Leagalizing Marijuana

Smoking weed is nothing new to most Americans. This is generally speaking, but it is safe to say that most Americans have either experimented or know some that are active weed smokers. Smoking weed seems to be a relatively harmless drug when compared to legal drugs and alcohol. Marijuana and other illicit drugs became mainstream in the 1960's. Marijuana is less addictive and less fatal. Marijuana usage has been popularized across generations and cultures as an "acceptable" drug. The conversations about Mary Jane (slang term for marijuana) can be plenty. There are the issues of whether marijuana should be legal. Is marijuana a "gateway" drug to more dangerous or addictive drugs? Do the government handle marijuana related crimes appropriately? Marijuana is illegal. It is illegal to smoke, sale, and possess marijuana in Indiana. Different states are seeming to lean toward making weed legal. Many states have already adopted to allow marijuana usuage for medicinal purposes. Patients are being prescribed legal medical marijuana in places like Rhode Island for cancerous treatments. These are the trends in leniency towards a controlled substance that seemingly has less harmful physical effects than cigarettes. Marijuana usuage is moving closer towards legalization nationwide for medicinal usage and recreational usage. The only issue is the abuse of this drug by those not of legal age. According to the Webster definition, Marijuana is the dried leaves and flowering tops of the pistillate hemp plant that yield THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and is smoked in cigarettes for their intoxicating effect. The main ingredient to marijuana is THC, and this is what causes the intoxicating effects to the user. The side effects of smoking marijuana range from delayed judgement, increased appetite, and a slight feeling of euphoria (Webster). These are the side effects of using marijuana called the "high". The level of 'high' will vary from person to person and the amount of marijuana used. Chronic usage of marijuana is not physically addictive, but it is mildly psychologically habit forming (Webster).The excessive user is usually portrayed in the media as lazy and lacks ambition. There are no chemicals in marijuana that makes it addicting like nicotin is addictive in cigarettes. Although marijuana is an illegal controlled substance, some may justify their usage by pointing out weed's 'positives' and opposing it with the 'negatives' of other drugs. It is not legal or socially acceptable to go into a public place and smoke a blunt (marijuana rolled in a cigar wrap). However, you can buy drinks in a bar and drive home drunk. This is not always the absolute case, but the point is, which of the two is more harsh? Cocaine has been seen as a more socially acceptable drug through a more lavish culture in the 1980's, but it's effects are more dangerous than marijuana as well. Marijuana usage is the highest among all illegal drugs. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, World Drug Report 2012, alcohol and tobacoo users die in more significant numbers of any users of illict drugs (New Internationalist). People lose their lives in significant numbers from drunk drivers' irresponsibility. Smoking cigarettes is confirmed to cause cancer, and they will kill you. People continue to smoke. One of the oppositions to the cigarette versus weed argument is that marijuana smoke can be just as harmful as cigarette smoke. The way you smoke marijuana and the way you smoke cigarettes are different. Marijuana smoke is inhaled and exhaled slower and longer. Cigarettes are inhaled and exhaled quicker. It is believed that marijuana has just as much carcinogens as cigarettes, which is a cancer causing agent. Marijuana has 50-70% more carcinogens than cigarettes (Winterfeld). Marijuana smokers are at some harm with the carcinogens that causes cancer, but marijuana is also known for helping to cure cancer and an array of other medical issues. Medical marijuana has been proven to be beneficial in an series of health issues and that is why it should be legalized for those purposes. Marijuana has been known to treat various forms of cancer, glaucoma, and AIDS (Webster). There is also an example of a guy being prescribed medical marijuana for stress on the job (Manley). Many states are adopting laws that allow the sale and usage of medical marijuana. There are currently 16 States and the District of Columbus that have legalized marijuana for medical use, Colorado and Washington has laws that permit marijuana for recreational use (Malinowski,Winterfeld). Medical marijuana brings revenue to states and it is taxed three ways: the grower, processor, and retailer (Malinowski). States that are adopting these laws that permit marijuana usage for medical and recreational reasons are benefiting economically, but