While the possible risks of using chemical substances for recreational purposes are well documented, these risks are, for the most part, personal and do not have an impact on other people. Of course, drugs can also lower one’s inhibitions resulting in dangerous actions, but if such actions are minimized, the dangers are low. For this reason, I believe that there is nothing wrong with the use of drugs for recreational purposes. In fact, some chemical substances that are legal, such as alcohol and tobacco, pose greater potential risks than illegal drugs. In particular, marijuana use creates less of a public health burden (CSMA). Since the effects of some chemical substances do not affect others, it is up to the person using them (autonomy) to decide if the risks are worth the rewards.
For the purpose of this essay, the focus will be on the use of marijuana. Most important to how marijuana affects the user is the method of ingestion. Most of the chronic physical health risks associated with marijuana are caused by smoking it. These risks include strain on the heart, increased heart rate and blood pressure, increased risk of heart attack, and lung issues such as bronchitis and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). They also include increased rates of cancer, and the risk of birth defects in children of mothers who use marijuana during pregnancy. The risks are increased for those who already have risk factors such as pre-existing heart disease and those who are tobacco smokers (CSAM). These same risks are not necessarily present for those who ingest marijuana through other methods such as edibles (ex. “pot brownies”), particularly the lung issues caused by the inhalation of smoke and tar.
Regardless of the method of ingestion, there are risks to a marijuana user’s cognitive functioning. These include a minimal risk of dependence, mental health issues such as panic, anxiety and paranoia, and changes in short-term memory, attention, and problem solving (CSAM). For recreational users these effects will go away after a few hours, but the long-term effects of chronic use of marijuana use are less obvious. They may include a reduction in brain function and information processing, especially for younger users (CSAM). Heavy use has also been connected to mental health issues such as psychosis, depression, and schizophrenia.
There are a number of conditions that could reduce the risk of negative effects on others. First, marijuana users should not drive a car, as the drug can slow reaction times, reduce attention, and increase the risk of accidents. Just because the impairment caused by marijuana is less than that of consuming alcohol, this risk is real. Another situation in which marijuana should not be used is in pregnant women. Research conducted on animals has shown that marijuana can effective reproductive physiology (CSAM). The same level of research has not been conducted in humans, due to ethical concerns, so the studies of marijuana’s effects on pregnant women also involve other conditions that can have an impact. For example, women who use marijuana while pregnant are also more likely to use other drugs. Even though the connection has not been proven in studies on humans, drug use of any kind should be avoided while pregnant.
Finally, there are a number of effects involving social function, which can be connected to marijuana use. Previous research has indicated that there is “a relationship between marijuana and poor educational attainment” (CSAM). A New Zealand study also found that regular use of marijuana “was associated with increased rates of a range of adjustment problems” (CSAM). It is unclear if marijuana use is the cause of these adjustment issues later in life such as unemployment, incarceration, and crime, or if they are somehow affected by the previously mentioned issues of educational attainment. After all, failure in school is likely to lead to negative consequences later in life.
Each of us has free will, which means that we are free to make our own choices. Ultimately, we are also responsible for those choices. However, the criminalization of drugs creates an additional concern. The criminalization of drug use removes our individual autonomy. Laws that prohibit recreational drug use take the choice away from the individual by imposing punishment on drug users. What is worse is that this punishment is often applied to addicts, when a better solution would be to provide treatment for the disease of addiction. We do not punish people for having any other disease. Prohibition of drugs does not prevent people from using them and legalization could actually help to reduce crime and make drug use safer. It could also help to reduce the prison population and allow us to address the underlying reasons why people choose to use drugs.
I believe that any person, who chooses to use drugs for recreational purposes, should be free to do so. However, I also think that anyone who makes this choice should do so responsibly and not put others at risk. It is also important that this person knows all the potential risks to themselves. If someone chooses to use chemical substances and is aware of the possible perils, it should not be up to another person or the law to tell that person what to do.
Works Cited
"The Adverse Effects of Marijuana (for Healthcare Professionals)." CSAM-ASAM.org. California Society of Addiction Medicine. Web. 05 Apr. 2016.
