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Positives and Negatives of Legalizing Marijuana

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Positives and Negatives of Legalizing Marijuana
I have always been against the use of all illegal drugs including marijuana, but while researching this topic, I have learned a lot about some of the positives of legalizing marijuana use. Considering it is classified as an illegal controlled substance, I have always been under the assumption that marijuana was bad for people, no matter what my friends may have said about how good it was. I was peer pressured into trying it when I was fourteen. I knew right away that it was not for me. It made me pass out and sick to my stomach when I woke up. That reiterated my assumption that it was bad for people. I did not understand how people could like it. I figured other people must not have had the same reaction as I did after smoking it. No matter what my opinion is, I will give both the positives and negatives of legalizing it. Many Americans believe that marijuana is harmless and many want it legalized. Some states have already legalized the medical use of marijuana. They are Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, DC, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington (ProCon.org). Colorado and Washington have also legalized it for recreational use (Governing). Marijuana is a common recreational drug. "The National Institute on Drug Abuse says marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug" (Cox). In a 2010 survey, 17.4 million Americans had used marijuana within the past month. It is used to change people 's moods by getting them to relax. Even so, marijuana does have some negative effects on people. It can cause lethargy and uncoordinated body movements. Marijuana can have harmful effects on people 's health. It can affect our brains, hearts, lungs, and reproductive systems. Like cigarettes, marijuana can cause cancer of the mouth, tongue, larynx, or pharynx. Marijuana is usually smoked. It can also be ingested by


References: Cox, L. (2012). Effects of Marijuana. Live Science. Retrieved from http://www.livescience. com/24558-marijuana-effects.html Fiction: Marijuana is Harmless. (2013). Just Think Twice. Retrieved from http://www.justthink twice.com/factsfiction/fiction_marijuana_is_harmless.html Gannon, M. (2013). Accidental Pot Ingestion Spikes for Colorado Kids, Study Finds. Live Science. Retrieved from http://www.livescience.com/34747-accidental-pot-ingestion- spikes-for-colorado-kids.html Governing: The States and Localities. (2013). State Marijuana Laws Map. Retrieved from http://www.governing.com/gov-data/state-marijuana-laws-map-medical-recreational.html ProCon.org. (2013). 20 Legal Medical Marijuana States and DC. Retrieved from http://medical marijuana.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000881 Sledge, M. (2013). Marijuana Prohibition Now Costs The Government $20 Billion A Year: Economist. HuffPost Politics. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com.2013/04/ 20/marijuana-prohibition-costs_n_3123397.html
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