Final Draft

There has been controversy over the status quo of marijuana. International
Business Times magazine states that the U.S Drug Enforcement Administration
classified it as Schedule 1 drug. Marijuana is under the class that lists it as one of the
greatest potential for abuse. States across the nation legalized marijuana for
recreational use. But a handful people abuse the drug more for the satisfying side
effects than medication purposes. Even if legalizing the drug may help a few issues
it has created more conflict. Legalizing Marijuana has affected public health and
safety, as the states who've legalized are responsible because of the increase in
underage marijuana use, health issues rising, and the worsening of addiction.
There has been controversy over the status quo of marijuana. International
Business Times magazine states that the U.S Drug Enforcement Administration
classified it as Schedule 1 drug. Marijuana is under the class that lists it as one of the
greatest potential for abuse. States across the nation legalized marijuana for
recreational use. But a handful people abuse the drug more for the satisfying side
effects than medication purposes. Even if legalizing the drug may help a few issues
it has created more conflict. Legalizing Marijuana has affected public health and
safety, as the states who've legalized are responsible because of the increase in
underage marijuana use, health issues rising, and the worsening of addiction.
Marijuana is a natural herb that can offer different effects. In the Washington
Post there's a survey that reveals 92% of medical marijuana users feel that
marijuana relieves symptoms like chronic pain, arthritis, migraine, and cancer.
Since the drug is a natural herb people see it as medicine from the earth. This
drives more to use it for recreational purposes, and it surprisingly has worked. But
legalizing the drug has led to addiction increase. In the Denver Post Caulkins states
"Now it is fully one in three. Daily or near-daily users now account for over two-
thirds of self-reported days of use (68%). Marijuana was used a lot when it was
illegal so now that it is legal of course there will be increase. It might help certain
symptoms but having more people be addictive and get worser illnesses, that
doesn't really help. Marijuana being legal does not help the public health.
The drug has caused many health problems more than it has healed. Children's
Hospitals in Denver have claimed that they've treated one to two children a month
for accidental ingestion of marijuana from edibles. Having easy access to the drug
can put the health of underage people at risk. There should be more restrictions on
marijuana because when given leniency things can go wrong. Nearly 60% of
substance use disorders are from marijuana. People are taking advantage of the
easy access that's been given to them. Drugs should never be legal because it can
cause a lot of harm. Any outlook you put on marijuana, the negative side will always
stand out.
Minorities are the majority of marijuana users before and after the drug was
legalized. The average for marijuana use in Colorado from age 12-17 is 12.6%. Ever
since Colorado legalized, their average use of marijuana is higher than the U.S
which 7.2%. Once kids see that there is a slight positivity in something that is
known to be bad, they will abuse that. From the jamanetwork they've stated that
"Among eighth and 10th graders in Washington, perceived harmfulness of marijuana
use decreased and marijuana use increased following legalization of recreational
marijuana." Marijuana was supposed to be for medical use and people over the age
of 21, but teens are the ones getting a kick out of it. There has to be more
restrictions because the increase in underage use should not be happening. The
most important thing when it comes to legalizing marijuana, is making sure that the
kids don't get affected by it.
The natural herb that is supposedly better than regular medicine has brought on
many problems. Marijuana does help with illnesses that regular medicine couldn't
do. But that's the only advantage of legalizing the drug. Health issues were already
occurring before the drug became legal, now that it is there's more fuel to the fire.
Everyone knows that marijuana is a very addictive drug. Especially with the add
ons of THC to the edibles it makes it much for addictive. With addiction comes the
rising health issues. Everyday that the drug is legal there's more chances of people
getting illnesses. Children always want to do things that they're not allowed to do.
Legalizing marijuana sends off a message to kids that doing the drug is okay. Since
several states have legalized all these problems have occurred or worsened. There
needs to be stronger restrictions and laws with the marijuana. Anyone under the
age 21 and without a medical card shouldn't be getting access to these drugs. With
more states pushing to legalize this will lead more underage people to use the drug.
Drugs should never be legal, there's too much risk for the society. People are
unaware of the after effects of legalizing marijuana, and thats something that needs
to be brought to attention.