The War on Marijuana | Teen Ink

The War on Marijuana

May 28, 2010
By AndreChocolate BRONZE, Oviedo, Florida
AndreChocolate BRONZE, Oviedo, Florida
2 articles 0 photos 6 comments

People grow it, sell it, buy it, smoke it, and then usually are harmfully affected by it, they even give it fancy names like “weed” and “pot”. If these facts are true then why is marijuana legal in some states? The main reason is because marijuana can be good or bad in some cases. Marijuana itself can kill brain cells and cause memory problems too, but at the same time marijuana has many medical values like providing symptomatic relief to things like nausea and vomiting. Marijuana can also provide relief to migraine headaches
(Internet 1) and chronic pains. So overall the legalization of marijuana is a tough argument for both sides, but personally I do not think marijuana should be legal in the United States.

Marijuana can be very harmful in some cases. Marijuana may not be able to kill you unless you take a large dose of it, but it can still cause serious harm your body in many ways. It usually affects the brain in most cases, causes sleepiness, anxiety, distorted (Internet 2) perception, and difficulty concentrating. These are the main reasons why marijuana is illegal in most states. This is why I am against the legalization of marijuana in the United States or any state in particular.

Many people (including me) may think marijuana is bad for you and think it should be illegal, but at the same time there are also people who think marijuana can help in some cases, for example doctors. Doctors can use “medical” marijuana to treat most (Internet 3) conditions and symptoms like chronic pain, nausea, glaucoma, seizure disorders, cancer, diabetes, muscle spasms, and many more. In this case marijuana is favored, that’s why it is legal in some states, and people are debating over the legalization of marijuana in other states, if not all of the 50 states.

The debate of the legalization of marijuana goes on. Currently the president of the United States (President Obama) released his administration’s first National Drug Control Strategy, which sets up five-year goals for reducing drug use and the problems associated with it. This strategy states that “this Administration firmly opposes the legalization of (Internet 4) marijuana or any other illicit drug.” Though this November, Californians get to vote on a ballot initiative that, if passed, would make marijuana legal in that state. Those over 21 will be allowed to possess small amounts of marijuana. This may not seem like a big deal to you, but it just shows you how our nation is starting to give in to marijuana and its good and bad uses. But California is actually the only state that marijuana could be legal in; the other 14 states that it is legal in only allow medical marijuana to be legal. No matter what, I do not approve of legalizing marijuana in any form, any where.

While the war of marijuana rages on, I fight on the con side in this argument. Marijuana may help in some cases, but can always back fire in others too. The nation is starting to change when it comes to legalizing marijuana. Medical marijuana is starting to convince states to legalize marijuana, but luckily some states are smart and are still making marijuana an illegal drug, and if you get caught, well let’s hope you don’t get caught with it in the first place, because you might be facing some tough consequences.


Bibliography

Internet 1: NORML (updated in 2010). Medical Marijuana Reports. 5/16/10, 2010, http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=3472

Internet 2: FamilyDoctor.org (2000 updated 2010). Adverse Side Effects. 5/16/10, 2010, http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/addictions/drugs/485.html

Internet 3: Pain Management of America (updated 2010). Medical Marijuana with Pain Management of America. 5/16/10, 2010, http://www.medicalmarijuana.net/


Internet 4: Political Hotsheet (updated 2010). Obama’s New Drug Strategy Opposes Legalizing Pot. 5/16/10, 2010, http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20004702-503544.html?tag=cbsnewsMainColumnArea



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This article has 6 comments.


Fuh-rel BRONZE said...
on Jun. 14 2010 at 12:20 pm
Fuh-rel BRONZE, Corinth, Texas
4 articles 0 photos 12 comments
Yes i completely agree.

on Jun. 8 2010 at 6:44 pm
AndreChocolate BRONZE, Oviedo, Florida
2 articles 0 photos 6 comments
Actually on me and farrells part, and probably many others it is not that ridculous to say about marijuana, after all their is a war just not a physical one, its a war against people wanting to make it legal and not to make it legal, basically a debatable war where there is no violence, so like I said it isnt ridiculous if you mean it in a different way, so you dont insult my intelligience.

Fuh-rel BRONZE said...
on Jun. 8 2010 at 4:27 pm
Fuh-rel BRONZE, Corinth, Texas
4 articles 0 photos 12 comments
I think it was right to say "war on marijuana" after all we say "war on drugs".

cassandra_bc said...
on Jun. 8 2010 at 3:17 pm
cassandra_bc, Magnolia, Kentucky
0 articles 0 photos 1 comment
Yes, I was very aware that you were using it as a metaphor. Don't insult my intelligence. I think it is a ridiculous thing to say about marijuanna. It may be a "fight" but, it is NOT a war or any sorts.

on Jun. 7 2010 at 1:50 pm
AndreChocolate BRONZE, Oviedo, Florida
2 articles 0 photos 6 comments
When I said "war", I didnt think people would take it literally, what I meant was that its like a war, basically comparing it to it and making it sound like a metaphor. I hope you understand the non-literral meaning that I was trying to show now. And im glad you agree with me on one subject.

cassandra_bc said...
on Jun. 6 2010 at 7:46 pm
When you said the "war" against marijuana, I laughed. Do you by any chance know what the word WAR means. Doesn't seem like it. Your pros out weigh the cons. You did not sway me at all. Sorry about sounding like a jerk, but this subject is pety. Just so you know, I don't smoke pot and I don't think it should be legalized either.