Introduction
Cannabis is another name for marijuana. It is one of the many medicines out there that may mess with your perceptions and how your brain works. The dried leaves of the marijuana plants are used to make it. When marijuana is provided in modest doses, it is administered as a medicine. However, it may be consumed in huge quantities for recreation and leisure. Marijuana is still illegal in most nations, and anyone caught with it faces prison time. On the other hand, several countries are of a different mindset and have legalized marijuana for personal and public use. The argument over medicinal marijuana’s therapeutic value is continuing. Marijuana for medicinal purposes is legal in more than thirty states around the U.S. The number of states that allow recreational marijuana usage is also on the rise. On the other hand, the federal government defines marijuana as a restricted drug under Schedule I. Even though marijuana is prohibited in United States adults more than 128 million individuals, have used it. More than one person a minute is arrested for marijuana possession in the United States (Larkin, 2018). In 2012, Washington and Colorado were the first states to make marijuana legal for recreation purpose. However, no federal law should legalize marijuana because its side effects are more severe than medicinal benefits.
A medical emergency involving marijuana is rising as the drug becomes more widely available. Emergency room visits and hospitalizations due to marijuana have increased by 200 percent in Colorado since recreational marijuana businesses debuted. In the emergency room, doctors say they have seen an uptick in visits for primary care, respiratory problems caused by marijuana inhalation, such as bronchitis, asthma, and upper respiratory tract infections, mental health issues, accidental or intentional overdoses, and, regrettably, a rise in the number of children with marijuana-related problems. Marijuana-infused candy bars may contain four or more times the authorized THC dosage per serving, depending on the rules in the state where the candy bar is sold (Baggio et al., 2017). People who consume marijuana-infused sweets find themselves in the emergency room, suffering from panic attacks or mental symptoms they did not expect. After legalization, the number of poison-control marijuana exposure cases for children under nine more than doubled in Colorado. Unintentional marijuana overdose injuries in children are on the rise in places where marijuana is legal. After legalization, the incidence of marijuana-related burns at the University of Colorado’s burn centre significantly increased. Therefore, developing laws that allow the legalization of marijuana will increase medical emergency incidences.
Legalizing marijuana will only exacerbate the already-existing mental health issues caused by regular marijuana usage. It has been linked to an increased chance of acquiring mental diseases such as schizophrenia, depression, and bipolar disorder. Harvard and Northwestern researchers discovered that recreational marijuana users have anomalies in particular brain regions’ shape, volume, and density (Larkin, 2018). According to research, if someone is performing well at a job or school, they should not have any problems with a small amount of marijuana. Research published in the British Journal of Psychiatry found strong evidence that frequent marijuana use can cause acute unfavourable mental consequences in many users. Twenty-two percent of marijuana users claimed having suffered acute anxiety or panic attacks after consuming the drug, and fifteen percent reported having experienced psychotic symptoms due to their usage.
Legalizing marijuana is harmful to the company since it leads to more accidents that could have been avoided and fewer hours worked. A year following legalization in Colorado, workplace occurrences involving workers under the influence of marijuana rose from 6 percent to 20 percent. The research found 55 percent more industrial accidents and 85 percent higher injuries and absenteeism among postal workers who tested positive for marijuana usage (Donnelly and Young, 2018). Ice Miller’s partner and vice head of the Labor and Employment Group, Paul L. Bittner, stated that companies are concerned about potential liability and productivity loss when an accident occurs and someone is injured or killed. Marijuana use, even every week, has been shown to have long-lasting effects on the areas of the brain associated with motivation. Dopamine, a neurochemical that is thought to have a role in a person’s ability to summon motivation, is reduced among long-term marijuana users. According to research published in the journal Addiction, those who smoked marijuana in the preceding year were less committed to their employment than non-users.
However, the legalization of marijuana boosts the country’s economy. When marijuana is legalized, it supports various industries like transport, construction, real estate, food, banking and tourism. The legalization of marijuana will increase the stability of these industries, and these will industries will contribute to the growth of a given country’s economy. For instance, marijuana generates three times as much tax income in Colorado as alcohol does. The first financial year after marijuana retail sales started, the state raised $78 million, while the second financial year brought in $129 million. In the second financial year of sales, Washington earned $220 million in tax revenues (Donnelly and Young, 2018). Although the legalization of marijuana can help boost the country, it can also cost society a lot of money. It would be a mistake to legalize marijuana since it would add another hazardous chemical to our society that costs us more than it provides in money. An overwhelming majority of those who oppose legalizing marijuana do so because they believe it harms society. Also, developing federal laws that support the legalization of marijuana will give people their rights and freedom. Adults do n0t need the government to tell them what they can and cannot put in their bodies. People have the freedom to live their lives in any way they want, as long as they do not infringe on other people’s rights. The government would not imprison anyone for possessing swimming pools, even though millions of people die from drowning in the United States each year. Adults should be able to have fun as they choose without interference from the government, especially if they are not harming anyone. Although people need their freedom, the legalization of marijuana will cost society and the government through high medical expenses, loss of lives and low level of productivity. The American Medical Association (AMA) and the American Society of Addiction Medicine are two public health organizations that are against marijuana legalization for recreational use. It is difficult to educate the public about marijuana’s recognized dangers and negative effects if legalization efforts portray it as a harmless substance. Legalizing marijuana is opposed by these groups, who advise authorities to be careful and wait until more information is available before deciding on legalization.
Conclusion
Many pieces of research are presently being done on marijuana. Scientists are investigating the possibility that the plant and the compounds it yields might be useful in treating certain ailments. Since the FDA has authorized marijuana to treat epilepsy in the U.S., most individuals are still unsure about the benefits and drawbacks of medicinal marijuana. Marijuana’s advantages and legality are still up for dispute. In addition, those with a history of marijuana usage have been found to score worse on I.Q. tests than those who have never used the substance. The long-term usage of the medicine may have a detrimental effect on an individual’s cognitive abilities. A person’s view of reality is likely to be altered by marijuana, leading to life-altering decisions. Marijuana use is linked to an individual’s decline in intelligence over time, and this decline is directly linked to an individual’s deterioration in their overall health. The biggest issue in ensuring healthy biological predispositions of marijuana users is reduced body immunity.
References
Baggio, M., Chong, A., & Kwon, S. (2017). Helping settle the marijuana and alcohol debate: Evidence from scanner data. Available at SSRN.
Donnelly, J., & Young, M. (2018). Legalizing medical/recreational marijuana: implications for school health drug education programs. Journal of school health, 88(9), 693-698.
Larkin Jr, P. J. (2018). Introduction to a Debate: Marijuana: Legalize, Decriminalize, or Leave the Status Quo in Place. Berkeley J. Crim. L., 23, 73.
write