Introduction
Before passing any law, the congress as well as the senate should undertake careful consultations from the public as well as special interest groups. In this context, issues regarding health policies are very critical. For instance, it might have been deemed that the legalization of Marijuana to the young adults is to the benefit of the society. According to the new amendment to Article XVIII of the Colorado constitution, the use of marijuana has been deemed legal to people who are above twenty one years of age. However, there are some things that should be considered optimally before the decision is validated. Some of the elements that are deemed necessary to be cited include legislation, appropriation of the policies and finally, give an oversight of the whole issue. In an analysis to identify the why some policies are unanimously genuine and why others are challenged by special interest groups, as well as individual characters is because they possess some discrepancies.
Ideally, it is deemed important to identify the main problems that are accrued to the state where the legislation is supposed to take effect. This means that the effectiveness of the policies incorporated is felt. In addition, it is important to identify the characteristics of the target community. One of the questions that should form the basis of the policies is whether the policies are socially oriented. After this, it is considered a bright thing to ensure that the resources that are used in the policy implementation are not wasted in the long run. After this, the policy ought to be assessed in terms the actual outcomes against expected. In that connection, the new amendments within the Article XVIII of the Colorado constitution on marijuana seems not to have thoroughly undergone criticism. This paper aims at making an initial assessment of the same issue. It will then make the appropriate recommendations that should assist in challenging or supporting the bill.
Basic comparison between marijuana and alcohol
Ideally, there is a controversial debate whether alcohol is less effective than alcohol. Initially, the opinion that Marijuana is less harmful than alcohol has been held outstanding, even from the current president of the United States of America. However, the new amendment seems to state that alcohol had been legalized before marijuana. In that case, it becomes hard to define the reasons marijuana should not be legalized. Medically, they two substances are addictive and are intoxicating. It is amusing to stipulate that President Barrack Obama confessed that he used to smoke marijuana.
Theoretical conception on health impacts of smoking marijuana
First, Marijuana is deemed to possess a helpful chemical that is helpful to the body. These chemicals appear in a pure form. These are among the chemicals that are used to medication purposes. They assist in the treatment of cancerous infections, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, glaucoma, as well as other diseases. Medical experts extract these results. This is one of the new discoveries that are deemed to have come hand in hand with the legalized sale of Marijuana in Colorado. That is; this sale was not exclusive of the people who are not using it for medical purposes. Ideally, the use of public health research tools, the study of accidents, injuries as well as mental illnesses, led to the need to address the possible health effects of marijuana.
However, there are negative impacts that are associated with overconsumption of marijuana. Initially, marijuana causes a cardiovascular system. In addition, they suffer from the increasing heart rate, as well as blood pressure. These adverse effects because fatal effects that are irreversible. Besides, there are long term effects of consuming marijuana. Relatively, age is one factor that varies the level of impact. For instance, marijuana is possibly rated to because hazardous impacts to the lungs. In that case, the age of the lungs also matters. The younger the age, the more the negative impact the Marijuana causes. When the law on legalizing marijuana was made to the people who are aged 21 years and above, it means that they have the right to purchase it. However, the government cannot control the level of consumption and the consumer’s age. A child may choose to consume the product away from the supervision of the aged relatives.
Analytical report from local findings
The new amendment of the marijuana policy has led to myriad impacts within the Colorado state. Ideally, local study indicates that the increased allowance of people to engage in smoking marijuana is negatively impassive. From the prime study made, the major reason that resulted to the legalization of marijuana was that the policymakers intended to reduce the level of consumption of marijuana by the young people. However, after a detailed societal study and examination of the general impacts of legalizing Marijuana, there are several issues that are found to arise continually.
Health-related Impacts of legalizing marijuana to the adults
Intensive legalization and use of marijuana, according to many respondents, has led to poor management of funds due to the adverse effect of addiction. According to the residents, legalization of marijuana to take advantage of the fact it is something that someone can do every time in one’s life. This means that the supply of marijuana grew to a larger extent. This means that there was overconsumption of marijuana in the state. To the present day, many negative results of smoking marijuana have been experienced. Some of these impacts are health oriented. They are categorized into the following.
