Should Marijuana Be Legal

Marijuana is an addictive and a dangerous drug that has several consequences. There has been a constant debate on whether the drug should be legalized or not since people are always entitled to their opinions. Marijuana is dangerous and should not be legalized since it has negative effects on its users. Its legalization will also be a gateway to legalization of other harmful drugs that will ruin the society. The paper will give various reasons why Marijuana should not be legalized.
Health damage
Marijuana has been attributed to health damage since smoking any substances is likely to have life-threatening or negative effects on one’s respiratory health. With regard to health, it may affect a person’s judgment, IQ, memory and problem-solving capabilities (Schwarz and Kaplan 1121-1122). There are several cases that link the use of the drug to the increased chances of mental illnesses. For instance, some people who have smoked the drug have been diagnosed with Schizophrenia or psychosis. There has been a claim that marijuana may be used for medical purposes. However, there has been the lack of support for such claims from recognized health institutions. Food and Drug Administration which has the right of approving all medicine for prescription stated that there is “sound evidence that smoked marijuana is harmful” (Hawkins n.p.). It implies that there is no support for marijuana to be used medically.
Smoking marijuana has also been associated with impotence in males. It implies that those who smoke marijuana have greater chances of becoming infertile or impotent.

Various studies have linked the use of the drug to cases of cancer. Specifically, it has been linked to the occurrence of testicular cancer normally in young men. Cancer has made many people undergo a lot of sufferings hence anything that promotes the disease should be avoided at all cost. It, therefore, implies that legalizing marijuana will increase the cases of testicular cancer in young men.
Endanger public safety
Marijuana just like alcohol consists of immediate effects such as impaired judgment increased hunger, anxiety, dazed feeling, increased heart rate, paranoia and slowed reactions among others effects. The slowed reaction specifically is a bad effect since a person who decides to drive while under the influence of marijuana is likely to get into a car accident. It implies that driving under the influence of marijuana has a great potential of harming a fellow road user or even a pedestrian. In other words, legalizing the drug has a potential of bringing chaos to the public. Alcohols alone causes the society a great deal of revenue gained from taxation. It also costs the society in terms of treating physical damage caused as a result of its consumption. In the even marijuana is legalized then the society is likely to suffer a double effect.
The drug has also been associated with violence either domestically or at workplaces. Marijuana is a drug that is likely to influence someone to get involved in cases of assault which is a serious crime. Various families have also been broken due to the drug. Thus, legalizing marijuana is likely to increase the rate of crime in the society which is sometimes costly. Cases such commotion or disruption of peace are likely to increase in the event the drug is legalized. Smoking is a bad habit, and it has been linked to hundreds of death per year. If the drug is legalized then how many lives the government is intending to flush down? It is evident that the drug is addictive. It reaches a time when the addict can’t afford the drug anymore. Under such circumstances, the victims indulge in theft or robbery with violence which is unacceptable by the society.
Jeopardize Young People
The young people are normally considered as the future of humankind. They are prone to involvement in drugs which ends up ruining their lives. The drug may affect the brain development if someone smokes at a young age (Pope and Yurgelun-Todd 134). Smoking at a young age not only harms the future of the young individuals but also the hope and future of our country and the entire world. In the event the drug is legalized then the young generation will be able to have access to it very easily. The stigma attached to the consumption of the drug is also likely to drop in the event marijuana is legalized. There are high chances that the abuse of the drug among the youth may increase. The price of the drug will drop making it easier for the young people to purchase and abuse it.
Conclusion
It is clear that the use of marijuana consists of several negative effects that affect the society either directly or indirectly. In my opinion, Marijuana should not be legalized on any grounds even if it is for recreational purposes. Legalizing the drug is like to ruin many things including our health, our young people, and safety among others things that we currently hold dear to us. It would be very unfortunate to have a society full of health problems and chaos due to the legalization of marijuana.
Work Cited
Hawkins, John. “John Hawkins – 5 Reasons Marijuana Should Remain Illegal”. Townhall. N.p., 2016. Web. 9 Nov. 2016.
Pope, H G and D Yurgelun-Todd. “Effects of Heavy Marijuana Use In Students”. The Nurse Practitioner 21.4 (1996): 134. Web.
Schwarz, C. J. and J. Kaplan. “Effects of Marijuana Use”. Science 180.4091 (1973): 1121-1122. Web.