The recommended age of cannabis use
The age recommended for individuals to have access to recreational cannabis is 18 and above as they are mature enough both physically and mentally then. The essay will explain the reasons for the age recommendation from the perspectives of both internal and external factors.
People under 18 are not mature enough to effectively regulate their own emotions, which might lead to their addiction to drugs, to be more specific, cannabis. Teenagers have peculiar psychological characteristics of casualness and blindness. This personality defect accounts for the failure of self-regulation in emotions, which weakens the sense to suppress the impulse of taking drug (Robin, 2015). Compared to those who are 18 and above, people under 18 seldom consider the bad effects of taking drugs,
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The deficiency of family education, the seduction of social evildoers, and the wide-spread internet information all lead to teenagers’ easy access to drugs but they are not immune to these negative external conditions (Brooke, 2016). Teenagers addicted to drugs have obvious group characteristics, and they would gather a crowd to take drugs such as cannabis, methamphetamine and even heroin in recreational places such as bars, nightclubs or hotels. The first attempt to drugs are often stirred up by friends, and the atmosphere of taking drugs in a group will increase individual’s group psychology as other members of the group, especially the demonstration of the familiar friends will dispel concerns of first drug attempt of individuals. Teenagers are liable to lose judgment and responsibility under the peer pressure coming from group atmosphere, language stimulation and provocation. As it is difficult to realize the goal of purifying the external environment in a short time, it is applicable to prolong the age of cannabis legalization to
About one out of five 10th graders and about 1 out of four high school seniors used marijuana in the past month (Facts for Teens, 1). It is the second most popular drug among teens in the US (Encarta, 1). Teens, ages 12-17, that use marijuana weekly are nine times more likely than non-users to experience with illegal drugs and alcohol (Fed. Study, 1). More 13 & 14 year olds are using drugs, fifteen pe...
In the last few years there have been a few propositions to legalize Cannabis here in California. In 2009 the Marijuana Control, Regulation and Education Act was introduced to California legislators. The Act was to “remove penalties under state law for the cultivation, possession and use of marijuana for persons over the age of 21.”, although the proposition lost it was the first bill for the legalization of marijuana to be passed by a legislative committee, the Assembly Public Safety Committee. Since 1996 the Medical Marijuana program has allowed the use of Cannabis to patients that have Cancer, AIDS and other chronic illnesses. As of 2014 Cannabis is illegal to use or obtain without the consent from a doctor. The Cannabis Policy Reform Act of 2014 has not been approved. It is currently undergoing signatures to present it as a proposition during the November election.
There has always been controversy about marijuana and the affects it has on health and the issue of legalization. Some people believe it is very destructive to one’s health, and yet others feel the complete opposite about it. Is Marijuana truly harmful to one’s health? “Marijuana, the Deceptive Drug”, written by George Bierson, was published in the Massachusetts News. In this article, Bierson determines that marijuana is harmful in many ways. He seems to think that it damages the brain, the reproductive system, and also contributes to the halt of production in the immune system. Bierson also tries to persuade the reader that marijuana is a “gateway drug” that leads to larger drugs in the future. However, by conducting research of my own, I have come to the conclusion that Bierson’s article simply lacks truth.
In my opinion, marijuana should be legalized, regulated and sold safely for those who are at least 18 years of age. There are many reasons why I feel this way. First off, in the article “The Top Ten Reasons Marijuana Should Be Legal “ they state that there are millions of regular marijuana smokers in America and millions more infrequent smokers. The article also states that marijuana is clearly less harmful than legal drugs such as alcohol.
Legalization or decriminalization of marijuana is opposed by a vast majority of American’s and people around the world. Leaders in Marijuana prevention, education, treatment, and law enforcement adamantly oppose the substance, as do many political leaders. However, pro-drug advocacy groups, who support the use of illegal drugs, are making headlines. They are influencing decision making thru legislation and having a significant impact on the national policy debate here in the United States and in other countries. The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) is the oldest drug user lobby in the U.S. It has strong ties to the Libertarian party, the Drug Policy Foundation, and the American Civil Liberties Union. These groups use a variety of strategies, which range from outright legalization to de facto legalization under the guise of medicalization, control legalization through taxation. However, drugs like marijuana are addicting and should not be legalized. Marijuana should not be legalized because it can cause overwhelming damage to the society as a whole. As Bennett says, “Drug use- especially heavy drug use- destroys human character. It destroys dignity and autonomy, it burns away the sense of responsibility, it subverts productivity, it makes a mockery of virtue” (Husak 663). People throughout the nation have witnessed law changes regarding the possession of marijuana to its physical and social effects on society. Marijuana should not be legalized for the following reasons namely for the legal, physical, and social aspects of its use.
