The Legalization of Marijuana and the Negative Impact

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Written by Chloe Nicosia

Marijuana, a cannabis product, is a mind-altering drug that comes from the hemp plant. All parts of the plant, including the leaves, blossoms, seeds, and stems, contain delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, otherwise known as THC. Using marijuana produces short- and long-term changes in the brain which can have adverse effects. Marijuana also has medical uses, as the drug can alleviate some health symptoms. The legalization of marijuana is a controversial topic, as various states either have legalized it already or are exploring the removal of the prohibition of this drug. But marijuana legalization could have an especially negative result for young people. 

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About Marijuana

When compared to other drugs, marijuana often seems less dangerous, but it can have half adverse negative health effects. People use marijuana by smoking it in pipes or rolled in papers, inhaling it via a vaporizer, or mixing it into food and eating or drinking it; the effects of cannabis in each method differ. Smoking marijuana results in THC entering the bloodstream swiftly, where it moves throughout the body. When smoked, the effects of cannabis, also known as marijuana, can cause many of the same health consequences associated with smoking cigarettes, such as mouth, throat, and lung damage, although future research is still required. WhiteSands addiction treatment center and their roster of treatment centers are proud to help anyone struggling with addiction in our drug rehab Tampa location. Treatment programs can help those who are struggling with cannabis use disorder (CUD). When ingesting marijuana, the effects of THC on marijuana users are slower than when smoking it. In the short term, the high from marijuana results in changes to your perception and sense of time, mood changes, impaired coordination, memory lapses, and problems with cognitive processes. Marijuana effects are not always consistent, however. Sometimes, the high feels happy and euphoric, but other times, it may lead a user to feel frightened and paranoid. The effects of cannabis and its health consequences of it still require future research to know exactly the effects. Over the long term, researchers are speculating that marijuana impairs cognitive function and memory, interfering with the way the brain carries out these processes. These negative impacts may even be permanent with the regular use of marijuana. Repeated marijuana use can also lead to addiction in much the same way that people become addicted to alcohol and other drugs.

Legalization

The public’s opinion to legalize marijuana, as well as news surrounding medical cannabis laws, has changed in recent decades, with many people considering it to be safer than other drugs. This attitude is especially apparent among young people. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as the medical association, call marijuana the most commonly used drug, with 19.8 million Americans age 12 and older claiming to have used it during the preceding month in a CDC survey. To legalize marijuana means to have economic impacts as well as public health effects. Part of the push for the legalization of marijuana connects to its medicinal effects, although many states have already legalized recreational marijuana. Some chemicals present in marijuana can help with symptoms such as nausea, inflammation, muscle control, and pain. These chemicals are called cannabinoids. Cannabidiol is one marijuana chemical that can be effective in relieving some health symptoms, yet it does not produce an intoxicating effect on the body. Scientists are researching the potential impact and therapeutic benefit of medicinal marijuana on diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, some cancers, and HIV.

Negative Effects and the Impact of Legalization

A number of negative impacts are associated with the legalization of marijuana due to its adverse effects. Greater accessibility of the drug would likely lead to more use and would entail a new cannabis law or laws. It’s also likely that the marketing of marijuana would include children and teenagers, which would lead to more young people using the drug. Youth using marijuana could lead to higher incidences of abuse and addiction. Some evidence also points to marijuana’s correlation with mental illnesses such as psychoses and schizophrenia, furthering the health impacts. Kids who begin using marijuana can develop cannabis use disorder and may have reduced IQs when compared to young people who don’t use it. Furthermore, the marijuana available today is a vastly different drug than what was available in decades past. THC levels are much higher in marijuana circulating currently, which makes it potentially more damaging to the brain and more addictive. The health outcomes are vast, and many experts also consider marijuana a gateway drug. This means that people begin using marijuana and then might move on to more lethal drugs such as heroin, prompting even more negative effects. When researching medical cannabis laws and their impacts on marijuana users, studies show that average users do not have terminal or serious illnesses, but they do have addiction rates that are nearly two times higher than in states without medical marijuana laws and recreational legalization. The potential for private groups funding the production and marketing of marijuana and all related merchandise will likely not have a positive outcome for anyone, especially the young people who would be a huge marketing target for these products as they may even grow marijuana on their own or purchase it on the black market.