... stop oneself from acting impulsively, and it is also responsible for the working memory and decision-making (Hopson, 2013). A recent longitudal study that was published in the journal Psychology of Addictive Behaviors was done by Tapert who looked at 12 to 14 year old boys and ... ;For boys who engaged in heavy drinking during adolescence, we see poor performance on tests of attention . . ." (Trudeau, 2010). Therefore Tapert's study shows that heavy drinking of alcohol is having a significant effect on certain areas of the brain which is effecting the memory and learning functions in the...

• Word Count: 2034
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• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... recent changes in Hawaii's laws and using marijuana for recreational purposes. The State of Hawaii should not legalize marijuana. First, marijuana poses health risks. It contains many toxic chemicals including some of the cancer causing agents found in tobacco. According to the National Drug Information Center ... three drugs are 77 times and adults are 104 times more likely to use cocaine. Joseph A. Califano, Jr., (CASA's) president said, "This study reveals a consistent and powerful connection between the use of cigarettes and alcohol and the subsequent use of marijuana, and between t...

• Word Count: 1430
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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... socioeconomic realm of a user's life. Health ailments such as; lung cancer and other respiratory disease, temporary increased heart rate, decreased cognitive skills, and changes in a users mood all contribute to diminished social and economic gains. Previous research on marijuana use among college age adults has focused on the mental state and consequence of marijuana use. One study has examined the correlation of ... who share in his addiction. By a reduction in means, he has come to a plateau where there are others akin to him (Kaestner, 1998). Existing research has focused on the heal...

• Word Count: 1150
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• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... potentially life-threatening drugs, are legal the question begs why marijuana remains illegal throughout most of the United States. In fact, a 2010 study shows marijuana sent the least amount of people to the hospital for drug related reasons with only 27,000 visits, with alcohol coming in ... . As most studies have found, chemicals found in marijuana such as cannabinoids and cannabidiol have significant anti-anxiety and antidepressant effects "(23 Health Benefits of Marijuana)." Marijuana has also been shown to reduce the effects of glaucoma, control epileptic seizures, and ease the pa...

• Word Count: 1122
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• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... to use a natural-growing herb like marijuana. Cannabis Sativa, alcohol, and tobacco all have been linked to: the term "gateway " drug, mind alterations leading to cognitive impairments, and health issues. Cannabis Sativa is the only one that has the potential to produce medical, industrial, economical, and environmental benefits, however, out of the three it is the only one that ... proving smoking tobacco can lead to lung disease, cancer, and eventually death. It is a typical belief that smoking marijuana can lead to all the health issues including death that tobacco does. Therefore, a...

• Word Count: 2966
• Approx Pages: 12
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... to use a natural-growing herb like marijuana. Cannabis Sativa, alcohol, and tobacco all have been linked to: the term "gateway " drug, mind alterations leading to cognitive impairments, and health issues. Cannabis Sativa is the only one that has the potential to produce medical, industrial, economical, and environmental benefits, however, out of the three it is the only one that ... proving smoking tobacco can lead to lung disease, cancer, and eventually death. It is a typical belief that smoking marijuana can lead to all the health issues including death that tobacco does. Therefore, a...

• Word Count: 2966
• Approx Pages: 12
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... outdated, have proven failed, and need to be changed to create a safer society for Canadian citizens. Along with financial and judicial alleviations provided by the legalization of marijuana, individuals with health issues would greatly benefit from the plant as well. Marijuana has been found to suppress cancer, reduce blood pressure, treat glaucoma, alleviate pain and even inhibit HIV. It is an ... diseases"" (ibtimes.com, 2013) stated researchers at Meir Medical Center in Israel. "We performed a prospective trial to determine whether cannabis can induce remission in patients with Crohn...

• Word Count: 2108
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• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... mounting public information campaigns, introducing programs to reduce unemployment or poverty (Sacco and Kennedy, 2002). However, three methods that have shown some effectiveness to prevent crimes are public health-style, situational crime prevention and crime prevention through social development (Sacco and Kennedy, 2002). Specifically, improved economic opportunities may offer an alternative to the illegal marijuana industry. One ... strategies involve community outreach programs such as police/youth mentoring programs, peer support programs and programs where community elders teach th...

