Valerie Ettenhofer
Staff Writer
Smoking marijuana is an unhealthy habit that can be dangerous to the person who partakes in it and anyone around them. Although it has a calming effect on some, it can cause an intense anxiety and feeling of terror in others. This panic is just one adverse side effect of a drug that can cause people to make rash decisions or put themselves in dangerous situations.
The most common argument in favor of legalizing marijuana is that it is more natural and safer to smoke than tobacco products. Yet studies have shown that weed leads to many of the same health risks as cigarette smoking, including lung infections and possibly cancer. Despite common claims that weed is harmless and non-addictive, marijuana dependency has been scientifically proven through studies that observed a withdrawal process similar to that of any other addiction.
Although weed is commonly compared to cigarettes, alcohol may be more similar in function. Much like someone who becomes drunk, a person under the influence of this recreational drug can become sleepy, lose focus and coordination, and experience a slower reaction time. All of these are incredibly dangerous when one is making the choice to drive home or hand over their keys, but because of the calmness that comes with this high, many people will not think twice before driving while impaired.
The long-term effects of weed are equally unsettling. Besides studies that have investigated a link between frequent marijuana use and certain mental disorders, it has been proven to deteriorate short-term memory. Those who haven’t used the product in years can still suffer from problems retaining memories for a short amount of time. Men may notice another side effect, as frequent smokers often have a lower sperm count and overall fertility level.
The practicality of marijuana as a tax-producing asset is undermined by the disorganized methods of testing drivers for marijuana use. Since the drug stays in one’s system for weeks at a time and police blood tests can pick up trace amounts, one hit could land someone in jail for driving under the influence. Stoned drivers will be a problem, but until a new system is implemented, so will unnecessary arrests.
The active ingredient in marijuana is tetrahydrocannabinol, which acts as a relaxant and soothes patients with chronic pain or terminal illnesses. For these people, medical marijuana is a valuable form of escape from a daily struggle. Allowing marijuana to become widespread and acceptable enables everyone, sick or healthy, to lean on a crutch that prevents them from dealing with reality.
The accessibility of weed for recreation is an opportunity for stunting oneself socially or emotionally by relying on chemicals rather than healthy decisions and relationships in order to feel good. The need a twenty-something burnout has to get high and ignore the monotony of life’s responsibilities belittles and disrespects the ill people who actually require an altered state to function.
