial infarctions.

The Menace on the Roads: Marijuana and Driving

Marijuana consumption can cause danger to the person as well as others. According to Dr. Johannes Ramaekers, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands, “Cannabis is the most frequently detected illegal drug among drivers involved in motor vehicle crashes, often in combination with alcohol. The THC content of Cannabis impairs the motor performance and the cognitive function, i.e., the attention, decision making, impulse control, and memory required for the safe operation of a vehicle.” The user not only involves himself in an accident but also involves others on the road when under the influence of Marijuana.

Conclusion

Marijuana, when consumed routinely, can lead to addiction, as a result of which it affects the person’s job and his family. It impairs the ability of a person to function as a normal individual, thus causing a threat to him as well as others. The disadvantages of legalizing Marijuana outweigh the benefits of its medical use; as a result, it should not be legalized.

References

1. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2018, June 25). Marijuana. Retrieved from https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/marijuana
2. Ramaekers, J. (2018). Driving Under the Influence of Cannabis: An Increasing Public Health Concern. JAMA. 319(14):1433–1434. doi:10.1001/jama.2018.1334
3. Rich, A. K., & Stingl, A. (2017). Legalization of marijuana: An overview. Points of View: Legalization of Marijuana, 1. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com.chamberlainuniversity.idm.oclc.org/login.aspx?direct=true& db=pwh&AN=23554883&site=pov-live
4. Volkow, N. D., Baler, R. D., Compton, W. M., & Weiss, S. R. (2014). Adverse health effects of marijuana use. The New England Journal of Medicine, 370(23), 2219-27. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4827335/

Exploring Marijuana: From History to Effects and Legal Implications

Exploring the Complex History of Marijuana

Marijuana has a long history of use; it has many different ways to help medically; it alters the chemistry of the brain, causes a high; it is used recreationally in many different ways, and finally, it can cause many problems for underage users. Although marijuana is allowed in multiple states, not all states allow it to be used. This can cause legal problems for people who use it in states that don’t allow it.

The Medical Potential of Marijuana

Marijuana use has been dated back to 2,737 BCE. Back then, it was said to be used as a painkiller. Then, in 2000-1400 BCE, it was used in religious exercises. After that, in c. 500 BCE, a funeral urn in Germany had cannabis seeds inside of it. Then, in 1307 CE, in The Book Of Marco Polo in the Middle East, hashish was used in religious sects. After that, in England, King Henry VIII told his subjects to grow hemp to make rope and canvases. Then, in 1611, Cannabis was cultivated in Virginia. Then, in 1776, the U.S. Declaration of Independence was signed on paper made from hemp. After that, a little more recently, in 1900, cannabis extracts were found in a bunch of over-the-counter medicines, painkillers, and cough suppressants. Then, in 1936, the film Reefer Madness was released, which showed kids doing violent acts under the influence.

Shortly after, in 1937, the marijuana tax act ended the legal production of hemp. Then, in “1985, chemists create dronabinol, a synthetic version of the most powerful chemical in marijuana. Pill forms of dronabinol are sold as Marinol.” (Bigelow). Now, more recently, multiple laws have been passed regarding marijuana and how it can be handled. The history of marijuana has had many different uses and was perceived in many different ways. It was looked at religiously. It was also looked at as a drug that made people act in super crazy ways like violence and criminal things.

Navigating the Complex Effects of Marijuana

Since marijuana has been around for so long, it has been used a lot medically, but there are effects from using it that can both be good and bad. A good effect is one like a cancer patient who is going through chemo and sometimes suffers from nausea or loss of appetite. Marijuana, though, often stimulates appetite. This makes the patients not lose as much weight and stay more safe from secondary illnesses. Another way marijuana with positive effects is used is with people who often have seizures. CBD is a chemical found in marijuana that helps in the brain and makes it less prone to a seizure. There are also CBD oils that are allowed in pretty much every state. It doesn’t have the same effects as THC in the sense of psychoactive effects, but it does help with things like anxiety and sometimes body pains like backaches or headaches.

A negative effect that can come from marijuana is lung cancer. Marijuana contains some of the same chemicals as tobacco products, like tar, benzanthracene, and benzpyrene. These chemicals have been linked to lung cancer in people who smoke regularly. Another negative effect on the body is people who begin smoking marijuana between the ages of ten and fourteen run a high risk of developing a mental disorder. One more effect that can be negative is the slight withdrawals one can get if one smokes regularly and tries to quit. The withdrawals could be insomnia, anxiety, decreased appetite, and irritability. Another possible negative effect is secondhand smoke.” Little is known about the effects of secondhand smoke.” It is proven that people around other people who smoke marijuana can have small amounts of THC in their blood. This means tar and other toxic chemicals could be, too.

