Should pot be legalized?

Question

no recist comments cause every color does it and explain why and making people stupid is not a answer because alcohol make people more stupid

Answer 1

Yes. Some users, especially someone new to the drug or in a strange setting, may suffer acute anxiety and have paranoid thoughts. This is more likely to happen with high doses of THC. These scary feelings will fade as the drug's effects wear off.

In rare cases, a user who has taken a very high dose of the drug can have severe psychotic symptoms and need emergency medical treatment.

Other kinds of bad reactions can occur when marijuana is mixed with other drugs, such as PCP or cocaine.

How is marijuana harmful?

Marijuana can be harmful in a number of ways, through both immediate effects and damage to health over time.

Marijuana hinders the user's short-term memory (memory for recent events), and he or she may have trouble handling complex tasks. With the use of more potent varieties of marijuana, even simple tasks can be difficult.

Because of the drug's effects on perceptions and reaction time, users could be involved in auto crashes. Drug users also may become involved in risky sexual behavior. There is a strong link between drug use and unsafe sex and the spread of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

Under the influence of marijuana, students may find it hard to study and learn. (14) Young athletes could find their performance is off; timing, movements, and coordination are all affected by THC.

Some of the more long-range effects of marijuana use are described later in this document.

How does marijuana affect driving?

Marijuana affects many skills required for safe driving: alertness, the ability to concentrate, coordination, and reaction time. These effects can last up to 24 hours after smoking marijuana. Marijuana use can make it difficult to judge distances and react to signals and sounds on the road.

There are data showing that marijuana can play a role in crashes. When users combine marijuana with alcohol, as they often do, the hazards of driving can be more severe than with either drug alone.

Can marijuana be used as medicine?

There has been much debate in the media about the possible medical use of marijuana. Under U.S. law since 1970, marijuana has been a Schedule I controlled substance. This means that the drug, at least in its smoked form, has no commonly accepted medical use.

In considering possible medical uses of marijuana, it is important to distinguish between whole marijuana and pure THC or other specific chemicals derived from cannabis. Whole marijuana contains hundreds of chemicals, some of which are clearly harmful to health.

THC, manufactured into a pill that is taken by mouth, not smoked, can be used for treating the nausea and vomiting that go along with certain cancer treatments and is available by prescription. Another chemical related to THC (nabilone) has also been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treating cancer patients who suffer nausea. The oral THC is also used to help AIDS patients eat more to keep up their weight.

Scientists are studying whether marijuana, THC, and related chemicals in marijuana (called cannabinoids) may have other medical uses. According to scientists, more research needs to be done on marijuana's side effects and potential benefits before it can be recommended for medical use.

Health Hazards

THC changes the way in which sensory information gets into and is processed by the hippocampus, a brain component that is crucial for learning, memory, and the integration of senses with emotions. Learned behaviors also deteriorate.

Long-term use of marijuana produces changes in the brain similar to those seen after long-term use of other major drugs.

Someone who smokes marijuana regularly may have many of the same respiratory problems as tobacco smokers.

Regardless of the THC content, the amount of tar inhaled by marijuana smokers and the level of carbon monoxide absorbed are three to five times greater than among tobacco smokers.

Symptoms
If someone is high on marijuana, he or she might:


Seem dizzy and have trouble walking

Seem silly and giggly for no reason

Have very red, bloodshot eyes

Have a hard time remembering things that just happened

When the early effects fade, over a few hours, the user can become very sleepy


The effects of marijuana on each person depend on the type of cannabis and how much THC it contains; way the drug is taken (by smoking or eating); experience and expectations of the user; setting where the drug is used; and whether drinking or other drug use is also going on. Some people feel nothing at all when they first try marijuana. Others may feel high (intoxicated and/or euphoric).

It's common for marijuana users to become engrossed with ordinary sights, sounds, or tastes, and trivial events may seem extremely interesting or funny. Time seems to pass very slowly, so minutes feel like hours. Sometimes the drug causes users to feel thirsty and very hungry-an effect called "the munchies."

Regarding children, parents should be aware of changes in their child's behavior, although this may be difficult with teenagers. Parents should look for withdrawal, depression, fatigue, carelessness with grooming, hostility, and deteriorating relationships with family members and friends. In addition, changes in academic performance, increased absenteeism or truancy, lost interest in sports or other favorite activities, and changes in eating or sleeping habits could be related to drug use. However, these signs may also indicate problems other than use of drugs.

In addition, parents should be aware of:


Signs of drugs and drug paraphernalia, including pipes and rolling papers

Odor on clothes and in the bedroom

Use of incense and other deodorizers

Use of eye drops

Clothing, posters, jewelry, etc., promoting drug use


Side Effects

Short-term effects:


Problems with memory and learning

Distorted perception

Difficulty in thinking and problem solving

Loss of coordination

Increased heart rate

Anxiety

Panic attacks

Daily cough and phlegm

Symptoms of chronic bronchitis

More frequent chest colds


Long-term effects:


Abnormal functioning of lung tissue injured or destroyed by marijuana smoke

Impairment of critical skills related to attention, memory, and learning

Recent findings indicate that smoking marijuana while shooting up cocaine has the potential to cause severe increases in heart rate and blood pressure.


