Abstract
In constant search for additional pleasure or expansion of consciousness, people were chewing random leaves and cooking magical brews that made them more powerful and invulnerable. From coffee to cocaine, today we are opened to a vast variety of temptations. Some are harmless, others – deadly. However, what unites them is that once tasted, they are hard or impossible to live without. In this paper, I would like to research impact of marijuana on people from different perspectives and understand whether it is a threat or a vital relief.
At first, let’s understand what is marijuana, from medical and scientific point of view. Marijuana is a narcotic substance that is obtained from various types of hemp that contains a psychoactive substance, called cannabinoids. So, like it or not, marijuana is a drug.
Effects from marijuana
In the world practice there is no single case that states death from marijuana use or overdose. There are though several cases of death from heart failure after smoking pot but the connection is not obvious. Scientists estimate that a lethal dose of marijuana would be 60 grams smoked at once – but it is impossible to do so. Over the past few decades, numerous controversial researches on marijuana have been held. Some proved that in certain medical conditions marijuana could bring significant relief and restore appetite in patients. Countries such as Israel, the US and Canada have successfully used marijuana as a medicine for people undergoing chemotherapy, as well as to treat rheumatism, epilepsy and many other diseases.
Opposing researches are trying to prove that that long-term use of marijuana has harmful effect on memory, reproductive system and psychological health (Blaszczak-Boxe, 2014). Although these latter researches are mostly vague and give no precise numbers or evidence of correlation they should be considered when deciding whether to put marijuana to mass consumption (Morris, TenEyck, Barnes, Kovandzic, 2014). A problem with marijuana is that since it is considered a drug in most parts of the world it is difficult to conduct proper researches. Until now the proven facts of downsides of marijuana use is that it is addictive in a certain percentage of people and that it negatively affects lungs, not with harmful substances that are found in marijuana, but because of the smoking process.
Dependence
Since marijuana is a narcotic, therefore it causes certain dependence. It doesn’t cause physical dependence like alcohol and hard drugs do, there is only a psychological one, and it only appears after a long-term use of marijuana. However, once you quit smoking the psychological dependence subsides within a month. It is also said that smoking marijuana allegedly pushes you into taking heavier drugs. So far, these are assumptions and there is no evidence to prove the connection between these phenomena.
Positive sides of legalization
Marihuana is considered safer than any other narcotic substance. Supporters of marijuana referendums believe that marijuana is not as toxic as alcohol or other drugs and its consumption does not lead to a socially dangerous behavior, and does not cause harm to the body. In addition, they believe it is not possible to have a drug overdose with marihuana.
Legalization of marijuana increases tax revenue and creates new jobs.
With legalization of marijuana, we are unlikely to expect an increase in crime and might even anticipate a slight reduction in personal crimes (Morris, TenEyck, Barnes, Kovandzic, 2014). It could decrease the number of people arrested and could save money on their prison expenses. In addition, according to supporters, the legalization can reduce interracial tension in most places: for example in the US, in cases that involve the spread and use of marijuana, black teenagers are detained 4 times more often than their white peers. Apart from this, marijuana brings great income to international narco cartels. Thus, legalization could undermine the economic base of criminals and improve the situation in the global war on drugs.
Negative sides of legalization
Marijuana reduces level of intellectual development. Opponents of legalization say that use of marijuana impairs intelligence and attention, as well as prevents learning in adolescents. Many studies suspect a correlation between low IQ and marijuana, but it remains uncertain which one is the cause and which is the consequence.
Legalization increases the number of users. Opponents of marijuana referendums believe that legalization could significantly increase number of users through advertising “grass”. In addition, the emerging industry of selling marijuana can target active consumers and to strengthen their dependence.
Legalization of marijuana might actually lead to the use of other drugs ((Blaszczak-Boxe, 2014). Enemies of marijuana are also certain that its consumption eventually leads to use of heavier drugs. Opponents of such position believe that in most cases marijuana turns out to be the first (and only) drug thanks to its relevant cheapness and prevalence compared to other prohibited substances (Sanders, 2014).
Situation in the world
Since 2013 use and possession of marijuana is completely legal only in Uruguay (according to unconfirmed reports, in fact, marijuana is also legalized in North Korea). Partial circulation is possible in the Netherlands, Canada, the Czech Republic, Portugal, Spain and Israel. United State have recently created exceptions and decriminalized use of marijuana both medical and non-medical in several states. In 2016, the vote as to whether proceed with decriminalization and legalization could be held in Arizona, California and Nevada. President Barack Obama does not support legalization of marijuana on federal level but has no intensions to impede the referendum in the States. He himself believes that "marijuana is not more harmful than alcohol."
Legalization of marijuana in the United States is important for the rest of the world: in the case of successful experience, this will be an example for other countries and help in the global fight against drug trafficking.
Conclusion
Taking into consideration all sides of using marijuana, it seems that it causes more good than harm. If we put on the scale its promising results in the medical field and all those people who abuse it, then its legalization is obviously worth a shot. If a person wants to reach other states of consciousness or relax after a hard day at work they will find a way, whether it is marijuana, alcohol or antidepressants. Yet, still out of them all marijuana is the least harmful.
References
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Agata Blaszczak-Boxe. Marijuana and Your Health: What 20 Years of Research Reveals.
(October 2014). Retrieved on 17 January, 2016 from http://www.livescience.com/48171-marijuana-research-health-effects-review.html
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Sanders, L. (2014). High times: Legalization trend forces consideration of pot's dangers. Science
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