Marijuana, cannabis sativa, health, tobacco, NIDA National Institute on Drug Abuse, depression, anxiety, cannabis, drug, lifestyle, plant, danger, schizophrenia
Throughout the 20th century and onwards, marijuana has been considered by society as a dangerous substance that should not be cultivated or consumed. Several studies and informative materials have been provided to people to establish the claim that marijuana is unsafe for health and can lead to many different diseases and conditions that may eventually lead to death. Aside from this, marijuana is also considered as responsible for causing disruptions in the quality of life lead by its users. Coinciding with these claims is the enactment of laws which ban its use thereby preventing people from accessing it and criminalizing those who do. Yet while there may be truth in the claims that marijuana may cause problems, it must be noted that like many other substances, its harmful effects are usually caused by misuse and abuse. Marijuana has, in fact, many beneficial uses, especially as a medication. Given its extensive history of use and its benefits to society, this paper holds that marijuana should be legalized to a particular extent which maximizes its benefits.
[...] Also, it is claimed that marijuana also affects the cardiovascular system. NIDA further states that a person's heart beats 20%-100% more during the first hour after smoking which puts a person at risk for a heart attack ("NIDA Infofacts: Marijuana"). Aside from physical effects, it is also believed that marijuana can affect and alter a person's state of mind, causing "distorted perceptions, impaired coordination, difficulty with thinking and problem solving, and problems with learning and memory." This effect can last for days, which means that a marijuana user is performing below the level of his maximum intellectual potential during this time. [...]
[...] In a statement released by the New York State Nurses Association, professional nurses advocated the use of marijuana in the medical setting on account of its success in alleviating pain as well as preventing weight loss commonly seen in people living with AIDS or cancer by stimulating appetite ("Position Statement: Medical Use of Marijuana"). Aside from medical use, marijuana should be legalized because in moderate use it does not cause serious untoward effects on health nor on quality of life. In a study done in California, researcher interviewed 3038 marijuana users between the ages of 16 and 91 years about how cannabis affected their lives. The respondents claimed to be "medical marijuana" users, which mean that they smoke marijuana for its medicinal worth. [...]
[...] Why Marijuana Should be Legalized? Introduction Throughout the 20th century and onwards, marijuana has been considered by society as a dangerous substance that should not be cultivated or consumed. Several studies and informative materials have been provided to people to establish the claim that marijuana is unsafe for health and can lead to many different diseases and conditions that may eventually lead to death. Aside from this, marijuana is also considered as responsible for causing disruptions in the quality of life lead by its users. [...]
[...] National Institute on Drug Abuse, Nov Web Jan < http:>. "Marijuana - History." science.jrank.org. Net Industries and its Licensors Web Jan < http:>. "Position Statement: Medical Uses of Marijuana." www.nysna.org. New York State Nurses Association Web Jan < http:>. [...]
[...] Moderate use of marijuana And lastly, marijuana should be legalized to a certain extent for the very same reason that alcohol and cigarettes or tobaccos are. As seen in the discussion above, the claims that marijuana is a dangerous substance are not absolutely proven and that when used in moderation does not cause problems but instead even help in relieving stress. Moreover, it is already clear that both history and current scientific studies attest to the positive uses for marijuana in medicine. [...]
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