Marijuana, or Cannabis, is a misconceived drug. Many people consider that the usage of marijuana is hazardous, but it can be the exact opposite. So why is the legalization of marijuana in the United States such an issue for some people today? Considered to be a gateway drug and the reason for the collapse of our youth nowadays, cannabis has realized as the vile way. Lester Grinspoon, a professor at Harvard University, states, “Few drugs in the United States have produced as much affective heat as marijuana, particularly during the last decade. The controversy essentially revolves about the question of how dangerous or safe the drug is.” Without regard to persistent users, they believe that this drug is no more harmful than smoking cigarettes. …show more content…
American cancer society said that "Marijuana has not been proven to cause cancer, but one of the ingredients is known to increase the risk of Kaposi's Sarcoma- a common cancer in HIV/AIDS patients." Cancer is a fatal condition, but can be avoided in some scenarios. For example, those who do not smoke cigarettes are less likely to be diagnosed with lung cancer; just as those who do not smoke marijuana are less likely to get Kaposi's Sarcoma. Our lungs are one of the most important parts of our bodies and must be treated with delicacy. Smoking marijuana goes against this, for it destroys our respiratory system which allows us to breathe properly. Smoking one joint is equivalent to smoking two to five cigarettes, which means the damage that a cigarette has on lungs is twice as bad, or even more, as cannabis does. Cannabis smokers end up with five times more carbon monoxide in their bloodstream than tobacco smokers. Smoking marijuana can lead to lung disease 20 years earlier than tobacco smoking (Collins). The future risk probably applies to many other countries, where increasing use of cannabis among young adults and adolescents is becoming a major public health problem. This is significant because in the near future, the United States may see an outbreak of lung cancers connected with this new cancer-causing
Second hand smoke is a known cause of lung cancer. Marijuana is not harmful to society as a whole Criminalizing marijuana is very expensive. It diverts the resources of law enforcement towards arresting people for things that do not really present a public disturbance. Criminalizing marijuana possession does not keep it off the streets.
Those are just some of the effects on your body. If you want to keep your body healthy and strong, do not use marijuana. It is harmful to your lungs. Regular pot smokers are more likely to have irritated lungs, an ongoing cough, chest colds, and lung infections. It is also reasonable for people to think that marijuana is good for the
This subject has been debated numerous times over the past few years. People’s points of view and researches about the topic have varied greatly. Some people believe that marijuana should be legalized, while the rest feel should stay prohibited. Proponents of marijuana argue that there are numerous medical benefits and that the drug is not more harmful than tobacco or alcohol. On the other hand, opponents argue that marijuana is too dangerous; its legalization would increase the chances of the drug falling into the hands of teens and that marijuana use often progresses to the use of more dangerous drugs like heroin and cocaine.
Societal Issues Surrounding Marijuana The use of marijuana has become very prominent in the United States. In 2009, approximately 16.7 million people ages 12 and up claimed to use marijuana (Answers to Frequently Asked Questions). Although many people associate marijuana use with a negative connotation, it has begun to take a turn toward the greater good: medicine.
Marijuana effects your logic and motor skills, while cigarettes do not. Though cigarettes have long term harmful side effects, marijuana has short term as well as long term harmful effects. Loss of memory, depleting brain cells, and hallucinations have been reported with constant use of marijuana, although none of these accusations have been scientifically proven as a fact in all users. Studies have shown that women who frequently smoked marijuana on a regular basis since a young age have had an increase of testosterone and problems developing
Over many years, the legality of marijuana has been widely debated. Supporters of laws that seek to legalize marijuana argue that it is a drug that is safe and that criminal sanctions against personal use indicate harsh and unwarranted penalties. The proponents also point out that the mortality, economic cost and may more negative impacts associated with alcohol and tobacco are much more grave compared to those associated with marijuana. On the other hand, the opponents of liberalization of current legal status of marijuana counter that marijuana is not mild, especially considering the new psychopharmacologic information indicating that it shares many characteristics with any other illegal drugs.
In the article “Not Just a High,” by Nathan Seppa, the author believes that medicinal marijuana is on the verge of a big breakthrough in the realm of medicine. Although the author clearly states all of the benefits there would be to using medicinal marijuana as a medicine, he also points out that there are still a lot of risks and uncertainties to deal with too. Medicinal marijuana is still in the somewhat early stages of testing, but it has already proved to alleviate pain, fight forms of inflammation, treat cancer, and even suppress tumors. Seppa gives several examples on how the views of medicinal marijuana have changed.
The debate here revolves around the medical value and the risks of marijuana. Joycelyn Elders, a Professor of Public Health at the University Of Arkansas School Of Medicine and a former US surgeon general, states, “The evidence is overwhelming that marijuana can relive certain types of pain, nausea, vomiting and other symptoms caused by such illnesses as multiple sclerosis, cancer, AIDS or by the harsh drugs sometimes used to treat them.” (“Medical Marijuana,” 2009). Elders also states that marijuana is less toxic than many other drugs prescribed by physicians. Some people, on the other hand, may argue that marijuana is not safe as a medicine.
Marijuana is a substance that can be addicting after it has been smoked for a period of time. It is proven that marijuana can help slow down cancer cells but it can also cause new cancer cells to form. When you smoke you heart rate goes up 20-100 times faster than the average beat. When it stays high for about 3 hours you are more likely to have a heart attack in the first hour. If you were to try out marijuana you have to very cautious of the effects of it because it can ruin or hurt you
Many people argue that marijuana is a “gateway” drug. Many of these people that share this belief of musing marijuana are consistent that its users are lazy hooligans who just smoke to get “high”. Many of these people belief that marijuana is harmful, can be addictive and
Interference with the hippocampus may also lead to lasting memory less. When smoking marijuana may increase the risk of heart attack and lung cancer because it has some of the same cancer causing substance found in tobacco. Marijuana smokers also tend to inhale more deeply and hold their breath longer than cigarette smokers, so more smoke enters the lungs. Other harmful effects include respiratory illness, compromised immune system, accidental injuries, cardiovascular disease, and cognitive
But according to many studies done by scientists and many public health organizations, marijuana isn't as harmful as the federal government and many Americans claim it to be. Marijuana is actually far safer than alcohol, tobacco and multiple illicit substances. There are also
While marijuana , one of the most abundant crop in the country is currently a major source of controversy, medical records show that marijuana has never been much the reason for health issues,social problems, and death in the United states. It is contradictory for some people because using marijuana also has many advantages ; that’s why the debate over whether marijuana should be legalized or not is controversial.
Marijuana is an illegal drug in the United States of America, but why is marijuana illegal? Is it not safe? Is it addictive? Will it have a negative effect on society? The medical community is split on this issue; several studies that have been conducted on the effects of marijuana in the adult brain have been inconclusive.
Worldwide, tobacco use causes about 90% of lung cancer deaths, 30% of all cancers, 20-25% of coronary heart diseases and stroke deaths, and more than 80% of chronic bronchitis and emphysema”. (Jordan 1). Secondly not only does it affect smokers but even people who don 't even partake in the activity of smoking cigarettes. Second hand smoke is a serious issue and can cause cancer almost easy as being an actual smoker can.