Introduction
Should a drug that has been considered illegal for many years due to its negative effects be legalized? This is the question that so many American citizens and legislators seek to answer when discussing marijuana. Cannabis, which is marijuana’s botanical name, was first obtained from the Indian hemp plant over 2000 years ago. Although the drug has more than 400 chemicals, THC is the main ingredient that alters the mind. The level of THC in hemp plant determines how strong the drug would be. As a result, growers of the hemp plant adopted artificial techniques to increase the levels of THC in their produce. In 1974, the THC level averaged 1%. However, in 2008, the THC levels had risen to an average of 9.6% with some species of the plant recording up to 24% (Kreit, 2015).
In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, cannabis was a legal drug (Gies & Grant, 2015). It was also a legal ingredient in some patent medicines. Similar to now, it is hard to distinguish between its medicinal use from its recreational use. Moreover, the practice of smoking marijuana in pipes and cigarettes was alien to the United States until the Mexicans immigrated into the country and started smoking the drug. Since the immigrants were mostly known for illegal conducts, their behavior was blamed on the use of marijuana. As a result, by 1925, twenty-six states passed laws that prohibited the plant. While marijuana is viewed to have both positive and adverse effects, the negative consequences are more especially in terms of health and economic impact.
Negative Health Consequences
Memory Loss
Frequent use of marijuana leads to long-term memory loss. A study by Bushan (2015) shows that even teenagers who actively smoke the drug for a few years then quit may still end up suffering from memory loss. The THC in the drug is said to target the section of the brain that is in charge of keeping the memory. As a result, this section becomes clouded causing memory loss.
Addiction
Up to 17% of people who use marijuana end up being addicted to the drug (Gies & Grant, 2015). Teenagers are six times more likely to reach addiction. This dependence is achieved when the brain adapts to having large amounts of THC by reducing its sensitivity to endocannabinoid neurotransmitters. In 2014, about four million people in the US were addicted to marijuana.
Brain Development
In addition to addiction, the use of marijuana may prevent proper development of the teenage brain. As people grow, the brain becomes streamlined and smaller. This shape makes the brain to function faster and better. Marijuana alters the structure developing brain thus affecting the cognition as well as academic performance. Bushan (2015) states that marijuana-using teens get on average one grade point lower than their non-smoking peers.
Negative Impact on Economy
An increase in marijuana-involved accidents would result in high treatment costs. This expense may greatly affect the economy. A study shows that marijuana users are at a 30% greater risk of getting involved in an accident than their non-consuming counterparts (Gies & Grant, 2015). Additionally, the mean period that it takes for a marijuana user to be treated is three time that of the alcohol and cocaine counterparts.
Counterargument
Although marijuana has many negative effects, it is also beneficial in some health instances. Marijuana can be used to suppress some symptoms in cancer treatment. Gies and Grant (2015) argue that smoked marijuana helps prevent nausea in cancer chemotherapy. Additionally, smoked or vaporized cannabis helps treat neuropathic pain. Moreover, THC slows down and even kills certain cancer cells (Gies & Grant, 2015).
Conclusion
Despite there being beneficial uses of marijuana, the problems that the drug causes are too severe to ignore. Even if it can be applied in cancer treatment, marijuana cannot be used as a stand-alone treatment. A drug with so many negative effects should not be legalized based on only one beneficial use.
References
Bushan, A. (2015). Note: An Evaluation Of The Effects Of The Legalization Of Marijuana In Colorado And Washington From An International Law Perspective. Canada-United States Law Journal, 39187-201.
Gies, T. P., & Grant, G. D. (2015). Legalization of Marijuana: What It Means for Employer Drug Testing. Employee Relations Law Journal, 41(1), 35-46.
Kreit, A. (2015). What Will Federal Marijuana Reform Look Like?. Case Western Reserve Law Review, 65(3), 689-718.
