Legalization of marijuana: a scary thought

Andrea Sessions, Reporter
March 18, 2010
Filed under Opinion

Many people across the country are for legalizing marijuana and they all have their own reasoning as to why. There are endless amounts of myths surrounding the cannabis plant. People attempt to rule out these myths with what they believe to be invalid government studies, such as the one showing the effects of marijuana on monkeys.

Those who support the use of marijuana have many beliefs, such as the belief that it is not addictive, or that it doesn’t inflict any harm on one’s mental or physical state. In fact, many think it’s helpful on the body. While this is popular belief, it isn’t factual.

Some of the short-term effects of THC, the substance within the cannabis plant that gives people the “high,” are impaired or they reduce short-term memory, concentration, comprehension and coordination or they cause a lack of motivation. Paranoia and psychological dependence are also a few effects. The long-term effects of smoking marijuana include the short-term effects, a higher risk for cancer, and an increased psychological dependence that requires a larger dose in order to acquire the same effect.

Research has shown that THC affects the hippocampus, a component of the brain’s limbic system, which is responsible for learning, memory and sensory experiences. It changes the way information gets in and how it is acted on. Recent findings have also indicated that long-term use also produces a change in the brain that is similar to changes seen after long-term use of other major drugs. And if that’s not enough altering of the brain, a study done at the University of Queensland, Australia showed that teenagers and young adults who are longtime marijuana smokers are more likely to develop psychoses, such as schizophrenia, than those who are short-term smokers or those who have never smoked before. Without a doubt, marijuana does affect the brain.

Along with the mental effects comes the addiction aspect. It is a belief that an addiction to marijuana cannot be obtained, but the truth is that it can. Although there is not a physically addictive substance within marijuana, one can easily develop a psychological addiction to the drug.

Another downfall of marijuana is its title: The Gateway Drug. Whether people want to admit it or not, it is a gateway drug. No, not everyone who does it ends up trying other drugs, but most people who are into harder drugs didn’t start out with those. Heavy, regular users of marijuana eventually reach a point where they have to smoke more of it to get a high. This can also lead them to search for that high in other places–and other drugs. Also, when someone is involved in marijuana, the other drugs become more available, increasing their chances of becoming involved in them.

Due to the carcinogens taken in when smoking marijuana, continually smoking it damages the lungs and pulmonary system, which can lead to abnormal functioning of lung tissue. This is why smokers run the risk of eventually developing cancer.

It’s easy to assume that if marijuana were legalized, we would see a rise in mental instabilities and health related problems, and a decrease in productivity and success in schools and the workforce. 

Of course, there are pros that come along with legalizing marijuana. The taxes placed on marijuana would help fund the government and could go toward paying off part of the national debt, and the marijuana sold would also be safer since the content and regulation would be controlled by the government. The con that comes along with government regulation is that it would be more available for young teens to get a hold of, even if there was an age limit incorporated.

All in all, decriminalizing marijuana would be a very dangerous mistake and a poor decision, because the negative effects of marijuana completely outweigh the positive changes legalizing it would bring about.