(855) 4-ESSAYS

Type a new keyword(s) and press Enter to search

The Truth About Marijuana

            
            
             Many people say that marijuana is a gateway drug that can cause dangerous effects to the health and society. But research shows that the myths about marijuana may not be all true. Many believe that marijuana is a menace to the society. Some believe that it is no more harmful than an occasional drink of alcohol. Still, some people view it as something in between. But is marijuana really hazardous to body? Or do people have a misconception about its effects? Despite the many arguments that suggests marijuana is a dangerous substance, there hasn't been a thorough study yet on this extraordinary plant.
             There are many people, including scientists and researchers, who are skeptical on what marijuana does to the body. Several studies argue that long-term use of marijuana has been shown to produce cancerous cell changes and other studies suggest that smoking marijuana can lead to lung cancer. "Despite the near- hysteria which accompanies the mid-1960's growth of marijuana use within our culture little information of scientific value had been added to our knowledge about the physiological and psychological effects of marijuana [I]n fact, to the present, essentially no scientifically valid data are available on the effects of long-term use" (Hochman 44). According to a recent study by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, ten chronic marijuana users were evaluated as test subjects to see if marijuana had any effect on the cognitive functioning of the human body. The results concluded that none of the ten subjects suffered any impairment of their mental abilities. In fact, I.Q. tests were given to the subjects while the subjects were using marijuana and tested normal or higher range of cognitive activity (Shaeffer 2). Many of the original studies of how marijuana is hazardous to your health may also cause some skepticism. Again, there has been very little study over the years about this subject, so there could be numerous conclusions.


Essays Related to The Truth About Marijuana

1. History of Marijuana and It's Legalization

... that, contrary to earlier research and popular belief, the use of marijuana did not prompt deviant behaviors including violence, insanity or sex crimes, and did not lead to addiction or other drug use. However, this did not impact congresses decision in enacting stricter sentencing laws. Starting from about 1951 to 1956, there were federal laws passed by ... a changing political and cultural atmosphere reflecting a more lenient attitude towards the drug. Eventually, it became used widespread in the upper and middle classes causing policies towards marijuana to begin to involve considerat...

  • Word Count: 2502
  • Approx Pages: 10
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

2. An Argument for the Legalization of Marijuana

... . First of all, it would provide an alternative to alcohol, a drug that is capable of killing and far more addictive. Secondly, if marijuana could be separated from other drugs it would be no more of a gateway drug than alcohol. The public should be told the truth about marijuana as well as have access to a product that has medicinal purposes. I am not trying to argue for ... the legalization of all controlled substances, but instead marijuana becomes fairly separated from other drugs and given be made available to the general public even if under heavy scrutiny. If marijuana remains ill...

  • Word Count: 530
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: High School

3. Cannabis and Playpower - Could Marijuana be a Miracle Drug?

... without harming anyone. Of course, there are limits, and, for instance, driving while being under the effects of marijuana is dangerous for other people, but so is alcohol, and that aspect is regulated. The same thing could be done about marijuana. Comparing it to alcohol is a good way of seeing the double standards of society and governments. Why is it different with cannabis? Alcohol has side ... that sarcastic tone it may seem his answer is very obvious and easy, when it is actually a false statement. What is disturbing about this book in general is the fact that it encourages people...

  • Word Count: 1963
  • Approx Pages: 8
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

4. Marijuana legalization debate

... frequent need to vomit (Bakalar 274). There are many myths to the drug marijuana, but these were based mainly on bringing fear to the population so that marijuana would stay illegal. The truth is that the state does in fact want to keep marijuana illegal because of its past history in getting in the way of the government. During the 60's and 70's, patriotism was at an all time low, with ... people more concerned with peace than with the war in Vietnam. The government thought that this was ... due to the "horrible" side affects of marijuana, which left people in a dazed state, not knowi...

  • Word Count: 951
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

5. Decriminalization of Marijuana

... and special purposes. There have been many reports on the use of marijuana in medicine. The reports conclude that there are many uses for marijuana in the medical field. In conclusion, although there may reasons for marijuana not to be decriminalized there are more reasons to decriminalize it for medical purposes. There are still a lot of myths about marijuana. but many of them have been blown out of ... proportion by the media and people are being misinformed. So as a result, when truth is separated from fiction ... , it seems that marijuana is not as harmful as people think and in fac...

  • Word Count: 467
  • Approx Pages: 2

6. pros of Marijuana

... own culture used cannabis up to 60 years ago. That's when the pharmaceutical companies stepped in and realized that they were unable to make money off of a plant. So the conspiracy began. But the truth is now emerging. Many state legislators like Alaska, California, Oregon, Ohio, and Colorado have made the punishments for using marijuana less harsh. And it is becoming more common to see this ... you would need as a president. The Netherlands and Switzerland (countries in which marijuana is legal) both enjoy lower rates of adolescent marijuana use than the U.S. Such a system would reduce...

  • Word Count: 561
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: High School

7. Legalizing Marijuana

... and invaluableness of hemp. It produced paper, clothing, rope, and was used marijuana was used to treat almost every ailment. The first president of the United States, George Washington, was an early hemp farmer. He kept notes in a journal about the quality of it and he wrote that he tried to make sure the female plants would become saturated with resin, which is a sign that he ... smoked marijuana. If marijuana was made legal, it could be used as a very useful drug to help or cure ailments or diseases. For example, someone ... least once in their life. Over 21,006,000 used it in the l...

  • Word Count: 620
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

8. Legalize Marijuana

... days. Many people want to keep marijuana illegal yet they don't know all the facts about it. I however believe that marijuana should be legalized. First of all, marijuana refers to the dried leaves and flowers of the cannabis plant, which contains the narcotic chemical THC at various potencies. It is smoked or eaten to produce the feeling of being "high". Marijuana has been used for thousands of ... of funerals for police officers killed in botched sting operations. If marijuana were legalized, the government would save a lot of money. Some people claim that marijuana itself causes viole...

  • Word Count: 555
  • Approx Pages: 2

9. Is Marijuana Safer To Use Than Tobacco?

... as dangerous as drinking alcohol. But smoking tobacco is more dangerous than both of them, that's why it should be made illegal. If marijuana has about the same effect as alcohol, and alcohol is legal, then marijuana should be legalized. Statistically the U.S. Department of Health reports that alcohol-related deaths total 100,000 annually from all causes, including traffic accidents, liver disease, related violence, ... falls, etc. They put marijuana and other illegal drug-related fatalities at under 10,000 a year. Tobacco is responsible for 450,000 deaths a year. I am ... that we live...

  • Word Count: 710
  • Approx Pages: 3

Got a writing question? Ask our professional writer!
Submit My Question