Over the recent past there is a growing debate on whether marijuana should be legalized or not. Although, the United State has categorized cannabis not accepted drug for medicinal used. Contrary to the AIDS patients’ who claims that it assists them with the loss of appetite that follows the AIDS infection. The glaucoma patients has also further claims that smoking the weed assist them to pact with the pain and reduce the pain associated with glaucoma. Other patients suffering from terminal diseases have supported marijuana legalization (Minamide, 2009).
I will be arguing, in support for why marijuana should not be legalized in the Canada. My argument will be based on the Marijuana as a gateways drug that lead to other illegal drug usage, how it contributes to criminal behaviors as well as health issues such as physical, and mental health challenges, and also the possible effects on individual daily life. The increasing traffic accident led to loss of life and eventual deaths.
Marijuana used as a gateway drug. Marijuana is one of the most frequently used illegal drugs globally. The source of marijuana is from hemp plant known as cannabis sativa. The plant has been around for over 300 years ago and was being cultivated for psychoactive properties and contains over five hundred known chemical (Yu, 2009).
According to the United Stated Drug Education Council portrayed marijuana is one of the most complicated drugs that produce higher level of delta -9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which has great impact on the individual health.
Marijuana is often seen as as a gateway drug that leads to other illegal drugs use such as cocaine, heroin, and bhang. According to studies carried out by the National Institute on Drug Abuse shows that marijuana users think that the drug is harmless. But the eventual effects of marijuana are huge to the individuals (American Council for Drug Education, 2010). The effects may not be felt immediately on the individual using the drug.
Other potent and disabling substances are more likely to be used by individual with marijuana being used as the gateway drug. The Columbia University’s Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse claims that an individual who smoke marijuana have greater chances of using cocaine compare to an individual who do not smoke marijuana. The marijuana as a gateway drug contributes to criminal behaviors since it has the ability of impairing decision. Other negative effects of marijuana includes poor decision making processes, increased mistrust as well as delusion contributing to theft, aggravated burglary, and robbery.
Marijuana has some effects on the physical and mental health of an individual. Marijuana is known to have great effects on the individual physical health. This is because it affects vital that include the lungs, heart, and kidney. When person uses marijuana, their heart beat exceeds the normal pulse rate after smoking marijuana. The effects of the marijuana can last for a relative longer time. Smoking marijuana has been known to have some effects on lungs. The marijuana smoke contain over eighty percent carcinogenic hydrocarbon compared to tobacco smoke (Tashkin, 2010). Marijuana users inhale more deeply and hold their breath longer than tobacco smokers. This will increase lung exposure to carcinogenic smoke. The smoke of marijuana also shows deregulated growth of epithelial cells in one lung tissues which subsequently lead to the cancer growth (Gruber, &Yurgelun-Todd, 2003 ).
Mental health challenges. Marijuana affects a person mental health which impaired short term memory, this makes an individual difficult to learn, and retain information especially those regarded as challenging. This is because an individual will have slower reaction time which has the possibility of impairing motor coordination (Heisman, 2009). Therefore, throwing off the performance of an individual from developing and using driving skills and as such, increased the chances of injury. In addition, an individual judgment is altering along their decision making, which lead to an individual ability to commit crime. The people who smoke marijuana exposed themselves to higher risks of contacting sexually transmitted diseases (STD’s) altering their moods from jubilation to quietness as well as causing nervousness, suspicion and illusion (Yu, 2009).
Marijuana effects on person daily life. Studies show that marijuana causes myriad problems in one’s life. The existing problem may be worsened by continual smoking of the marijuana exhibiting increased slowness and absences. In addition, it is also believed to increases accidents as well as increase claims for workers compensation and increase job turnover. This is because it has been observed that many marijuana abusers have been impaired by constantly using the drugs, causing permanent life upheavals such as physical and mental health, and other cognitive disabilities (Miron, & Waldock, 2010).
Causes traffic accidents as results of drugged driving. As an individual, parents and society as whole is our duty to recognizes and tackle the threat that come from smoking marijuana and getting behind the controls of vehicle which is termed as drugged driving. Marijuana is the most prohibited and illegitimate drug that is being profoundly used. There has been detection of marijuana drugs in drivers which have cause accidents as result of sight impairment. This drugs has caused lethal injuries to drivers who was detected in the hurtle victims of a motor vehicles. For this reason, it is our concern for drugged driving to avoid further use of marijuana. Furthermore drivers driving under the pressure of any illicit drug could damage one motor skill leading to poor time response as well as sound judgment that is so important and vital (Kilmer, 2010).
Reference
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