There has been much controversy concerning the topic of marijuana. Many myths have surfaced over the decades. However, these claims have no factual evidence to support the negative perceptions that individuals feel towards this substance. The drug policy website, www.drugpolicy.org, specifies and disembodies many myths associated with marijuana use. This article gave me more of an insight on whether marijuana, as a controlled substance, should be legalized.
For years marijuana has been thought to cause Amotivational syndrome (laziness). Twenty-five years of research has shown that among working adults, marijuana users tend to earn higher wages than non-users and college students who use marijuana have the same grades as nonusers.
Another common myth associated with marijuana use is that it is addictive and causes long-term dependency on the drug. The fact is that people who smoke marijuana only engage in smoking it on occasion. Less than one percent smoke marijuana on a daily basis.
Claims that marijuana has no medical value are yet another common myth heard today. In reality, marijuana has shown to be effective in reducing the nausea induced by cancer chemotherapy, stimulating appetite in AIDS patients, and reducing interocular pressure in people with glaucoma, just to name a few. We may ask, is marijuana a harmful drug? Hundreds of studies have disproved many of the myths associated with marijuana use.
Other than being less harmful than previously thought, the legalization of marijuana could reduce crime, create tax dollar revenue and allow better government regulation. Governmental control of marijuana sales and trade would reduce the amount of marijuana in underground markets, also decreasing illegal trade and gang involvement, while creating dollars in tax revenue. Should marijuana be legalized? Are the negative attitudes towards this substance only a matter of the misinformed becoming informed and educated about marijuana use? Still, I do not know where I stand on this issue. Until reading the article on the drug policy website,clearing up some myths with respective research studies, my views have always been it’s a bad drug that people only use for the purpose of getting high. However, understanding the studies behind the facts I don’t feel that it is as bad as I once did, yet I can’t say I am for the legalization of marijuana either. What are your thought?!
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I think it's a very interesting topic. I personally don't like marijuana because it smells horrible, and I actually perfer being sober and completely concious over being high/drunk. However, I do have some friends who use it every once in a while and some who use it multiple times a day.
ReplyDeleteIn friends who use it only every once in awhile, I have no complaints. But the ones who use it constantly - there's a big problem there. I don't necessarily think they're addicted, I just think they find their identity in the marijuana culture and aren't motivated to do anything else with their lives. They just sit around and smoke it, watch movies that feature it, and listen to music that talks about it. They have all those glow in the dark marijuana posters and other marijuana memoribilia all over their walls. I guess they can do whatever they want, but it kind of makes me sad that they don't do something more productive with their lives. All of their money goes to the drug, and they work crappy dishwasher jobs to pay for it, and that's it.
I think legalizing marijuana could definitely bring in some nice money for the state, and overall, I believe most people would use responsibly if there were laws governing it the way there are for alcohol. I just can't say I'm 100% for it because my friends with problems (if I can even call them friends - we never hang out anymore) worry me that maybe more people would end up like that.