Question: in most countries the use of marijuana is illegal, yet proponents of marijuana use
claim that the herb is actually less harmful than some medicine. Examine the physical and
mental effects of marijuana, and compare two countries with very different approaches
towards marijuana.
Two face of marijuana makes people separated into groups. Although Marijuana is famous as a drug
in many countries, some hospitals use it because of effects in reduction of pain and treatment of
convulsions. Recently, ability as medicine of Marijuana becoming prominent, some people discuss if
marijuana have to be legal or illegal.
In this essay, mental and physical effects of marijuana will be discussed and described two aspects of
marijuana.
Since Controlled Substances Act(CSA) of 1970s classified marijuana as a drug, a heated discussion
has happened. The fact that marijuana affects on the mental and physical health has been well known.
NATIONAL INSTITUE ON DRUG ABUSE announced that marijuana poisoning impaired ability
such as perception, coordination, problem solving, learning and memory. Also it results in cardiac
vulnerabilities and respiratory illnesses. In addition, some researches concluded “about 9 percent of
users get addicted to marijuana. Especially it might increase among those who start as young (to about
17 percent) and among daily users (25-50 percent).” (2010, NIDA The Science of Drug Abuse &
Addiction) On the other hands, advocates for marijuana claim that the component of marijuana can be
used as medicine. Tolerance by Marijuana isn’t made at all or is made slowly. It has less risk than
tobacco as well as other drugs. It makes a little mental and physical dependence as we can learn the
below tables supporting the argument.
1. ANNUAL AMERICAN DEATHS CAUSED BY DRUGS
Source: United States government. National Institute on Drug Abuse, Bureau of Mortality Statistics
TOBACCO …………………… 400,000
ALL LEGAL DRUGS ………….20,000
CAFFEINE …………………….2,000
MARIJUANA …………………. 0
ALCOHOL …………………… 100,000
ALL ILLEGAL DRUGS ……….15,000
ASPIRIN ………………………500
2. COMPARISON OF DRUGS’ DAMAGE
HEROIN
COCAIN
ECSTASY
ALCOHOL
TRANQUILIZER
MARIJUANA
TOBACCO
PHYSICAL
VERY
WEAK
VERY
VERY
MEDIATE
WEAK
POWERFUL
DEPENDENCE
POWERFUL
WEAK
POWERFUL
MENTAL
VERY
?
VERY
POWERFUL
WEAK
VERY
DEPENDENCE
POWERFUL
TOXICITY OF
WEAK
POWERFUL
POWERFUL
POWERFUL
NERVOUS
VERY
POWERFUL
POWERFUL
NONE
NONE
NONE
POWERFUL
VERY WEAK
VERY WEAK
VERY
POWERFUL
SYSTEM
GENERAL
POWERFUL
POWERFUL
TOXICITY
VERY
POWERFUL
SOCIAL
VERY
VERY
DANGER
POWERFUL
POWERFUL
WEAK
POWERFUL
POWERFUL
WEAK
WEAK
NONE
There are two countries with very different opinions about marijuana. One is the United States in
which illegalizes the marijuana. In 1986, the US authorities established ‘Anti Drug Abuse Act’ to treat
the drug-crime flatly. In this policy, the punishment is changed according to the amount of using drug
and a criminal recidivism. Although, there are some states, Washington,D.C and 16 states, in which
legalize the marijuana, a US municipal assembly doesn’t permit registration of marijuana shop.
However, as majority claimed that using marijuana as medicine has to be granted, US passed using of
marijuana for medical treatment in 2004. Unfortunately, US is the most serious nation of drug crime
even if they have controlled the drug strictly for a long time.
On the other hands, the other country, Netherland, legalize the marijuana except other drugs. People
can buy and smoke the marijuana only in Netherland café but no tobacco in there. Yet, just 5g is
permitted in the case of using and possession it per person. While drug policy of US is to cut off a
supplier of drug, Netherland’s is to break a market. As price of drug is so cheap, there are no illegal
transactions because of little profits. In other words, drug addict can obtain drug under the
prescription of the doctor as low price, the nation help him to become farther from the drug in
management. Interestingly, neighbor countries criticize that, however, its addict was sharp decrease
than before the policy which legalize marijuana was established.
Although marijuana may become medicine to some, it may also become poison to others. Some claim
that marijuana is less dangerous than tobacco. Yet, marijuana has potentially to lead addicts to the
other drugs. Also we know that the side effects of mental derived from drugs can be critical problems
to a community. Therefore, it is reasonable that the government has to restrict about that.
Reference List
(2010)”LEGALIZATION OF MARIJIUNA” Legalization Of Marijiuana.com [online]. Available
from:
http://legalizationofmarijuana.com/
[Accessed 11 March 2012]
Tom,H ”Why Marijuana Is Illegal-Top7 Reasons” About.com, Civil Liberties [online]. Available from:
http://civilliberty.about.com/od/drugpolicy/tp/Why-is-Marijuana-Illegal.htm [Accessed 5 March 2012]
(2010)”National Institute on Drug Abuse” NIDA The Science of Drug Abuse & Addiction [online].
Available from:
http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/infofacts/marijuana [Accessed 5 March 2012]
Jesse,M (2012)”Pat Robertson says Marijuana use should be Legal” The New York Times [online].
Available from:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/08/us/pat-robertson-backs-legalizing-marijuana.html
[Accessed 5 March 2012]
Ian,M & Vancouver,S (2012) “Opinion - Hallelujah! Canadians agree it's time to legalize marijuana”
EMPOWERED HEALTH [online]. Available from:
http://www.vancouversun.com/health/Opinion+Hallelujah+Canadians+agree+time+legalize+marijuan
a/6013181/story.html#ixzz1q6fMPMOE [Accessed 25 March 2012]
(2012)“The Netherlands Compared With The United States: Drug War Facts” Get The Fact Drug
War Facts.org [online].
Available from: http://drugwarfacts.org/cms/?q=node/67 [Accessed 25 March 2012]