Research Paper On Legalizing Marijuana

Riley Mock
Mrs. Gallos
English 3 Honors
29 March 2018

Legalizing Marijuana In recent years, controversy has spread about whether to lift the prohibition on marijuana and make it legal. Starting with Colorado and Washington in 2012, 9 states have legalized marijuana. The number is projected to go higher very recently and many states are moving toward legalization. “Thirteen additional states have decriminalized marijuana, and a full 30 allow its use in medical treatment”(What are the Pros and Cons). With so many states moving so close to legalizing, it seems that in the near future, there will be more legalized states than illegal states. Marijuana is surrounded by hurtful drug laws doing more harm than good and legalizing marijuana would

Much like tobacco smoke, marijuana is made up of chemicals such as ammonia and hydrogen cyanide which can irritate your bronchial passages and lungs. Prolonged use can culminate in wheezing, coughing, and production of phlegm. Marijuana can also aggravate existing respiratory illneses, such as asthma or cystic fibrosis. While some studies say marijuana increases the risk of lung cancer, the study results on that topic are mixed. According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, “there is no conclusive evidence that marijuana smoke causes lung cancer” (The Effects of Marijuana). In regards to your circulatory system, marijuana use can increase your heart rate. THC moves into the bloodstream and the rest of your body which may result in an increasing heartbeat. People with heart disease could have an increased risk of heart attack. Marijuana causes blood vessels in the eye to expand, giving smokers bloodshot eyes. THC can also lower pressure in the eyes, possibly reducing the symptoms of glaucoma, but further research is needed to prove this. Marijuana may have postive effects on your circulatory system, like helping stop blood vessels that feed the growth of cancerous tumors, but likewise with glaucoma treatment, further research is needed (The Effects of

If you are caught smoking marijuana without a medical license, it should be taken away from you the first time. The second time it happens, a drug usage prevention program should be implemented. The third time is when the offense should result in an arrest, not the first time. Considering the amount of people that get arrested with possession of marijuana and no other charges, should be done away with to avoid arresting innocent citizens doing no harm to anyone. Arresting and possibly imprisoning people from marijuana usage is utterly ridiculous, diverts authorities attention from people doing actual harm, and overcrowds jails with many people who shouldn’t be there in the first