Response to Should Marijuana be legalized

In Tatiana Vik’s blog should Marijuana Be Legalized, she discusses how legalizing marijuana would bring revenue to our state and cut down on crime and drug wars.  While Tatiana did a great job in presenting one side of the argument, I wish to present the other side of the argument, which I am in favor of.  There are a couple of reasons why I think that Marijuana should not be legalized.

While Tatiana describes the benefits that the state would gain on taxes in the sale of marijuana.  There is a bigger issue that one must consider, are we willing to negotiate the well-being of citizens in order to make a profit.  Isn’t the government supposed to look out for its citizens and provide them with the best possible welfare?

First, marijuana is terrible for a person’s mental health.  A recent Northwestern University study revealed that marijuana affected a person’s brain structure.  In other words, frequent marijuana users will have memory problems in the future.  Furthermore, chronic marijuana abuse can lead to something that resembles schizophrenia.  The study also revealed that the younger a person starts using marijuana, the worse the effects become.  The American Medical Association reported that when adolescence use marijuana heavily it causes persistent impairments in neurocognitive performance and IQ.  Use of marijuana is also associated with increased rates of anxiety, mood, and psychotic disorders.

Furthermore, a study conducted on 129 college students found that those who engaged in smoking marijuana twenty-seven days before being surveyed were discovered to have serious problems in regards to critical skills.  The study also revealed that students who used marijuana had lower grades and were less likely to finish college.  These students simply do not have the same abilities to remember and organize information compared to those who did not use marijuana.

It is bad enough that we are already losing many Americans to cigarettes and alcohol.  Is it really worth it to endorse the loss of millions more due to marijuana?  Hence, the next question would be if we legalize marijuana why not legalize all the other illegal drugs like crack, heroin, and meth? I guess the ultimate question is whether legalizing marijuana will make this a better country or a worse one. 

Another research revealed that those who smoke marijuana under the age of 25 will have cognitive decline.  It is possible for someone to become brain damage in over use.  A study done by the University of Wisconsin revealed that marijuana has high levels of THC, which affects cognitive thinking.  To be honest the study also reveals that after 23 most people decrease the use of the drug.

Second, marijuana is bad for one’s physical health.  Recent research has revealed that marijuana can cause lung problems 20 years earlier than cigarette smokers can.  This study has also revealed that seven percent of drivers involved in accidents tested positive for THC.  Marijuana impairs motor skills and increases the risk of car crashes.  Hence, if marijuana use is legalized, we need to be concerned about an increased number of driving under the influence. 

Moreover, doctors have said that smoking marijuana makes sperm less fertile-even if the women is the one who smokes it.  Even small amounts of marijuana can cause temporary sterility.  Thus, when a person gets high their sperms get high as well.  Obviously, men who smoke marijuana do get women pregnant but smoking marijuana reduces the chances for some.

Third, as Americans have learned with alcohol, taxes do not begin to cover the costs of the damages done to society.  More, importantly while pro-marijuana people argue that with the legalization of marijuana the state can better regulate how it is used and distributed.  However, with alcohol regulators still have not succeeded in keeping alcohol from underage drinkers.  The government has tried to use penalties to prevent the use of marijuana but it is still used by number of people.  Marijuana use would be very detrimental to those under 25 because their brains have not fully developed yet.  Thus, using the drug would

To Tatiana’s benefit, marijuana has positive attributes such as its medical value.  There are those who use marijuana because marijuana provides relief from pain, nausea, and other symptoms that many have.  Nevertheless, one must remember that the prescribed drug is used with moderation and the risk of using it relatively low.

Titiana also argues that if marijuana was legalized it would increase the number of tourist coming to Texas and as a result boost the economy.  While this argument is logical, I think that Tatiana failed to realize that tourist only go to Colorado because it is one of two places that legalized the drug.  Thus, they do not go there to visit the sights of the state but to get a piece of legalize marijuana.

 

 

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/08/09/marijuana-teens-brains/13802545/

http://www.webmd.com/men/news/20031013/smoking-marijuana-lowers-fertility