Three reasons why we shouldn’t legalize Marihuana

          

Three reasons why we shouldn’t legalize Marihuana

        The marihuana is a common drug in Costa Rica and in the world. It is a psychoactive substance that is commonly consumed by inhalation (smoking), and also is possible to use oral. This drug is human-related since 2700 years ago in Yanghai, China (Libertad Digital, screm1). However it has created a lot of controversy in all these years about its legalization because it doesn’t cause a physical addiction as nicotine; but people become dependent in a psychological way.  The marihuana shouldn’t be legalized for three simple reasons: brings physical problems in the consumer, it affects badly the mental health in the person, and finally the consumption of drugs will continue affecting the society.

        The first reason not to legalize marihuana is because it brings physical problems in the consumer. Some immediate physical effects of marihuana include a faster heartbeat and pulse rate, bloodshot eyes, and a dry mouth and throat; besides that it reduces short-term memory, alter sense of time, reducing the ability to do things which require concentration, and coordination. The chronic use of marihuana brings repeated respiratory problems, sinusitis, and bronchitis and possible effects on the hormones, liver, immune system, and brain.

          The second reason is because the marihuana causes mental problems as depression, schizophrenia, and psychosis. Also can cause a lot of serious problems of motivation, and it can be hindrance to apprenticeship capacities. According to a study realized by the Royal College of Psychiatrists 1600 of school-children, aged 14 to 15 for seven years, found that while children who use cannabis regularly have a significantly higher risk of depression, the opposite was not the case - children who already suffered from depression were not more likely than anyone else to use cannabis. And Three major studies followed large numbers of people over several years and showed that those people who use cannabis have a higher than average risk of developing schizophrenia.

       The third reason is because the consumption of drugs will continue. The legalization will promote to smoke, and it will be normal the drug use "By characterizing the use of illegal drugs as quasi-legal, state-sanctioned, Saturday afternoon fun, legalizes destabilize the societal norm that drug use is dangerous. They undercut the goals of stopping the initiation of drug use to prevent addiction.... Children entering drug abuse treatment routinely report that they heard that 'pot is medicine' and, therefore, believed it to be good for them"(Andrea Barthwell, MD). So consumption of drugs will be as a normal behavior in the society instead of became healthier.

        To conclude, the consumption of Marijuana can cause a lot of serious problems, from physical to mental problems, the legalization is not the solution to perform the people behavior. The lack of comprehension from the people about this relation is undermining all the efforts of prevention, and it affects the young people, negatively. Reduce the consumption of Marijuana is essential to improve health of the nation and education.

Citations

Alcohol and Drug, Treatment Referrals. “Marijuana” http://www.alcohol-drug-treatment.net/marijuana.html

Andrea Barthwell ,Former Deputy Director, White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) Chicago Tribune editorial. Feb. 17, 2004 The E:\ingles\Top 10 Pros and Cons - Medical Marijuana - ProCon_org.mht

Libertad Digital (ed.): “Una momia china de 2700 años llevaba tres cuartos de kilo de marihuana” (2 de diciembre de 2008). «http://www.libertaddigital.com/sociedad/una-momia-china-de-2700-anos-llevaba-tres-cuartos-de-kilo-de-marihuana-1276345092/»

Dr Philip Timms. Royal College of Psychiatrists “Cannabis and mental health” « http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mentalhealthinfo/problems/alcoholanddrugs/cannabis.aspx» February 2009