Pros and cons to the legalization of marijuana

Pros and cons to the legalization of marijuana
With Colorado and Washington becoming the first two states in the United States to legalize the recreational use of marijuana, the demand from the public to see it legalized in every state has skyrocketed. Many states have followed the path built by Colorado and Washington and many are in the early stages of legalizing marijuana as well. There have been many benefits both medicinally and economically to the legalization of recreational marijuana usage. However, that does not mean that there are no detriments and/or concerns that fight against it.
What is Marijuana?
Marijuana - also known as weed, herb, pot, bud, etc. - is a mixture of dried flowers of Cannabis sativa. It is a hallucinogenic drug that is often smoked with something such as a bowl, or rolled into a joint. It is also used to brew tea and often mixed in with foods which or called edibles. THC is the chemical in marijuana that causes the psychoactive effects commonly associated with marijuana usage. The chemical is found n resin that is produced by leaves and buds of the female cannabis plant. There are also more than 100 compounds that are chemically related to THC in the plant, which are called cannabinoids.
Effects of Marijuana
There are many psychedelic effects caused by the consumption and subsequent intoxication of marijuana. These effects vary from person to person and environment to environment. Also, the evidence to support these effects are purely anecdotal and rely on first hand experience from users of the drug. A study by Charles T. Tart of the Department of Psychology at the University of California was created with the intent to be a guide for future experiments in this area. The experiment consisted of a questionnaire sent to seasoned marijuana users whose experiences were almost all pleasant. Persons involved in this study reported over 200 distinct descriptions of the effects of marijuana. Some experienced visual effects such as seeing shapes and patterns in material that they would not otherwise have seen if they were sober. Others experienced auditory effects such as more clearly understanding the lyrics within songs as well as hearing more subtle changes in sounds. Most of these effects are related to music and having a more enjoyable experience when listening to music. There are also reports of sexual effects such as having a better sexual orgasm when intoxicated by marijuana. Other effects include changes in taste, smell, emotions, thought processes, self control, memory, and sleep. Though much more infrequent, people have also reported effects such as feeling a closer relationship to a higher power or deity, that they might have otherwise not believed in. This is not saying that they became religious through religion, but more that they experienced something very unusual yet powerful that may have a chance of changing one's beliefs.
Medical Benefits of Legalizing Marijuana
Medical marijuana has historically been much easier to legalize than recreational marijuana usage. This is due to the medical benefits of smoking marijuana. There are many positive effects that marijuana has medically. An online survey published by Salomeh Keyhani, MD, MPH, asked thousands of US adults the risks and benefits of marijuana use. Within this survey, it asked these people about medical benefits. The majority of those who responded, 65.7%, reported that marijuana is a great help in pain management and 47.9% of adults said it helps in the treatment of diseases such as epilepsy or multiple sclerosis. Others reported stress relief, improved appetite and sleep, improved creativity, improved focus, and improved energy. Overall, the study showed that 81% of US adults believe there is at least one benefit of marijuana usage. Marijuana has also been used as therapy for people who live with cancer, HIV/AIDS, and multiple sclerosis. A survey issued by the National Center in HIV Social Research in New South Wales Sydney, Australia, asked people with diseases, such as those stated prior, if therapeutic and/or recreational use of marijuana had a positive effect on their treatment. Of those who filled out the survey, 59.8% of the participants reported some use of marijuana. Of that percentage of people, 55.7% reported using recreational-only usage of marijuana and the remaining 44.3% reported both recreational and therapeutic usage of marijuana.
Medical Detriments of Legalizing Marijuana
There are also many concerns for the health of marijuana users. There is a very high risk for addiction to marijuana through constant use. This is a very contentious topic with people arguing on both fronts whether or not marijuana is an addictive drug. However, evidence has clearly shown that the long-term usage of marijuana can lead to a psychological and physical addiction to the drug. Studies show that approximately 9% of those who use marijuana will become addicted according to the criteria laid out in DSM-IV. This number rises with those who start using marijuana as teenagers and goes up even higher in those that use marijuana on a daily basis. Those who begin using marijuana in their adolescence while the brain is still developing have a high risk of experiencing cannabis dependence within two years after the first use. There are many reports that say the regular usage of marijuana is greatly associated with health risks. Regular marijuana usage is often associated to mental illness such as depression and anxiety. Whether or not the cause of the illness was marijuana though cannot be determined exactly. There is also a cancer risk with the usage of marijuana since there is smoke that is being inhaled into the lungs. There is no evidence that clearly states that marijuana usage can be linked to lung cancer like tobacco cigarettes can be. However, the association of marijuana to inflammation and increased air resistance shows that there is a high chance of marijuana being a cause of bronchitis and lung cancer. A large concern is that marijuana is often seen as a "gateway drug". This means that marijuana usage often will lead to the usage of more hardcore drugs such as heroin, cocaine, or LSD.
Social Benefits of Legalizing Marijuana
There are many social benefits for the legalization of marijuana. The most common audience for marijuana and alcohol is college students. These students use such drugs for the medical benefits as stated earlier such as pain relief, stress relief, and the overall positive sensation as stated above. The demand and usage of marijuana among college students has been rising due to multiple factors. These factors include stricter policies on alcohol, social norms on campus, and peer pressure by other students. There is also the social benefit of greatly reducing the illegal market of marijuana trafficking by legalizing the drug. When Canada was in the process of legalizing marijuana, there was a report issued by the United Nations Children's Fund that placed Canadien teens and children as the highest users of illegal marijuana. By legalizing marijuana, the children's direct contact with black market activity was greatly reduced.

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