Besides alcohol and cigarettes marijuana is the most commonly used drug in the world (Mendeleson 28). This is ironic considering it is illegal. Police have been cracking down and finding people who use and distribute the substance. The war on drugs has been an ongoing problem for a while now. Many would debate that marijuana is not harmful and is less harmful then alcohol, others would say it is addictive and is a gateway drug. Indeed, marijuana is harmful and causes many negative health hazards. People who smoke marijuana can experience many negative effects such as lung damage, brain damage and a lowered immune system. The use of marijuana is not going to stop unless the government enforces the law and makes it harder for people to distribute and consume this drug. Marijuana is a drug that should never be used because it promotes bad health, the selling and buying of marijuana is dangerous, cause’s disturbance with the workplace and school and it results in an increase use in teens.
Many harmful health problems come from smoking marijuana. Smoking marijuana causes the users lungs to get precancerous lesions because marijuana contains five times more tar than one cigarette. This is extremely bad for the lungs. Marijuana is composed of multiple amounts of chemicals in it that leads to brain damage when the chemicals are taken into the body. A user can experience short term memory loss and neural damage. While under the influence of this illegal drug the immune system will be lowered. As a result of the lowered immune system the body can experience sickness more than others who do not consume marijuana. Both men and women can experience changes in their reproductive systems. Women can experience disrupted menstrual cycles, while men can experience lower levels of testosterone. The government should not make something legal that is going to harm people in the end. People are just going to end up harming themselves. The recreational marijuana users will experience more disease and hospitalization (Mendeleson, 45). The more you smoke marijuana the more you are harming your body and it will result over time in disease and more hospital visits.
The selling and buying of marijuana has such a large underground business that it is impossible to stop all marijuana uses. Many people’s lives have been ruined because they have dealt or consumed the drug. People who take part in the selling and buying marijuana will can experience dire consequences. If the dealer is not safe then he can get caught by the police or someone could not be satisfied with their sale and could possibly be threatened. If we look back at the history of prohibition of alcohol, we can see the same thing is happening with the illegalization of marijuana. People made and distributed alcohol illegally when it was illegal, now the same is with marijuana. Proving that marijuana can be legal or illegal; people will still find a way to get their hands on it and use it. So the government needs to enforce the laws it has and stop the consumption of the substance (Marshall).
One debate of marijuana is whether or not marijuana is considered a “gateway drug.” Many people think that smoking pot it will influence others into more heavy drugs. Studies would show people who use hard drugs mostly started using marijuana first then moved onto different drugs. Then, there are also other studies that show that people who have tried marijuana do not go on to try harder drugs. Although the research is contradicting, the main influence is based on someone’s background and your personal values. So, the argument of marijuana being a “gateway drug” can nether be proven right or wrong (Joffe).
After the Marijuana Prohibition in 1937 teen use of marijuana has increased. When this first started only 0.4 percent of all Americans under the age of 21 had tried it. By 1979, the percentage went up to 51 percent (Mendelson 68). Today, the law must stand strong and not give in to illegal use of marijuana. The only way the government can keep drugs out of the hands of the younger crowd is if the laws become stricter. Police know this illegal act is happening; it is just a matter of finding it.
To help prevent teens from trying marijuana, our school system is where young children should learn to say no to drugs. The program helps the children so when they are in a situation where marijuana is offered they can say no. Today in elementary schools the program D.A.R.E., which is a course where local police officers will come in and talk to the children about how to say no to drugs. This program is a great way to teach people who are younger to not smoke or drink. To help the students the police officer play out scenarios where the children are offered drugs and the students have to say no to the drugs. The parents can help by getting involved with the child and discuss drugs and alcohol with them. Having the open conversation about marijuana is seen to lower the teen use of drugs and alcohol. A Cornell University study found that due to the course D.A.R.E. this resulted in the lowered percentage of teens participating in drugs and alcohol (Jotte).
Some people choose to go to work or go to school under the influence of marijuana. This is proven to inhibit the quality of work that a person could do compared to if they did not go. In 1987, an Amtrak train derailed in Maryland and killed sixteen people and injured more than 100 people. The conductor was said to be under the influence of marijuana. The conductor experienced delayed reactions because of the influence of marijuana causing the crash and killed innocent people. This example proves people can harm others while under the influence (Mendelson 78). This is a great example why marijuana should not be legal. Marijuana does have harmful effects and causes people to harm innocent people.
Marijuana has always had a bad reputation. More research needs to be conducted on marijuana so we can know more about this substance. Marijuana can lead to bad health, possibly the desire to try heavier drugs and causes disruption in the workplace and school. The only way people today will be able to make a change and keep marijuana out of the hands of society is by enforcing stricter laws and following through with the law. If this is followed through then the number of marijuana users will decrease.
Works Cited
Bandow, Doug. "Reefer Madness in Washington, DC." The Cato Institute. July 15, 1997. 22 Mar 2009. http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=6121.
Harris, Gardiner. “F.D.A. Dismisses Medical Benefit From Marijuana”. New York Times 20 Apr. 2006. 22 Mar. 2009 http://www.thecre.com/pdf/20060424_NewYorkTimes.Apr.21.06.pdf.
Joffe, Alain. "Legalization of Marijuana: Potential Impact on Youth." Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics 113. 6 (2004) e632-e638. 22 Mar 2009
Marshall, Patrick. "Marijuana Laws." CQ Researcher 15.6 (2005): 125-148. CQ Researcher Online. CQ Press. Hunter Library, Cullowhee, NC. 21 Mar. 2009 http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2005021100.
Mendelson, Jack and Nancy Mello. Marijuana Its Effects on Mind and Body. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1992.
Monroe, Judy. Alcohol. New Jersey: Enslow Publishers Inc., 1994.
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