Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
English 112
3/12/19
Marijuana has been the most popular and most used drug for decades in the U.S., even
though it is illegal. Lately there have been reasons discovered for it to be legalized and how
Marijuana is a form of cannabis made from the hemp plant Cannabis sativa. It is made up
of more than 400 chemicals for which delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the primary
chemical it is found in resin which is produced by the leaves and buds of the female cannabis
plant (NIDA). THC is like the brain chemical Anandamide and because of that it allows the body
to recognize THC so the brain can operate normally (NIDA). Marijuana is mainly used for
recreational reasons but also lately people have been using it for medical reason. It can be
consumed many ways like in cigars wraps, water pipes, mixed with food and many other ways.
Many people who use marijuana because of the effects and good feelings it gives them
and because it's not necessarily considered an actual drug. Even though it may be seen as an
overall bad thing because it's an addictive substance, it does have its positive effects. One of the
positive effects of marijuana is that it can help with weight loss. This reason is because it helps
the body regulate insulin production and manage caloric intake easier (Whitley). Also, lately
marijuana has been used for medical reasons and it has been proven by doctors and the federal
government that it actually works. One of the biggest uses for medical marijuana is for people
Garner 2
with cancer. It can treat cancer in many ways, one way is that it blocks the tumors ability to
create blood vessels which will eventually starve the cancer. Another way it helps is it stops the
growth of the tumor cells so they will self-destruct. Medical marijuana is also seemed to be a big
help with chronic pains like arthritis and muscle spasms (Crowell). Although people have many
negative opinions on marijuana for any type of usage, they really cannot argue with the fact that
Though marijuana has its positive effects it most definitely has a lot of negative effects.
Marijuana may be used to help with cancer, but it also contains cancer causing compounds like
tobacco (Johnson). Nearly 17 million Americans aged 12 and over have used marijuana (NIDA).
It has many short- and long-term negative effects. Some of the short-term effects are short term
memory loss, severe anxiety, panic, hallucinations, increased appetite, loss of coordination,
increased risk of strokes and increased heart rate which can cause risks of a heart attack
(DrugFreeWorld). Some of the long-term effects are a decline in your IQ, impaired thinking and
ability to learn tasks and lower life satisfaction. Marijuana can play a big factor into your career
and getting a job. Most high paying jobs require you to take a drug test before hiring you or
throughout your time working there. Since marijuana is illegal and it can cause one not to
perform their best at a task, it is very important that they should pass their drug test because if
they fail, they will be more than likely terminated from their job.
The legalization of marijuana has been a big issue for a while now and it will be
continuing to be one because so many people use it and will continue to use it and there is no
way of stopping it any time soon. Marijuana is illegal for many reasons one being is because of
the crime that is involved with it. Many people have been killed due to be a part of drug dealings
that have to do with marijuana (Hall). Another reason why it is illegal is because it is perceived
Garner 3
as being addictive. Under the Controlled substances Act of 1970, marijuana is classified as a
Schedule I drug on the basis that is has a high potential for abuse. Even though there have been
many cases put in order for marijuana to be legalized none of them seem to have a generalized
Due to it being illegal for so much time it's obvious that the process of legalizing
marijuana is very difficult, but it also has been done by states. The district of Columbia and
thirty-three states have passed laws legalizing marijuana in different forms. The District of
Vermont and Washington have all legalized marijuana for recreational uses. Vermont was the
first state to ever legalize weed through the legislative process rather than doing it through the
ballot form. Marijuana has been legalized for medicinal reasons for a long time. In 1996 was the
first state to legalize medicinal weed and then later other states started to as well. There are
multiple pros and cons of legalizing. Some of the pros are the increase of the black market for
marijuana going away, increased tax revenue, decrease in drug related violence and it will allow
police and courts to focus more on more serious violent crimes (Franciosi). Some of the cons are
a decrease mental health, users will put their lungs at risk, and also if marijuana becomes legal
people will use as a gateway drug because it will become old and they will want to try newer and
In conclusion marijuana is the most used and legalized drug. It has many negative and
positive effects to it and more will continue to be discovered. It has the ability to help or destroy
people that use it and there will never be a right or wrong opinion as to why it should be
Works Cited
Crowell, T. L., PhD. (2017). Therapeutic value of medical marijuana in new jersey
patients: A community partnership research endeavor. Journal of Allied
Health, 46(4), 232-238,238A-238B. Retrieved from
https://login.proxy039.nclive.org/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/doc
view/1973741311?accountid=10163
Johnson, G. (2007, Oct 09). Wacky weed is whack. Philadelphia Tribune Retrieved
from
https://login.proxy039.nclive.org/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/doc
view/337889212?accountid=10163
Whitley, Chip. “50 Unexpected Benefits of Cannabis (You Might Not Know).”
enhancing-benefits-of-cannabis.
World, Drug Free. “Short- & Long-Term Effects of Marijuana - Negative Side Effects
www.drugfreeworld.org/drugfacts/marijuana/short-and-long-term-
effects.html.
Franciosi, Anthony. “12 Pros & Cons Of Marijuana Legalization.” Honest Marijuana, 23 July
2018, honestmarijuana.com/legalization-of-cannabis-pros-and-cons/.