Mekdlawit Demissie IGED 130-06 Informative Speech Outline Topic: Marijuana Speech Goal: To inform the audience about the long and short term effects of marijuana usage. Central Idea: Marijuana is the most commonly used drug amongst young people in the United States. Introduction: I. Attention getter:
Caulkins, J. P. (2013). Marijuana legalization: What everyone needs to know. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Many could argue that marijuana is destructive physically as well as mentally. “The National Institute on Drug Abuse says marijuana can cause heart irregularities, lung problems, and addiction” (Welch). “One joint can be just as damaging to [the lungs] as smoking at least two and a half cigarettes” (Ruff). According to Dr. Tom Wright, director of a substance abuse treatment center for adolescents in Rockford, “teens may be especially sensitive to marijuana’s effects because their brains are still being formed” (MJ Rebuttal). However, the marijuana legalization proposition would have tight restrictions and regulations by the states that would eliminate some of those issues, such as age. These facts are not consistent; the evidence is not backed from reliable sources. One institute is referred to, but more experts are needed to verify the information.
Marijuana is a harmful drug and should not be legalized. Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug used in the United States. It is a plant that grows from the ground however, it contains many harmful toxins. There are many pros and cons for the legalization of marijuana although there are more cons than there are pros; one being that children are the ones who abuse marijuana the most. Surprisingly, against other beliefs, marijuana smoking actually does impair the user’s ability to drive a lot like the effects of alcohol and it is more addictive than alcohol. Based on this information, many have concluded that marijuana should not be legalized for recreational use.
Drugs cause an overall disturbance in a subjects’ physiological, psychological and emotional health. “At the individual level, drug abuse creates health hazards for the user, affecting the educational and general development of youths in particular” (“Fresh Challenge”). In youth specifically, drug abuse can be triggered by factors such as: a parent’s abusive behavior, poor social skills, family history of alcoholism or substance abuse, the divorce of parents or guardians, poverty, the death of a loved one, or even because they are being bullied at school (“Drugs, brains, and behavior”) .
...eveloping parts, the frontal cortex, is responsible for planning, judgment, decision-making and personality. Teenagers also have to deal with the immaturity of their endocannabinoid system. This system is accountable for the psychological mechanisms that respond to the active drug in marijuana, THC. Krista Lisdahl, PhD, the director of the Brain Imaging and Neuropsychological Laboratory at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, states, “That system (endocannabinoid) is important for cognition, neurodevelopment, stress response and emotional control, and it helps to modulate other major neurotransmitter systems” (Lisdahl). Frequent exposure to marijuana can “dial down cellular activity in the endocannabinoid system… That sets the stage for why adolescents may be more sensitive to the effects of repeated marijuana exposure, from a neuroscience perspective." (Lisdahl)
The use of drugs and mind-alternating substances has been a part of society for decades. The ‘high’ that people attain from the use of such substances is very attractive and exciting however, the effects of this use are minimized. Particularly for youth, a group of individuals who are seeking independence and experimentation, drug use represents the balance between taking risks and taking responsibility for one’s actions. However, the developmental processes of adolescents are known to not encompass the maturity required to fully think through such decisions. As such, the use of a ‘smaller-scale’ drug like marijuana is even more minimized. The purpose of this paper is to discuss what the risks of using marijuana are for youths, why they are the most affected, how this problem has progressed over the last three decades, and what preventative measures and treatment options are in place. It will also discuss what schools, parents, and government agencies could be doing to help improve the issue, and the impact that this issue is having on society.
People have been fighting for the legalization of marijuana for a long time. Many people use this drug and find absolutely nothing wrong with it. Others find it disgusting and are opposed to the legalization of it. The earliest use of marijuana was documented in 7000 B.C. The ancient Greeks, Egyptians, and many others used it for medical purposes. Marijuana was first used in the United States during the 1800’s and was banned in 1937 without any reason given by the government except that “it was for our own good” (Block, “Why Marijuana Became Illegal”). Marijuana should be legal everywhere in the world because, although it is highly addictive, marijuana is not as harmful as tobacco and alcohol, having a regulated market for it would reduce the sale and use of it amongst people under the age of eighteen, and the government can save and make money off of it.
...olescences to abuse drugs depending on the influencing stimuli. We must educate the adolescences on respectable behavior and consequences to drug seeking behaviors and addiction.
I think that your view on marijuana is something everyone should definitely consider. Youth is definitely a big issue, which is why I think you should at least be 18 before you can smoke marijuana. As far as health and crime and medicinal marijuana, I think that my side directs to the major points our country should be looking at. Works Cited The "About" - "About" CALM.org - a website for the. N.p., n.d. Web.