• Word Count: 2766
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• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... death by overdose. According to the prestigious European medical journal, The Lancet, "The smoking of cannabis, even long-term, is not harmful to health. It would be reasonable to judge cannabis as less of a threat than alcohol or tobacco." In recent years, it has significantly reduced the ... delusions, and depersonalization - a loss of the sense of personal identity, or self-recognition. 3 A study of 450 individuals found that people who smoke marijuana frequently but do not smoke tobacco have more health problems and miss more days of work than nonsmokers do. Many of the extra sick da...

• Word Count: 2773
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• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... And because marijuana does not impair breathing, Grinspoon recommends the drug as a means of easing childbirth. A California study showed that smoking marijuana reduced the damaging pressure inside the eye caused by glaucoma. A pharmacologist for the U.S. FDA, Denis Petro's 1981 study showed that oral THC reduced spasticity in people with multiple sclerosis. In the case of scleroderma, a condition that ... opposed to smoking tobacco) does not cause organ damage (Sullum 21). Also, studies in Jamaica, Greece, and Costa Rica have revealed little psychological or physiological damage, and no...

• Word Count: 3551
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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... into the topic we first must understand what each one studies. Anthropologists study the origin, the behavior, and the physical, social, and cultural development of humans. Sociologists study human social behavior, especially the study of the origins, organization, institutions, and development of human society. Psychologists study mental processes and behavior. Anthropologists would look into the cultural background ... of marijuana and find that Marijuana is the most widely used drug in North America after a alcohol and cigarettes, which are both legal. Both of which are considerable w...

• Word Count: 813
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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... no accepted medical use, it is apparent that the use of marijuana is having a growing acceptance in the U.S., especially in regards to its potential economic and health benefits (Schedule I). It was found in a recent study conducted by the Drug Policy Alliance that about 42% of people in the U.S. have used marijuana at least one point in their lives, clearing indicating that our ... current federal laws are not stopping people from using marijuana (Health & Family). In actuality, making marijuana use illegal is more harmful than the drug itself, since marijuana users ... of marijuana b...

• Word Count: 1081
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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... Marijuana should be legalized. There are many arguments made against the liberation of laws upon marijuana and one of the more popular would be the health risk. These arguments usually take place with someone who does not know the facts firsthand and there for exaggerate a little. It has been ... and length, theses studies have been subject to criticism due to the methods used to obtain this information. Recently, a well-controlled study found that the use of marijuana during pregnancy caused a positive impact on birth weight during the third trimester of pregnancy with no behavioral abn...

• Word Count: 898
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• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... used for medicinal reasons. Currently there are no warning labels upon the purchase of marijuana. In the book, The Case for Legalizing Drugs, it states, "Legalizing drugs would promote public health, not harm it. Street drugs are adulterated and misbranded. Consumers hav e a right to know that a product is labeled accurately, and whether any special hazards are associated with it" ... (144). Information is the best protection against its potential hazards; therefore legalizing it would promote consumer health and safety. Steven B. Duke, professor of Yale Law School, states, "If drugs ar...

• Word Count: 1572
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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... evidence to prove that marijuana use is harmful or helpful in the treatment of cancer. The American Lung Association is concerned about the health impacts of marijuana use in the treatment of cancer. "Marijuana is most commonly smoked, and our research has shown that smoke causes ... cigarette smokers, which leads to greater exposure per breath to tar" (ALA). The American Lung Association also believes that there are other health concerns outside the lungs attributed to marijuana use. "Research shows that using marijuana for the treatment of cancer injured the cell linings of ... quot;Ca...

• Word Count: 960
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• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... dollars that could be used to help fund Oregon schools and infrastructure. It is also the cause of far less violence, death, and health issues than its legal partner, alcohol. There are many people in the US that believe marijuana use and possession should be against law, ... while it does not contribute to America's death rate in large numbers, it is used by many to heal. There are 7 supposed health benefits to drinking alcohol, including that it can lower your risk of cardiovascular disease and it can also, in small amounts, lower your chance of ... diabetes. Yet, the negative healt...

• Word Count: 720
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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... . However, come the year 1996 California became the first state to legalize marijuana for solely medical use. Contradictory to many studies or popular beliefs, marijuana has many health benefits. In a study conducted by the American Medical Association in 2012, they concluded that using medical marijuana for patients that smoke tobacco and those with lung problems could actually reverse the effects ... of the statistics, marijuana could appear to be a better option than three FDA approved drugs. Additionally, marijuana has been shown to stop cancer from spreading throughout the body. In a...