Recreational Usage and Brain Chemistry Alteration

Marijuana is used for many reasons, but usually, it is for recreational use. People use it recreationally because of the high it gives them. Marijuana, when used recreationally, is consumed in various ways. Sometimes, people will eat them as edibles, which usually takes longer to get the effects. Then, the other way is through the smoke. The main ways they are smoked are through joints, which are tobacco leaves that wrap the marijuana, pipes, which are like tobacco pipes just used for weed, and bongs, which use water to make the smoke smoother than the other ways. “People have described the high as a pleasant euphoria and sense of relaxation. Sometimes people say they experience heightened sensory perception, laughter, altered perception of time, and increased appetite.”

All of these effects are why people use marijuana. Using marijuana for recreational use can be bad, though, as well. Sometimes people experience “bad highs,” which can include anxiety, fear, distrust, or panic. This normally happens with people who take too much, or it’s at a higher potency. People have also experienced acute psychosis, which includes hallucinations, delusions, and a loss of the sense of personal identity. This sometimes makes people act out in certain ways and even sometimes makes people stay away from the drug.

Legal Landscape and Underage Users

The way marijuana works is by altering the chemistry in the brain. “THC’s chemical structure is similar to the brain’s structure. The similarity in the structures allows the body to recognize THC and to alter normal brain communication.” (Volkow). This produces a euphoric and relaxed feeling. There are also different strains of marijuana. There are Sativa and Indica, which would make the user feel differently depending on the one they choose to use. Indica is a more relaxing type of feeling. Sativa is more of an uplifting cerebral feeling. “THC is able to attach to molecules called cannabinoid receptors on neurons in these brain areas and activate them, disrupting various mental and physical functions and causing the effects.”

THC is also able to alter the functioning of the hippocampus and orbitofrontal cortex, brain areas that enable a person to form new memories and shift his or her attentional focus. This interferes with someone’s ability to learn and do more complicated tasks. THC also activates the brain’s reward system, which includes regions that govern the response to healthy, pleasurable behaviors like eating. When using marijuana too much, the body will start to build up a tolerance to the drug. This means you must use more of it in order to get the effects you got when you first started using it.

Since marijuana is a drug, it has many different laws in different states. In most states, it is completely illegal to use marijuana. In some states, it’s pretty much completely legal to use. Then, in some, it’s only medically available. In the states that allow it recreationally, they still have some strict laws. One is the amount you are allowed to have on you. It’s also looked at like alcohol in some ways, such as when driving. When you are driving and under the influence of marijuana, you can be arrested for a DUI. The first states to allow marijuana recreationally were Washington and Colorado.

Right now, thirty states allow medical marijuana for things like extreme anxiety, nausea, and many other things. Oklahoma has just recently passed a law that allows marijuana medically. “Students caught with marijuana lose any federal financial aid they might be receiving for college.” The first law over marijuana was the Marijuana Tax Act. “The act imposed an excise tax on the sale, possession or transfer of all hemp products, effectively criminalizing all but industrial uses of the plant.” (History.com). Just one day after the act was signed, an older farmer was caught selling marijuana and arrested on the spot because of the new act.

Marijuana can have negative effects on users who are underage and smoke it. Since marijuana affects short-term memory and the process in which the brain learns, it shows a decline in school grades from young users. (Bigelow). One study showed a clear link between adolescence and increased risk for an aggressive form of testicular cancer that usually attacks young adult males. Marijuana has also been linked to things like mental disorders in users who smoke it underage.

So, in conclusion, marijuana has a long history of use, good and bad; it is used medically for some things, it is also used recreationally, and it works by altering the chemistry of the brain. Although the drug seems to have been around for a super long time, there is still a lot to learn about the drug. The long-term effects of using it a lot are still quite unknown and can be dangerous.

