Don't Touch Marijuana: Environmental Effects

Name: Instructor: Institution Affiliation: Date: Don’t touch marijuana Introduction In today’s society, a growing number of people reject what is absolutely right and wrong. Therefore, discussing wrong and right with regards to marijuana raises a lot of emotions and reactions. However, since its inception in ancient China, marijuana was only used for medicinal purposes and not pleasure or entertainment. Hence, it is only morally correct to use marijuana for its initial purposes. Nonetheless, legalization of pot in regions such as Colorado, Washington, and in some countries has already created a hot debate on the impact of the drug in our societies. The adverse effects attached to the use of marijuana range from health factors, environmental damage, and escalating crime rates. Hence, while critics argue that pot is essential in the development of today’s world, I argue that we should not touch marijuana through favorable laws. This is because the effects associated with marijuana consumption in our society are detrimental. Health effects of marijuana Firstly, the use of marijuana may result in a society that is not mentally fit. Marijuana consumption leads to both short term, and long term mental effects. Marijuana has tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a chemical substance that is responsible for many mental problems. According to Volkow (2014), usage of marijuana at an early age leads to mental illness such as psychosis and schizophrenia. Furthermore, the drug causes hallucinations which results to anxiety and a sense of paranoia if taken in large quantities. In addition, marijuana causes memory lapse. For instance, the inability of people to remember something that just happened a few minutes ago. Therefore, marijuana leads to short term memory lapse. More so, Marijuana leads to lack of concentration and panicky feelings. Long-term use of marijuana has negative effects on the brain function which include an inability to learn and massive depression. Secondly, another effect of marijuana on the health of users is the redness of the eyes that occurs immediately after consuming it. THC; a chemical component in marijuana dilates the blood vessels in the eye by reducing the blood pressure. This is because marijuana impacts the dilation of the pupil. High doses of marijuana impact the peripheral vision. This may even cause total blindness in the long-term to the users of marijuana. As a result of marijuana usage, there has been an increase in the rate of accidents on our roads. The number of collisions reported to insurance companies in Colorado, Washington and Oregon, increased by 3% after commercialization of marijuana, (Solommonsen-Sautel et al, 2014). Therefore, legalization of marijuana in areas that are still to legalize it will lead to more accidents and blindness. Marijuana and cancer Marijuana plant has 4000 known chemicals that break down into extremely many sub chemical substances once it is used. Only a few of the sub-chemicals like THC create the actual “high” in people. However, the other many sub-chemicals are toxins and poisonous, that scientists have proved they are directly related to cancer infection. One of the hazardous chemicals is carcinogen which breaks down the gene that enhances cells development. Therefo...