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Ana Lopez

James Celestino

English 1010/ 10am class

12/12/2017

The truth behind using Cannabis recreationally

Cannabis is a controversial topic within modern society it is becoming common within

the young adults in The United States. It has been legalized in several states, and the

controversary is whether it is good for the health or harmful to the public.

It is important that the users of Cannabis be aware of the long term and short-term effects

of Marijuana (Cannabis) use. Marijuana isnt like the average drug because it has been proven to

help people in their everyday health, but most people dont know the long-lasting effects of using

Marijuana can be rather negative, when using the drug recreationally it can have a negative effect

on the memory of users and several other factors of the health. Not only is the controversy

between the health and its users but also with the government. Several occasions the drug has

been moved several times in its drug category in the past years, and the government itself is

unsure of the risk of Cannabis.

Cannabis is only known to people as a drug that has no negative effects on the health

which is why people use it continuously and without hesitation. Although Cannabis is used as a

medicine, it isnt always a good drug to digest. In an article by John Casida called Dope Hope

he explains that Marijuana is known to calm people down and make them feel good but in the

long run can lead to memory loss and impairment. In his studies he explains that in the

University of California they are working to find alternatives instead of using Cannabis as a way
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of getting rid of pain. Although it is considered a medicine Cannabis is still unhealthy for those

using it recreationally and as a medication.

In the Article Characteristics and Predictors of Health Problems from use among high

frequency cannabis users in a Canadian university student population by Benedikt Fischer and

his colleagues express the concern for the use of Cannabis at an early age such that it can cause

several health issues beginning with psychotic impairment and accidental injury. The use of

frequent Cannabis has been compared to alcohol and other illicit drugs, daily use can cause

several negative effects on people lives that many users are unaware of. Users of Cannabis are

exposed to driving under the influence and causing car accidents. People that use it regularly

studies have shown that they have common symptoms of depression. In a survey done by The

Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey Fischer explains about high school students using

Cannabis cannabis use among 46% of grade 12 students, a prevalence substantially higher than

that reported for tobacco use (Fischer 50). Most frequent Cannabis users begin when they are

adolescents and when they reach the middle of their adulthood they dont continue using it, but

while in a long term of use they are unaware of the harms that are caused by the amount of

Cannabis they ingested during those years. Users need to be aware of the amount of negative

effects that long term use of Cannabis can have on their health.

Bart Peters and his colleagues express in his article Subjective effects of Cannabis

before the first psychotic episode that young users of cannabis have showed symptoms of

depression and their brains dont develop as well as someone who doesnt smoke. Most young

adolescents that begin to smoke at a young age are vulnerable to not graduating from high

school. For users that already have any type of psychotic disorders and use Cannabis the effects

can be even more negative and can make their psychotic disorder worsen. An example would be
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Schizophrenia, young adolescents with schizophrenia are vulnerable to using Cannabis regularly,

in several surveys that were done to people with schizophrenia they stated that they had more

paranoid thoughts In these studies a significant number of patients reported that cannabis use

increased paranoid thoughts and hallucinations. (Peters 1156). This article exemplifies how

Cannabis is good for certain objectives but not for all people, having schizophrenia is a disorder

but in this case, it isnt helpful, but like most Cannabis users they are unaware of the negative

effects and continue using it.

In the United States and around the world the media plays a big role on how younger

generations are influenced by what they see on their phone screens daily. In the Article by

Manuella Adrian What the History of Drugs Can Teach Us About the Current Cannabis

legalization process: Unfinished Business she emphasizes the negative effects that the media

has had on Cannabis. In our modern society more, people such as famous artists, celebrities are

beginning to use Cannabis and are exposing this content on social medias. Famous users are let

off without a warning and legally dont get a problem when exposing their drug use to the public.

Not only that but Cannabis has caused a great amount of violence within several countries and

has led to illegal selling of this plant this is seen on television constantly. The amount of

influence that the media has on the people is one of the reasons for why many users of Cannabis

are young they are even more vulnerable to falling for drugs then anyone else.

