Should Marijuana Br Legalized

Should marijuana be legalized? This has been a controversial topic for many years, with some saying yes it should and others saying no it should not. As with any controversial topic, there are pro's and con's that must be taken into consideration when determining which side of the argument your final decision is based on. The argument that the legalization of marijuana will cause more harm than good or, more good than harm is what needs to be decided upon. Will legalizing marijuana create more tax payers money to be spent or, will it generate additional revenue for our country is what needs to be decided upon. Will legalizing marijuana increase or decrease the crime rate is what needs to be decided upon. After weighing all the pro's and con's the decision must be made, should marijuana be legalized?

Marijuana sales should remain illegal in the United States because of the negative health effects on its users including the youth. Marijuana causes damage to brain cells, respiratory health issues, memory loss, impaired motor skills and a lower immune system. In some individuals, specifically the younger users, marijuana can trigger a psychosis or lead to schizophrenia (NIDA, 2010). Marijuana may be considered one of the greatest of Americans' pastimes, but its negative effects on the health of chronic users outweighs the temporary "high" they feel as a result of the THC.

When someone smokes or ingests marijuana, the THC quickly travels through the lungs to the bloodstream, then to the brain and other organs in the body. The resulting sensation is a mix of distorted vision, lack of coordination and impaired memory. These affects can last for hours and in some cases, days. If someone smokes marijuana on a daily basis, it's safe to say that they would be constantly impaired, even if on a small scale. Smoking marijuana can also increase the heart rate. Studies have shown that the risk of heart attack is greater in the first hour after smoking due to an increased heart rate and arrhythmias in some individuals (NIDA, 2010). Marijuana smokers are far more susceptible to upper respiratory health issues than regular tobacco users. Marijuana contains far more carcinogens than tobacco smoke. Users often inhale more deeply and hold their breath for longer than do tobacco smokers, which can increase the carcinogenic exposure to the lungs. There was a study done where 450 chronic marijuana users were the majority missed more days of work than nonsmokers, usually due to respiratory illnesses (NIDA, 2010).

Marijuana is considered to be the most common and safest illegal drugs in the United States. Still, marijuana use has also been linked to an increased possibility of psychosis in some people. Long-term smoking or ingesting marijuana can lead to addiction and negative health risks, but is especially dangerous for the youth. Chronic marijuana use in a very young person can trigger a variety of mental illnesses including addiction, depression or schizophrenia. Studies have shown that nearly 50 percent of the nation's youth has experimented with marijuana, and nearly 20 percent of young people become chronic users. The rate of addiction increases with the younger the individual is when he or she starts using marijuana. Although it is one of America's favorite pastimes, marijuana has too many health risks to become legalized.

Although marijuana is thought to create a negative impact, it is true that marijuana has many positive uses economically, medically, and in the textile industry. If marijuana is legalized, the government has the ability to tax the product, which will increase state or federal funds. According to the Marijuana Policy Project (2011), "Replacing marijuana prohibition with a system of taxation and regulation similar to that used for alcoholic beverages would produce combined savings and tax revenues of between $10 billion and $14 billion per year" (para. 1). Without the legalization of marijuana, the government is unable to control the distribution and taxation, and continues to spend money on the law enforcement agencies which enforce the current laws, which is where the savings comes in.

Marijuana has been proven to help with several medical issues. According to Procon.org (2011), "Proponents of medical marijuana argue that it can be safe and effective treatment for the symptoms of cancer, AIDS, multiple sclerosis, pain, glaucoma, epilepsy, and other conditions" (para. 2). Without the use of marijuana to assist with these medical conditions, many patients will have to live with the pain, discomfort, insomnia, nausea, and anxiety that will accompany their disease or disorder. If marijuana is distributed and monitored correctly by the government for medical purposes, patients will be able to have some relief from their medical situation. The terminally ill, or even those with permanent mental disorders such as schizophrenia, will be able to live the remainder of their lives without the constant pain or depression caused by their disease.

Marijuana has several uses in the textile industry. Marijuana (hemp) plants can be used to produce clothing, chairs, sails, towels, candles, insulation, lubricants, pulp, and paper (Recipenet, 1999). One of the most important from this list would be the ability to produce paper from the plants. The cannabis sativa plant (marijuana plant) grows at a rapid rate, much faster than trees, and can be used to produce paper, which reduces the amount of trees and forests being destroyed in order to create paper products. The plants also produce more fiber and oil than any other plant known to man, and this fiber and oil can be used in the production of tens of thousands of products globally (Recipenet, 1999).

On the other hand there is the belief that marijuana can affect someone's everyday life, job, and school. "Because marijuana compromises the ability to learn and remember information, the more a person uses marijuana the more he or she is likely to fall behind in accumulating intellectual, job, or social skills" (UATests.com). Some of the side effects people get when using marijuana are: having trouble remembering things, a slower reaction time, difficulty concentrating, becoming very tired, anxiety, being paranoid, an altered time perception, and red, bloodshot eyes (FamilyDoctor.org). With all of these side effects it is hard to figure out how anyone can function properly and normally while using marijuana. "Research has