Ross1 Why We Should Not Legalize Medical Marijuana Marijuana aka pot or weed is a hallucinogenic drug, which alters

the brains interpretation of sensations. Marijuana comes from a plant called cannabis sativa. It is actually found in the leaves and flowers of the plant. Marijuanas side affects are mild intoxication, mild sensory, hallucinations, and it makes one feel happy. It can be smoked like a cigarette or it can be baked in brownies or other foods (Ciccarelli). Sometimes marijuana is smoked through a water pipe called a bong (Marijuana). Medical marijuana is the same drug as marijuana its just called medical marijuana because it prescribed by a doctor. Marijuana should not be legalized because of the ingredients and side effects of using marijuana. Medical Marijuana should not be legalized for many reasons; one reason is because the ingredients of the drug itself. It actually has a form of phenyl cyclohexyl piperidine aka PCP in it, which is used for an animal tranquilizer. If it can take down an animal then it can take down a human as well. The drug PCP is a very strong drug; depending on the dosage it can be a stimulant, hallucinogen, depressant, or painkiller. PCP is illegal so if marijuana were legalized then that would allow more drugs to be legalized (Ciccarelli 158). The main ingredient of marijuana is THC. This statement form the NIDA says: THC acts upon specific sites in the brain, called cannabinoid receptors, kicking off a series of cellular reactions that ultimately lead to the "high" that users experience when they smoke marijuana. Some brain areas have many cannabinoid receptors; others have few or none. The highest density of cannabinoid receptors are found in parts of the brain that influence pleasure, memory, thinking, concentrating, sensory and time perception, and coordinated movement (Drugs Facts: Marijuana).

Ross2 Marijuana is a hallucinogenic drug it makes one sluggish or slow. If marijuana were legalized then people would smoke it all the time like a cigarette, but unlike cigarettes marijuana affects the nervous system. As Ciccarelli stated below; Even at mild doses, it is not safe to operate heavy machinery or drive a car while under the influence of marijuana because it negatively affects reaction time and perception that driving a car or other equipment requires (Ciccarelli 158). Also it makes one hallucinate. When one hallucinates they are in a different world, they dont realize they are hallucinating until its over. While one hallucinates they will do some crazy things that one wouldnt do while in a sober state, like start screaming while sitting on the couch because he or she thinks someone is chasing after he or she. When smoking marijuana it increases the heart rate for about three hours, which increases the risk of a heart attack. (Drug Facts: Marijuana). Many People dont realize that smoking marijuana does have long term side effects such as, addiction, memory loss, and withdraw symptoms (Drug Facts: Marijuana). This claim states that: Many people dont think of marijuana as addictivethey are wrong. About 9 percent of people who use marijuana become dependent on it. The number increases to about one in six among those who start using it at a young age, and to 25 to 50 percent among daily users (Marijuana). My third reason that medical marijuana should not be legalized is if it was legalized then it would allow easier access for all. While weed is illegal one can still get access to it but one would have to grow it themselves or get it from someone else that grows it. If medical marijuana were to be legalized then anyone could grow it in his or her back yard, then this would allow children to easily access it. No parent wants their children to get addicted to smoking weed. It

Ross3 would destroy their lives. It would cause problems in the family and it would bring in other bad situations like legal issues. Marijuana is best known for its ability to produce a feeling of well-being, mild intoxication, and mild sensory distortions or hallucinations (Ciccarelli 159). Some users claim they have a medical issue and marijuana is the only drug that helps them with their medical issue. It has been proven to help people with their medical issues but is it worth it to legalize a drug for just a few people with those conditions? If it was legalized for medical use then it will allow others to abuse the drug, which would cause many other bad side effects. There are good effects and bad effects to legalizing marijuana but the bad just overcome the good. Its just better for marijuana to stay illegal.

Ross4 Annotated Bibliography Ciccarelli, Saundra K., and J. N. White. Psychology. third edition ed. N.p.: Prentice Hall, 2012. 158-59. Print. "Drug Facts: Marijuana." National Institute on Drug Abuse. N.p., Nov. 2012. Web. 15 Oct. 2013. "Marijuana." NIDA for Teens. N.p., Mar. 2012. Web. 15 Oct. 2013.