According to the United Nations marijuana or cannabis is the illegal substance most used in all the world. Some people think marijuana should be legalized, so the government could regulate this industry; therefore, the problems related to the poor quality of cannabis would reduce, such as poisoning. There are other group o persons who think that marijuana only should be allowed to treat medical problems, such as anorexia, glaucoma and even cancer. At last, there is one third group who believe this drug should never be legalized, for it would bring several bad consequences for society; for example, the increase of users of marijuana and the quantity used. I agree with this last group for lots of reasons that I will explain.
The principal supporting idea of marijuana’s legalization is the freedom everyone should have to do his or her freewill. I accept this idea, but if marijuana were legal anyone could use it, even persons who do not have a complete freewill because they do not understand the consequences of using marijuana such as children and mentally disabled persons.
Another idea that supports the legalization it is the supposed crisis of the black market would happen as a result of marijuana’s legalization. Like cannabis is the illegal substance most used in all the world; also, this drug is the most profitable for drugs trafficker of the black market. So people believe that if marijuana were legal, the black market would stop to have so many clients because they were buying cannabis at legal places. However, if the producers of marijuana notice that this product were not another like heroin or cocaine.
Although there are some education plans to teach about the right use of marijuana if it get legalized, how effective will be this education plans. Marijuana is a drug and such as one it is addictive, so it is very difficult to stop using it when you already have done. No one can guarantee that any education plan can succeed and if it does how many time will take; let is take as example alcohol that it has been legal for a lot of time and has had lots of education plans, but alcohol is till the first cause of traffic accidents and of sending people to rehabilitation.
It is true that marijuana can help to treat some medical problems like the effects of aids and cancer treatment; also, its appetite-stimulating effect could help persons who suffer anorexia or lack of appetite. Moreover, The University Complutense of Madrid has done a study about the effect of marijuana on cancer, showing that this drug could be and effective cure for this disease. However, there is not any strong study which can affirm any of these magical medicinal qualities; there are studies that seem to prove cannabis’ curative qualities such as that of Madrid previously mentioned, but there is not one that really could prove marijuana’s qualities. In contrast of this lack of good studies about medical qualities, there are several studies about the real effects of marijuana on our body; for example, one study made at the University of California showed that a long-term period using marijuana decrease the volume of the hippotalamo and amygdale. Aldo there are lots of studies that show that the consumption of marijuana could cause psychosis, panic attacks, tachycardia, schizophrenia and other mental diseases, despite the fact marijuana alters your mood and your mind.
In addition, there are others consequences that marijuana’s legalization will bring to our society. For example, the number of cannabis’ users will increase as well as the quantity used; hence, the state would have to spent lots of money on rehabilitation programs. Another possible consequence it is the increased use of stronger drugs, such as heroin, because it has been proved that consumption of soft drugs like marijuana ends the majority of the cases in using hard drugs.
This controversy about the legalization of marijuana is called the “drug war” in many webs sites and maybe it is a war; but not between arguments; it is a war between beliefs. I strongly believe marijuana should never be legalized because it is not the solution to the continuous increased of marijuana’s consumption. We have to defend what we think is right and moral, we just have to find a better solution to this terrible problem.
Gracia Bueno