• Word Count: 1664
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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... Many United States citizens who were once adamantly opposed to legalizing marijuana pessimistic are beginning to see the probable benefits of changing these laws. A study conducted by the Office of National Drug Control Policy indicates "perception of risk is declining to 30.7% ". The oldest know written record of ... their current crops they are harvesting. "By allowing the legalization of marijuana, the funds used to fight marijuana can be used to focus on health care and substance abuse counseling for harder drug users" "(Battle,Pinkston) Also funds once used on marijuana can be used...

• Word Count: 1578
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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... looking at these studies with an open mind, one can conclude that marijuana should be legalized. Even though there are some health risks associated with marijuana, it is no different than legal drugs like alcohol and tobacco. Marijuana does have negative health aspects. The main hazard linked with marijuana is the smoke inhaled by the user. This is an interesting point because ... to buy the drug will no longer have to. Legalizing marijuana would help the economy as a whole and for the individual. Lastly, marijuana can be used for medicinal purposes. In a study commissioned by the Unite...

• Word Count: 1605
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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... a large amount of organizations have actually endorsed medical access to marijuana. These include: the institute of Medicine, the American Academy of Family Physicians; American Bar Association; American Public Health Association; American Society of Addiction Medicine; AIDS Action Council; British Medical Association; California Academy of Family Physicians; California Legislative Council for Older Americans; California Medical Association; California Nurses Association ... also had tried cocaine, but by 1994 only 14 percent of marijuana users had gone on to use cocaine. "There is no e...

• Word Count: 2154
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• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... withdrawal symptoms usually occur for less than a week, but can extend for as long as 6 weeks. (Krauthammer 158) The most common negative health impacts of regular cannabis smoking are lung and throat problems including: coughing, increased frequency of throat and lung infections, and reduced lung capacity. There ... term carcinogenic (cancer causing) effects of cannabis smoking, but the results are still somewhat controversial. (Nadelmann 2) It can be safely said, however, that health risks increase with frequency and duration of smoking anything. There are no confirmed, published deat...

• Word Count: 1333
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... billions in funds that could be used to fund other interests as demonstrated in the state of California with the passing of the Moscone Act in 1976. According to a study of the state justice department budget, California saved nearly $1 billion from 1976 to 1985 by decriminalizing the personal possession of just one ounce of marijuana (NORML). Decriminalization would ... 12 billion spent annually on the war on marijuana (Marijuana Prohibition Facts). Various respected organizations such as the AIDS Action Council, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Public Health Ass...

• Word Count: 1417
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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... ) for the same reason. The federal government also controls the amount of nicotine and other additives in cigarette and cigar manufacturing, in an effort to lessen their risk to public health. The same tactic could be used on marijuana. The "harmful" effects of marijuana usage are the number one reason for it's restriction. These effects, however, are disputable. As early as ... marijuana be decriminalized. Since that time, the NAS (National Academy of Sciences) Institute of Medicine, the Federation of American Sciences, the Australian Commonwealth Department of Human Services and Health...

• Word Count: 1707
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... 3). The first step to decide if something can be considered a drug is to evaluate what defines a medicine. A medicine is defined as, "The scientific study of the prevention of and cure of diseases and disorders of the body- (Ehrlich 552). Numerous actions could be considered disorders of the body, such as sleep ... react in a bad way towards conflicts. When marijuana was smoked it relaxed the people and gave them a positive mood (Cohen 178). In another study done in the Bahamas where marijuana is not used as much, admissions to mental hospitals for alcoholism were 55%. In Jamaica were mar...

• Word Count: 1279
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... of marijuana. Introduction The year is 2015 and marijuana is now legal in Washington State, both recreationally and medicinally, but what are the side effects? This question not only regards health concerns in general but also considers younger generations exposed to marijuana no longer as much a taboo as it was 10 years ago. Would it be helpful to nationally legalize marijuana ... thereby making it less of a forbidden fruit for teens and young adults? As an avid supporter of medical marijuana for all its medicinal uses I chose to study how teens and adults in Washington are coming to v...

• Word Count: 1042
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• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate