Many people say marijuana use would increase if it were to be legalized. Research disproves this argument, from 1972-1978, eleven states decriminalized the drug. The results revealed no increase in usage. The obvious solution is that marijuana should be legalized with constraints, in other words, decriminalized. Although marijuana can cause life altering problems just the same as alcohol, decriminalization would have a more positive and lasting effect on society than prohibition.
Marijuana is a natural plant that creates an inhibiting effect for anyone that chooses to smoke it. THC is the chemical produced by the plant, which causes the "high." The chemical enters the bloodstream through the lungs and then enters directly into the brain (Narconon, 2001). The high is felt a few minutes after inhaling. Some short term effects the user may experience may include sleepiness, increased heart rates, blood shot eyes and dry mouth. Smoking marijuana has been proven to enhance the risk of developing cancer (Narconon, 2001). Much more research has been done on the cancer enhancing effects of tobacco products, which has been proven to dramatically increase one's chances of developing cancer. The use of marijuana as well as alcohol, has been proven to be detrimental to the health of both mother and child during pregnancy. The mother would be risking passing THC into the baby, impairing the motor development (control of muscle movement)(Narconon, 2003). The effects of marijuana usage compared to the use of alcohol or nicotine are about the same and if not less life-threatening.
"Cultivation of even one marijuana plant is a federal felony" (Mirken, 2003). Possessing alcohol during its prohibition (1920-1933) was the same offense. Prohibition of alcohol wasn't successful because crime became organized, public officials became rampant, and alcohol was dangerous to consume. The government had no control over bootlegging.
