MARIJUANA 2
Should Marijuana be legalized?
The issue of legalization of marijuana has been up for argument for many years.
Marijuana, just like other drug substances, has risks and benefits that people ought to evaluate
and determine if its use is likely to benefit them (Basu, 2013). The Federal Regulations consider
marijuana a schedule one drug which does not have any medicinal use. The legalization of
marijuana has triggered debates from several different aspects including crime and safety, health,
relationships among other factors.
In my opinion, marijuana should not be legalized because of its risky effects on health.
The drug contains several chemical substances, whose properties have not been examined. These
substances may pose adverse complications on perception, memory, cognition as well as
difficulties in concentration (Gardenier, Brennan & Weber, 2017). Excessive marijuana users
may experience depressions, hallucinations and panic attacks. The use of marijuana by pregnant
women may also be harmful to the development of their fetus brain. Excessive addiction to
marijuana can cause damages to the respiratory system, increase blood pressure, cause cancer
and decrease the supply of oxygen to the brain. Most people affected by addictive disorders
normally develop withdrawal indicators and are often unable to regulate their drug use despite
substantial adverse psychological concerns.
Despite the negative effects of marijuana usage, other people support its use for
medicinal and recreational purposes. Most nurse practitioners advocate that the use of marijuana
is crucial especially for patients in the reduction of refractory pain (Swift, 2013). They, therefore,
argue that failure to legalize the use of marijuana is outdated. However, in my opinion, it is hasty
to contemplate the legalization of marijuana until the effect of inhaling the drug on an
