Around the world, marijuana is either prohibited or illegal. But is it a good idea? In online debate, the negative side is often underestimated. So let’s look at three strong arguments against the legalization of marijuana.
No argument. 1: Marijuana is a powerful drug.
In recent years Marijuana has become a very powerful drug. Today marijuana is more effective and is a very powerful drug that can cause psychosis. The main active ingredient in marijuana is THC, and there is strong evidence that THC is associated with psychosis, regardless of other risk factors.
Marijuana has a substance called CBD that has similar effects. It is being tested as a drug against psychosis and anxiety. But because it doesn’t get you high, growers have lowered the amount of CBD in marijuana over the years, while increasing THC levels. Sample tests showed that THC levels increased from about 4% in 1990 to about 12% in 2014, changing the ratio of THC to CBD from 1:14 in 1995 to about 1:80 in 2014. The accuracy of the test is unsure. , however.
Overall, the new findings suggest that the more marijuana you use, and the stronger it is, the greater your risk of developing psychosis.
But how high is the risk of psychosis for the general population? A study from the UK found that although cannabis use increased significantly between 1996 and 2005, the number of cases of schizophrenia – a type of psychosis – remained constant.
The risk of marijuana-induced psychosis is highest for those at high risk of psychosis, to begin with. For them, marijuana may have accelerated the progression of their condition, rather than working, as we know it today. So, the reason is that the fewer people who have access to marijuana, the lower the risk of marijuana causing psychosis. But of course, you could argue that because weed is not illegal, more people end up with psychosis.
Drug interdiction is getting stronger because you can ship more products in smaller quantities and sell them for more value. This is what happened during alcohol prohibition in the US, where alcohol was common. That’s how marijuana is today. Imagine a world where there is only wine. You have the option not to drink or to drink more than you want. This is the case with many marijuana smokers today. People didn’t stop drinking during prohibition, and statistics show that the law didn’t stop people from using marijuana. We can’t make marijuana illegal, but we can make it safe because marijuana is prohibited or illegal.
If marijuana is legal, there are many options for consumers, and regulators may require high levels of CBD, for example. Just as most people don’t drink a bottle of vodka after work, many people enjoy using the after-work version of the beer.
Argument 2: Marijuana is a gateway drug.
If accepted, the use of better drugs will increase. A 2015 study found that about 45% of chronic marijuana users had used another drug at some point. This trend could fuel the legalization of marijuana: as more young people try legal marijuana, they may end up trying the drug. But it seems the real gateway to drug use comes first: tobacco. One study showed that teenagers who started smoking before the age of 15 were 80% more likely to use drugs than those who did not smoke. And in 2007, it was found that young people between the ages of 12 and 17 were three times more likely to smoke, seven times more likely to use heroin than drugs or cocaine, and seven times more likely to use marijuana.
But if that’s the case, how can drug addiction prevent hard drug use?
First, it is important to understand that people do not use drugs because they are illegal or not. If you want to buy medicine, you can always find someone willing to sell it. The real question is, why do people develop a negative relationship with drugs? Studies show that certain conditions predispose people to drug addiction and addiction – difficult childhood, early trauma, low blood pressure, heart disease, and genetic factors. The type of medicine they add, the more time it takes.
Addicts use drugs to escape their problems. But the drugs did not solve the problem and caused new problems. But punishing people for their poor regulatory performance doesn’t change the underlying reasons. Therefore, some argue that we should go in a completely different direction.
In 2001, Portugal had one of the worst drug problems in Europe. So it was enough to want to try something radical: Taking and using all the prescribed drugs. You will never be caught again, but the authorities launched a massive health campaign. Low-income individuals are provided with support services and receive treatment and harm reduction assistance. Drug use is considered a chronic disease, not a crime. The results are surprising: the number of people who tried and continued to use drugs decreased from 44% to 28% in 2012. The use of hard drugs, such as HIV, decreased, as hepatitis and overdose.
Drug prohibition often helps society rather than harms it.
Arguments for. 3: Marijuana is addictive and unhealthy.
It should be legal to minimize losses. Although marijuana addiction is more mental than physical, it is a real problem. The need for addiction treatment has more than doubled in recent years. Overall, about 10% of people who try marijuana become addicted and this is the other reason why marijuana is prohibited or illegal. It is also associated with high levels of THC. A study was released in 2017 on the power of cannabis and Dutch coffee shops over 16 years. For every 1% increase in THC, another 60 people enter treatment in the country.
In terms of negative health effects, some studies have linked marijuana use to high blood pressure and lung problems, although a 2016 study found that marijuana use was unrelated to marijuana. has been linked to many health problems, including an increased risk of cancer. Some studies have shown that marijuana use changes the brains of young people and lowers their intelligence; but when recent studies looked at drinking and smoking, the results were less clear.
Overall, research shows that taking drugs while your brain is developing is not good for you. But the truth is, we don’t know how bad marijuana is. We need more money for research, which is hard to come by because marijuana is illegal or prohibited. However, we can only include what we know. 16% of those who use alcohol become alcoholics, and 32% of those who try cigarettes become smokers. We all know that alcohol affects your brain, damages your liver, and causes cancer; because smoking closes your arteries, it damages your lungs and causes cancer.
3.3 million people die each year due to alcohol use, while smoking kills more than 6 million people. No one said cigarettes and alcohol are bad just because they are legal. Also, no one seriously forbids them, even though they are very dangerous.
The law is a way to have control over them, especially to protect young people.
Buying prescription drugs for teenagers is more difficult than buying prescription drugs. Dealers can face heavy fines and lose their licenses if they sell to minors. The law creates incentives here that drug dealers cannot use.