Addiction effects
The extensive use of marijuana as a result of eviction of the barriers that previously reduced to a rapid consumption of the same has led to addiction. Ideally, this is one of the strongest t and feasible results that occur after the overconsumption of marijuana. In Colorado, there is a record of several culprits who have suffered from addiction. It is after this that they have overused the income that they acquire to purchase marijuana. To some extent, some have grown mad due to over consumption of marijuana. In addition, there have been records of poor performance by college students of varying ages. After consumption of marijuana, the mind is left unconscious, and one looses memory at a very high rate. This has led to the extensive deterioration of the health status of the society.
Physical side effects
Another negative impact of smoking marijuana results to myriad physical impacts. First, research findings state that the intensive use of marijuana causes heart problems. For instances, the first four to six hours that one spends after smoking could lead to increase in the heart beat. The abrupt change of pulse rate may because heart failure, which if not treated quickly leads to a quick death. Statistics from the entire community health centers have outstanding record numbers of young men who have succumbed to marijuana-caused heart attack. This is very infringing towards the livelihood of such a state, among other states that have legalized the consumption of marijuana.
Health records on appetite and reduced pain
One of the positive impacts of this product is that it assists people improving their appetite level and reduces physical pain. After intensive research from the field sources, as well as, health units, marijuana withstands its reputation of increasing the appetite and reducing the extent at which people with multiple wounds feel pain. Ideally, patients with cancer happen to have pain periodically due to the development of the cancerous cells. An advantage that accrues to the people who smoke marijuana is, certainly, the reduction of pain. In addition, people who suffer from HIV/AIDS and consume marijuana are at an advantageous situation since they are in a position to advance patients' level of appetite.
Lung- related health impact
After intensive research, the extent to which smoking marijuana causes lung complications is not completely justified. However, medical practitioners state that the students who have had mild complication with the lungs are marijuana smokers. In addition, the National Institute for Health (NIH) has concluded that there are some adverse effects of smoking marijuana, whereby they experience mild but acute chest pains and unrecognizable illnesses.
Impact on women’s health
Research implies that there was a commonality between the policy makers and the health specialists on the fact that it is very dangerous to smoke marijuana when pregnant. Medical reports imply that a fetal development should be done in the absence of marijuana. This analysis was done after a problem related to fetal development was reported in the central health unit, in the region.
Interpretations and recommendations to policy makers
The cost of dealing with the negative health impacts that face any society are very high related to the positive impacts of smoking marijuana. This also means that one looses himself or herself. It is the cordial responsibility of the policy makers to revisit their criteria of dealing with policy making on health matters. Some of the key determinants that should be considered:
- The opinions of the special interest groups concerning public health and the advantages that the consumption of marijuana has. Since there is the negative effect that are related to consumption of marijuana besides the fact that the policy makers intend to legalize it.
- They should also consider the cost of implementation of the policy. For instance, in this case, the policy makers should be careful about the whereabouts of the citizens who are being permitted to consume marijuana.
- They should avoid acting from political influence, as well as, selfish interests. Sometimes, the vendors of such drugs might be prominent leaders within the government. The policy developers should operate independently to ensure that they come up with the best solution and policies at large.
- The policy makers should look at the adverse effects that go the entire society as a result of passing any policy. This includes determining whether the policy is undetermined, or it is ineffective in its intended purpose.
However, there are some challenges that influence the policy making process. They include:
- Political interference
- Inadequate research on the impact or the policy to that is intended to be implemented
- Inaccuracy in the proposed measure of curbing the problem to be solved. Ideally, poor identification of the reason why people are illegally trafficking and consuming any product could lead to the increased level of poor policing process
The new amendment of the legislature is identified to have myriad impacts. Some are positive whereas others are negative. This means that there is the need for well defined decisions to taken for the policing process to yield desirable output. The output should be regarded as important with reference to the level by which the policy affects or favors the society.
