Free Essay About The Legalization Of Cannabis

Since I can remember, I have been very anti-drug, including cannabis, the drug that everyone seems to try at least once. My peers say that is not an addictive drug and is not a gateway drug to the more serious ones, including heroin and cocaine. However, I have seen friends become addicted to the lackadaisical lifestyle that many frequent smokers adopt. I have seen my friends become careless with their responsibilities, including school work. For this reason, I am hesitant to say it should be recreationally legal.
Recently, cannabis has been legalized either medically or recreationally in 23 states and DC. I recently read an article on CNN.com by a chief medical correspondent as he further investigated the benefits of medicinal cannabis as well as its recreational use. I think that medicinally, it should be investigated to help treat diseases in adults. However, I am still unsure how I feel about it recreationally. Alcohol and tobacco, both highly addictive drugs, are legal. These two substances have been tied to various illnesses and diseases, yet cannabis has not. Maybe this is because not many researchers have done adequate studies on its effects, but I have never heard of chronic marijuana users developing anything more than the “munchies.” I think if it does become legalized across the country, both recreationally and medicinally, there should definitely be an age requirement like that of alcohol and tobacco. Children and adolescent’s developing brains should not be exposed to these chemicals until extensive research has been done.

References

Gupta, Sanjay. "Why I Changed My Mind on Weed - CNN.com." CNN. Cable News Network, 8