References:

1. “The History of Marijuana.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 5 Dec. 2019, https://www.history.com/topics/crime/history-of-marijuana.
2. Bigelow, Bruce. “Marijuana: Facts for Teens.” National Institute on Drug Abuse, Dec. 2019, https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/marijuana-facts-teens/letter-to-teens.
3. Volkow, Nora D. “The Biology and Potential Therapeutic Effects of Cannabidiol.” National Institute on Drug Abuse, 24 June 2015, https://www.drugabuse.gov/about-nida/noras-blog/2015/06/biology-potential-therapeutic-effects-cannabidiol.
4. “Marijuana Legalization and Regulation.” Drug Policy Alliance, https://www.drugpolicy.org/issues/marijuana-legalization-and-regulation.

Navigating the Marijuana Dilemma: Health, Society, and Safety

Health Hazards of Marijuana Consumption

Imagine you are a president, and you realized that marijuana is consumed a lot in your country; what would you do? Marijuana is an illegal drug that is made from the dried leaves and flowers of the hemp plant. Some people smoke it because it makes them feel good and also develop their experiments. It’s a toxic product because if you smoke it one time, it will be addictive, and that might ruin your life. Also, his exports and production are banned by the law, but there’s always a group of people that may argue about that. Smoking marijuana should be illegal. It has many effects. Marijuana causes health problems and social disconnection, and consumption can cause fatal accidents.

Social Disconnection and Isolation

First and foremost, smoking marijuana can cause health problems. According to drugfreeworld.org, 158.8 million people around the world use marijuana – more than 3.8% of the planet’s population. The product causes health problems such as lung cancer, respiratory illnesses, mental health, brain function, and memory. In some cases, consumers suddenly get sick and start messing with their lives; they become crazy and disabled. People who will have a chance to obtain children while smoking marijuana can contaminate their children by paralyzing them. Some may be addictive, but it will take longer time because the product will reach their organisms step by step, so that will lead them to smoke it daily. Finally, marijuana can be determined as an illicit drug if it only causes problems.

Marijuana and Fatal Accidents

Second of all, consuming marijuana can cause social disconnection. Referred to www.psychologytoday.com, 25% have no meaningful social support at all. When people use marijuana, it makes them think about a lot of things, so they need to be alone to think clearly about their stuff. During some periods, they are calm and always concerned about something; loneliness makes them feel good, and they also get nervous quickly. If they are alone, they can be high by smoking, so they may try to commit suicide, lose knowledge, and submit to overdose. Unfortunately, somebody who is an addict to this drug probably has a pitiful life.

Debunking Proponents’ Claims

Third of all, smoking marijuana can be the cause of fatal accidents that can affect society. Related to (www.washingtontimes.com), roughly 10% of Washington state drivers involved in fatal car crashes between 2010 and 2014 tested positive for recent use of marijuana; everybody knows that it’s bad because the product is made of 800 joints in one. So, compared to that, we can say that marijuana is banished because it ruins people’s lives by causing fatal accidents, and it’s more terrible than alcohol and other existing car accidents. It puts people’s lives in danger because other people who don’t smoke may be the victims. Some car accident caused by marijuana happens when the driver falls asleep because the drug is like a sleeping pill; once you consume it, it will play his docket. Lastly, excessive abuse of marijuana can result in many forms of death.

Conclusion: A Balanced Perspective

Consumers may argue that smoking marijuana should be legal. They think that marijuana has never killed anyone. Also, marijuana effectively treats the symptoms of many serious illnesses like aids, cancer, and multiple sclerosis. They realized that marijuana’s active ingredient is less toxic than nicotine, that its legalization can develop agriculture, and that farmers will benefit from new crops; it also increases exports of agriculture, but some just think that it makes them high, and some students think that it helps them in their studies by giving them a big part of reflection. This, however, is not really true. A lot of people smoke marijuana, and it causes many effects; some people, too, even if it’s beneficial, as medical marijuana is very bad and can increase your risk of suffering illnesses. Even though marijuana legalization develops the country economically, it’s not beneficial for the education, health, and respect of the country.

As a result, for many people, the debate over the legalization of marijuana is not an easy one to choose. There are strong statistics and arguments that support both views, but the essential is the one that supports that marijuana should be illegal because it causes health issues, social disconnection, and accidents. So, legalizing marijuana can destroy people’s lives. Smoking marijuana should be illegal.

References:

1. Drug-Free World. (n.d.). Marijuana. Retrieved from https://www.drugfreeworld.org/drugfacts/marijuana.html
2. Psychology Today. (n.d.). Social Isolation. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/social-isolation
3. The Washington Times. (n.d.). Marijuana. Retrieved from https://www.washingtontimes.com