Cannabis is the most used illicit drug in society, most young users are influenced by the

environment they live in, which can be either friends and sometimes even family. Karin J.H.

Verweij explains in her article Genetic and environmental influences on cannabis use initiation

and problematic use: a meta-analysis of twin studies how Studies have shown that drug abuse

can run in a family line and how the environment in which people are raised in can lead to the
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use of drugs and other illicit substances. An example of this is when the author states individual

differences in cannabis use initiation are due moderately to genetic, shared environmental as well

as unshared environmental influences (Verwij 420). Men are more likely to become addicted

because of their genetics while woman are more likely to be influenced by the environment in

which they surround themselves. The people who influence cannabis users most of the time are

people vey important to them in their life, most people begin their cannabis use because they

want to fit into an environment or because it runs in their family. Drugs have always been known

to ruin families. People are more vulnerable to falling into illicit drugs now more than ever,

young users that have had a history of drugs addicts in their family are now setting that same

example for their future family.

The controversy isnt just between the influential impact on who uses Cannabis or the

health issues it can cause someone but there is also a big controversy within the government

itself. Richard Miller expresses in his article The cannabis Conundrum expresses that there is

confusion within the Laws of The United States regarding Cannabis. Cannabis is classified as a

schedule one drug which is in the same category as heroin. This category is for the drugs that are

most addictive and are used for constant abuse. In his article he states that because of the

category that Cannabis is placed in, it shouldnt be used as a medication at all Schedule 1 drugs

are supposed to have no medical applications or therapeutic uses whatsoever and are also

supposed to be the most easily abused and the most addictive. (Miller 1). In other words, like

everyone else the government is unaware of the real negative effects of the drug. In the article it

says that Cannabis is helpful with some health issues, but other studies have shown that most

active drug users are dependent on the drugs they use.

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In Conclusion, the controversy with Cannabis in modern society is more common than

ever among young adults. The legalization in some states have mislead people into thinking that

it is healthy for them, when it is not in reality. For the several states that have legalized it has

made the topic more controversial in the whole country. Cannabis is healthy but only in certain

aspects using it recreationally can lead to negative effects in the future, that can change your life

for the worst. Its important that users and the government be aware of the effects of Cannabis.

The legalization in some states have mislead people into thinking that it is healthy for them,

when it is not in reality.

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Works Cited

Adrian, Manuella. Substance Use & Misuse. Jun/Jul2015, Vol. 50 Issue 8/9, p990-1004. 15p. 1
Color Photograph, 1 Black and White Photograph, 2 Illustrations, 1 Diagram, 1 Chart.

Casida, John. Nature. 5/1/2008, Vol. 453 Issue 7191, p4-4. 1p. 1 Color Photograph.

Fischer, Benedikt, Dawe, Meghan, Mcguire, Fraser, Shuper, Paul A, Wayne, Johns, Rudzinski,
Katherine, Rehm, Jrgen. Drugs: Education, Prevention & Policy. Feb2012, Vol. 19 Issue
1, p49-58. 10p. 5 Charts. (pg 50)

Miller, Richard J. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of
America. 10/22/2013, Vol. 110 Issue 43, p17165-17165. 1p. (pg 1)

Peters, Bart D. de Koning, Pelle, Dingemans, Peter, Becker, Hiske, Linszen, Don H. de Haan,
Lieuwe. (Pg 1156)

Verweij, Karin J. H.1,2,3 karin.verweij@qimr.edu.au, Brendan P.1,2Lynskey, Michael T.4Medland,

Sarah E.1Neale, Michael C.5 Martin, Nicholas G.1Boomsma, Dorret I.3Vink, Jacqueline
M.3Addiction. Mar2010, Vol. 105 Issue 3, p417-430. 14p. 3 Charts, 2 Graphs. Addiction.
Mar2010, Vol. 105 Issue 3, p417-430. 14p. 3 Charts, 2 Graphs. (pg 420)