Legalization of Marijuana

​Lopez 1

Marc Lopez

Professor Evett

English 103 Monday/Wednesday

7 September 2011​​

The Green Threat

The legalization of marijuana has been a popular topic and a growing movement for the past couple of years. There are 17 states in the U.S that by their laws allow patients to legally purchase and use the drug for medical purposes at dispensaries. These states include Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Washington D.C, Deleware, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, andWashington (Marijuana, 1). My personal belief is that marijuana should be legalized so it can be used medically and recreationally. It should be taxed like tobacco and alcohol so the federal governemnt can gain some profits out of it that will hopefully help with Americas struggling economy. However, there are many that believe legalizing marijuana would make things worse for our nation in a variety of different ways. The oppositions view points against the legalization of marijuana should be heard in order to get a better understanding of this controversial topic.

Before we get into thecontroversial topic of the legalization of marijuana we first have to get an understanding of what the drug is. Marijuana comes from a cannabis sativa plant in which its seeds, leaves, and stems are used for the drug (Marijuana, 1). Inside Marijuana leaves contain a chemical called THC, which is basically the mind altering part of the drug that makes users feel high. This is due to dopamine being released into their brain from the THC chemical which gives them these feel good sensations (Marijuana, 1). The drug is used by smoking it out of different tobacco pieces, joints, or even edibles. Marijuana use does impair judgement by THC affecting the neurons in the brain and also increases heart rate by 20 to 50 beats (Marijuana, 1). Long term use can cause lung damage and mental problems that include psychosis (Marijuana, 1). However, medically marijuana does have its upside. “Several recent studies, including a new one from the Scripps Research Institute, show that THC, the chemical in marijuana responsible for the high, can help slow the progress of Alzheimer's disease. (In fact, it seems to block the formation of disease-causing plaques better than several mainstream drugs.) (Gupta, Health: Why I Would Vote No On Pot). Medical marijuana can also benefit in other ways too. “Other studies have shown THC to be a very effective antinausea treatment for people--cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, for example--for whom conventional medications aren't working. And medical cannabis has shown promise relieving pain in patients with multiple sclerosis and reducing