Marijuana
One of the most popular and excessively used drugs in our day and age is the drug marijuana. Up until 1937, marijuana, also known as Cannabis sativa, was legal in the United States for all purposes. Now since then, marijuana hasn't been so accepting in our country. Cannabis sativa was banned with the passing of the Marijuana Tax Act. This law was created intentionally to stop the casual smoking among citizens and the youth (Young 1). In 1970, the federal government created the Controlled Substances Act of 1970. This act defined marijuana as having a high potential for abuse. This also prevented doctors from prescribing it (CNN Issues 1). "In 1972, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) petitioned the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, now known as the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), transfer marijuana to Schedule II (CNN Issues 2)." Making it a Schedule II drug will allow marijuana to be legally prescribed. In 1986, the DEA finally agreed to have public hearings into marijuana's medicinal value. These hearings went on for two years hearing from both sides of the argument. Between 1976 and 1988 as the demand increased, the Federal Food and Drug Administration composed the Compass
Legalizing marijuana may send the wrong information to children and society. Since marijuana is not proven one hundred percent scientifically to be medicinal, they may see it as a way of getting around the law to smoke 'pot' (FAQS 7). Passing a law to legalize marijuana may imply to youth that the use of marijuana is harmless. This goes against the anti-drug campaigns. "Softening in the anti-drug attitude among teens has lead to a one hundred forty percent increase in marijuana use among high school seniors from 1994-95 (DEA 3)." Of course there are many hazardous effects possible in the use of marijuana, but there is the risk factor in any medicine available. Some of the possibilities are reduced ability to perform tasks requiring concentration and coordination such as driving a car, increased heart rate, and bloodshot eyes. Dry mouth and throat, altered motivation and cognition, making the acquisition of new information difficult, intense anxiety attacks, panic attacks, paranoia, breathing problems, and impairments in learning and memory, perception, and judgement are also problems that may occur with the use of marijuana. Long-term use can result in smoking-related problems such as bronchitis and asthma. It can also affect both male and female hormones (CNN Facts 2, Erowid 2). However, legalizing Cannabis very well may not send that negative signal that it is okay to engage in the use of marijuana. Though there is a concern, data shows that there would not be a problem with the medical use of marijuana if it were as closely regulated as the use of other medications. Matter of fact, many medications have abuse potential (FAQS 7). Nevertheless, to go along with all the risks of marijuana are the benefits. The positive effects are mood lifts, relaxation, stress reduction. It also is good for pa
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Approximate Word count = 1232
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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