Causes
The main active chemical in marijuana is THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol). In 1988, it was discovered that the membranes of certain nerve cells contain protein receptors that bind THC. Once securely in place, THC kicks off a series of cellular reactions that lead to the high that users experience when they smoke marijuana.

Marijuana is addicting because it causes compulsive, uncontrollable drug craving, seeking, and use, even in the face of negative health and social consequences. Over 120,000 people enter treatment per year for their primary marijuana addiction. In addition, animal studies suggest marijuana causes physical dependence, and some people report withdrawal symptoms.Children and young teens start using marijuana for many reasons. Curiosity and the desire to fit into a social group are common reasons. Certainly, youngsters who have already begun to smoke cigarettes and/or use alcohol are at high risk for marijuana use.

Also, our research suggests that the use of alcohol and drugs by other family members plays a strong role in whether children start using drugs. Parents, grandparents, and older brothers and sisters in the home are models for children to follow.

Some young people who take drugs do not get along with their parents. Some have a network of friends who use drugs and urge them to do the same (peer pressure). All aspects of a child's environment - home, school, and neighborhood - help to determine whether the child will try drugs.

Children who become more heavily involved with marijuana can become dependent, and that is their prime reason for using the drug. Others mention psychological coping as a reason for their use - to deal with anxiety, anger, depression, boredom, and so forth. But marijuana use is not an effective method for coping with life's problems, and staying high can be a way of simply not dealing with the problems and challenges of growing up.

Researchers have found that children and teens (both male and female) who are physically and sexually abused are at greater risk than other young people of using marijuana and other drugs and of beginning drug use at an early age.

Does using marijuana lead to other drugs?

Long-term studies of high school students and their patterns of drug use show that very few young people use other drugs without first trying marijuana. The risk of using cocaine has been estimated to be more than 104 times greater for those who have tried marijuana than for those who have never tried it. Although there are no definitive studies on the factors associated with the movement from marijuana use to use of other drugs, growing evidence shows that a combination of biological, social, and psychological factors are involved.

Marijuana affects the brain in some of the same ways that other drugs do. Researchers are examining the possibility that long-term marijuana use may create changes in the brain that make a person more at risk of becoming addicted to other drugs, such as alcohol or cocaine. While not all young people who use marijuana go on to use other drugs, further research is needed to determine who will be at greatest risk.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

Hell ******* yeah it should. Pot does some great things for people. Plus there are no harmful side effects unless it just doesnt work with your body. Yeah, you lose brian cells...but come on, you lose brian cells everytime you shake your head, bump your head, smoke a cigarette, or drink alcohol. MARIJUANA IS A GREAT THING!!!! Oh yeah, and half the time- you probably dont even know you are dealing with someone who is high. Not all stoners fall under the stereotype. I have a job, graduated high school with A's and B's, am going to college, and Im not a bad person or criminal just because I smoke pot. Pot hasnt effected my life in a bad way. Its effected it in a good way. You would be surprised the things you learn and get interested in when you're high. I have more respect for different people and have more of an open mind than before I started to ever smoke weed.

Answer 4

If pot were legalized we would loose the "tight" connection with other pot smokers. That cool connection that develops trust among the rebel crowd. We would loose a common cause. We would become disjointed, not literally, The freedom to smoke in public, anywhere, anytime would be a nice luxury. perhaps it would dim some of the parinoia down a little for some of us. But it's a bit like having sex in public really. It's better to keep it indoors because pot isn't for everyone and it is a private thing. However, I think, only for this reason that it should become legal, because it would save the taxpayers bucks in court fees, and it would not ruin peoples lives to have a criminal offence from a little private act like smoking pot. Pot heads are pretty harmless really. Most of them are much easier to be around than alcoholics, and sure you might have to wait for a green light to turn red and then green, and then red and then green again before they go sometime, but that's better than having your car dented in by someone under the influence of alcohol or narcoticxs

Answer 5

Yes! Pot has the same affects as alcohol. People have died because of too much alcohol intake and also driving while under the influence. You can do the same thing with pot. It has to do with being responsible. If you are going to smoke pot don't plan on doing anything else the rest of the day or night. BTW, in Japan all drugs are legal, thye don't have as many problems as we do. Then again their law is more strict. Also, people want what they can't have.

Answer 6

Yes - not only because it's less harmful than cigarettes and alchohol (it's from the Earth, not manmade), but because legalizing it would be better for the economy.

Do you realize that millions of dollars are wasted every year to fight the war on drugs? The government is losing that war because there will always be drug dealers as long as drugs are illegal.