marijuana smokers are still subject to the same smoking laws as cigarette smokers. Even in those states that have no smoking laws in public places, the same laws apply for marijuana smokers (Winterfeld). There is supposedly a second-hand 'high' you feel from second hand smoke from marijuana, unlike cigarettes this may or may not have a negative effect on the bystander. Aside from the medical issues, and economic issues related to refer (another name for marijuana), medical marijuana is just as risky as any other drug when used irresponsibly by irresponsible individuals. Using drugs has consequences that can affect so many aspects of your life. The vulnerable teenage years can be trying and adding drugs can lead to a downward slope through negativity. The majority of addictions begin in the adolescent years. There is a significant amount of adults who support legalization of marijuana for recreational use. Since there are health issues related to marijuana usage, these supporters believe marijuana should only be legal for adults 21 years and older. The teenage brain is still developing and using drugs will damage the student putting them at risk for academic failure (Scutti). Failure in academics lead to failures in life after adolescence. The compulsive marijuana user has a list of long term health effects. Excessive marijuana usage over a long period of time will cause the teen's brain to be "hard wired" to crave the drug. Compulsive weed smoking can cause problems in relationships, emotional maturity, and jobs. There is also studies that show marijuana usage is linked to early onset schizophrenia and a significant IQ impairment (The News Tribune). These negative issues that comes along with using drugs are very heavy for teenagers. It is important that marijuana, no matter how small we think it is compared to other drugs, should definitely be regulated. Marijuana seems to have relatively less negative effects physically and socially, but it is illegal and the minority drug dealers are often treated unfairly compared to whites that commit the same crimes. The government is seeming to have a hard time with regulating and reducing drug laws and convictions. There has not been a decrease in demand for illegal drugs. The demand for marijuana has increased by 8% from 1998 to 2008. It is also noted that cocaine's demand increased by 27% and the demand for opiates increased by 34% (The Internationalist). The harder the drug, the more the demand increases.The physical and social harm that any drugs cause cannot really be compared as to which one is worse, but this logic can be applied when we look at the resources that the government use for drug related cases and the unfair convictions when it comes to race. Whites use drugs just as often as blacks, and they are arrested for drug related crimes in the same numbers. Blacks and hispanics are convicted more often than whites though (The Internationalist). This logic is simple, it would be beneficial for lawmakers to consider or reconsider marijuana in terms of drug laws. Marijuana isn't as harmful, and to place people in prison for marijuana related charges may eventually be obsolete. One of the major concerns about legalizing marijuana, is the accessibility for the youth. Marijuana, like any street drug is easily obtainable. Drug dealers of all forms supply marijuana to users in several different venues. It is even believed that one could buy marijuana from an unnamed library in Indiana the 1970's. Marijuana is also grown as a cash crop or for personal usage (Manly). The easy access to marijuana makes it easier for impressionable teenagers to become addictive and experiment with other illicit drugs. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, World Drug Report 2012, atleast 25% of teenagers in the US have reported drug use. Drug use peaks between the ages of 18-25, and the typical age for drug related deaths is around the mid thirties (The International). This is a short window for teenagers that promote to higher drugs through their adulthood to death. The belief that weed is a gateway drug raises concern for our youth to increase their life span. Drug abusers do not live long. The issue of legalizing marijuana remains to be a multi-faceted issue. Marijuana is good because it is therapeutic in chemotherapy and other terminal illnesses. Medical marijuana is also good for struggling economies to gain extra revenue. Marijuana isn't as "bad" as other drugs like crack, or even legal drugs like cigarettes and alcohol. The effects from the 'high' may not be as dangerous as a drunk from alcohol. Marijuana can be just as harmful as cigarettes, and are subject to the same laws as the states that are banning tobacco smoke in public places. More states are being more lenient in their drug laws for marijuana use, but this trend has to be regulated to protect our youth.