Marijuana
Pros and Cons of Marijuana
Niki De Leon
November 13, 2012
Fall 2012
English 110 section 14
Mr. Johnson
In the early 1900s possession or intoxication of marijuana was considered illegal in the Untied States of America. Marijuana started to become the thing to do in the 1960s. In the mid 1970’s the use of marijuana declined; although, since the mid 1990s its use has been rising. Many states have passed laws allowing marijuana to be used for medical purposes. In the Untied States it is illegal to use medical marijuana. People who are in the states and use medical marijuana legally are still illegal drug offenders in the United States. Although marijuana is illegal in the United States, one out of three American adults admit to smoking marijuana weakly (Hightimes 73). Marijuana is made from dried leaves and flowering hemp plant tops. (Marijuana is used all over the United States.) Some other names used for marijuana are grass, weed, pot, Mary Jane, hash, dope, and reefer. Pot has different effect depending on the person. Some of the effects one can receive from smoking pot are a type of dreamy relaxed state, where the user is more aware. Being high from pot doesn’t affect a person’s life nor does it last long, but if used consistently it can affect people’s lives and will continue on and will be impossible to get rid of. There are many harms and reasons as to why smoking marijuana can be unhealthy; usually it’ll begin to show over time. Marijuana decreases a person’s concentration and short-term memory. A study, researched by The Canadian Medical Association, proved marijuana lowers IQ scores by an average of 4.1 points (Branswell 2). People who smoke pot lose motivation and interest in things that they found appealing because of the effect that pot has on their emotions. In extreme cases, pot usage before the age of eighteen increases the risk of schizophrenia (Choi 1). In some cases heavy users “can directly lead to changes
Niki De Leon
November 13, 2012
Fall 2012
English 110 section 14
Mr. Johnson
In the early 1900s possession or intoxication of marijuana was considered illegal in the Untied States of America. Marijuana started to become the thing to do in the 1960s. In the mid 1970’s the use of marijuana declined; although, since the mid 1990s its use has been rising. Many states have passed laws allowing marijuana to be used for medical purposes. In the Untied States it is illegal to use medical marijuana. People who are in the states and use medical marijuana legally are still illegal drug offenders in the United States. Although marijuana is illegal in the United States, one out of three American adults admit to smoking marijuana weakly (Hightimes 73). Marijuana is made from dried leaves and flowering hemp plant tops. (Marijuana is used all over the United States.) Some other names used for marijuana are grass, weed, pot, Mary Jane, hash, dope, and reefer. Pot has different effect depending on the person. Some of the effects one can receive from smoking pot are a type of dreamy relaxed state, where the user is more aware. Being high from pot doesn’t affect a person’s life nor does it last long, but if used consistently it can affect people’s lives and will continue on and will be impossible to get rid of. There are many harms and reasons as to why smoking marijuana can be unhealthy; usually it’ll begin to show over time. Marijuana decreases a person’s concentration and short-term memory. A study, researched by The Canadian Medical Association, proved marijuana lowers IQ scores by an average of 4.1 points (Branswell 2). People who smoke pot lose motivation and interest in things that they found appealing because of the effect that pot has on their emotions. In extreme cases, pot usage before the age of eighteen increases the risk of schizophrenia (Choi 1). In some cases heavy users “can directly lead to changes
Bibliography: Marijuana: Facts Parents Need to Know, Revised, NIDA, November 1998 "The Health Effects Of Marijuana." About.com Alcoholism. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2012. <http://alcoholism.about.com/od/pot/a/effects.-Lya.htm>. "The Health Effects Of Marijuana." About.com Alcoholism. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2012. <http://alcoholism.about.com/od/pot/a/effects.-Lya.htm>. "What Are the Pros and Cons of Medical Marijuana?" About.com Death and Dying. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2012. <http://dying.about.com/od/symptommanagement/f/med_mj_procon.htm>. A couple of things I learned about writing this research paper are 1. There are always two sides of a story both a positive side and a negative 2. Marijuana isn’t necessarily a bad thing it can help many people and not just hurt them. I wish I could have spend more time on figuring out how to use the library website to lok up information.