And let me tell you something, pot has done wonders for my depression. It helps me calm down, mellow out and just relax instead of getting all uptight about things. I'm not a loser either. A lot of "stoners" are able to hold down steady jobs and contribute to society. It's all about moderation and knowing when it is appropriate to smoke and when it is not appropriate to smoke. It's a classic misconception that everyone who gets high is a lazy loser. I, for one, get a lot more done creatively if I've been smoking. I designed and wrote the HTML code for my website when I was high so don't even try to tell me that stoners just sit around and watch tv - I hardly ever do that - I'm usually working on something if I smoke up.

Answer 7

No, it shouldn't be legalized, at least in the form it's in now. Smoking pot from a bong or from a joint is the most common way of using pot. However, there are severe respiratory effects from smoking, like irritation, coughing, and cancer. It's a waste of time, and it slows people down. The only way it should be used is for medical reasons to deal with pain. At least in medicine, the doctors use needles, so there aren't any respiratory effects.

Even though pot has not been proved to have severe long-term effects, it's a waste of time and would be abused if it were legalized.

Answer 8

I support the author of this question. If hard liquor is legal and far more individuals have this disease than pot smokers. I would vote for the legalization in a wink of an eye. It will happen some day. The general public is ignorant on this matter and most conservatives think it will lead into other heavier drugs. Baloney, all drugs should be legalized. Control and taxation can generate billions of pesos. This would be a way of getting the U.S. out of debt. I wish someone would enlighten me why we shouldn't make drugs legal.

Answer 9

as a matter of fact it should be legalized. it helps people suffering from back pain, pms,depression,headaches,and it helps people with social disorders. it doesnt kill you. in all the studies did on it , there has never been a reported case of death do to the use of it.it eases some panic disorders, and it also makes you happy. and it makes the shy unshy. hey why not a laugh. a laugh is always good for the mind body and spirit. if it is legal, it leaves more room in the jails for the real criminals and gives the tax payers something else more comstructive to spend there tax dollars on. and the government could actaully make more money on it if it was legallized. and maybe help get the USA out of some of the rediculis dept its in.so yeah of course it should be legal.

Answer 10

I don't understand exactly why it's illegal when being drunk is legal, and smoking is legal. Those (more or less...) do similar things as weed does and like 1/4 to 1/2 the people I know do it or have done it, so I don't see why its illegal...

but on the otherhand, i'm kind of glad I don't have to deal with a bunch of stoned people constantly everywhere I go, because people would probably do it a lot more then, so I guess if I had to choose, I would probably keep it illegal.

*edit*
besides... I guess we don't see too many great things happening to the world thanks to Amsterdam, so yeah I def think its good that it's illegal :)

Answer 11

I do not think that it will ever be legal in the USA,if a
anything the politics are moving in the oposite direction and a fascist attitude against minority groups is growing

ATITUDES IN OTHER COUNTRIES
mild in Canada.used to be legal in Alaska.in Autralia you can have a few plants in the garden,In South Africa an ounce in your pocket is accepted .In Holland it is sold openly in koffie Bars and the police will direct tourist to safe places to buy.}in England a few years ago it was decrimenalised.
In Marroco it is the culture and all the old men smoke it in the caffees..as in many Arab countries
In Asia in some countries it is a very old part of their culture.
etc. etc.

MEDICINAL
in many countries marijuana is used in rubbung alcohol mostly by old people to relieve body pains especially the limbs.
it is also used for Asthma and nervous disorders
AMERICA
the USA the attitude is dogmatic for other reasons than the narcotic effects of the drug.
before 1920 marijuana was extensively grown by the USA and Mexico for the production of fibre.which made a durable material,cheap and it does not scorch,that was used for all the jeans,ropes,sails for the sailing ships and millions of jute bags that were used by millions of farmers,representing a multimillion dollars business.

after 1920 with the coming of synthetic materials,which were products of the petrolium business ,which were owned by the families or associates of most of the presidents,

this competitive comodity could not be allowed to continue to exist,
and the war on Mariujana was on.

the drug factor although it has been proven beyond doubt by countless tests that it was a relative harmless substance compared to sigarettes,alcohol and others,was blatently ignored and relentlessly the war continued to this day.
although it does worry the church, since people tended to stay up all night and question religious and philosohical beliefs.some times coming to uncomplementary conclusions of what was socially accepted.

alcohol puts people to sleep and they dont question the given standards.


MARIJUANA FIBRE
today Mariujana fibre is making a come back in Europe and Africa and produce designer pantalons and shirts for very high prices because the quality is superior than linnen.

these fibre plants do not produce drugs to speak of and are worthless for the drug market .it is the fibre that is the value.

and organically speaking it is an exelent plant to recuporate tired soils ,after cattle and corn field have practically destroyed the land,because the plant is deep rooted grows on most altitudes,and breaks open or loosens compacted soils as well as secreting nitrogen.

.the stalks can also be converted in to building material such as blocks