Essay Example on Marijuana Use: Debates, Research and Results

Introduction

Apart from heroin, cocaine, and alcohol, marijuana is one of the top used drugs. However, debates to determine whether marijuana is healthy for individuals or not have been done in many nations. Research as well have been done to determine whether marijuana is medicinal. Besides, different people have given contradicting results concerning cannabis. The drug contains delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, a chemical that dictates how a person's body reacts and responds to marijuana (NIDA, 2018). Many people have assumed that consuming marijuana is healthy, but that is a myth. Marijuana has side effects that affect people, both physically and mentally. Therefore, arguing that marijuana is healthy is considered a myth because anything or drug that interferes with the normal body function is not healthy.

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Even though cannabis can make its users feel relaxed, it has both short and long term effects, which causes negative effects on the brain and body.

Short Term Effects

Effects on the Brain

Cannabis is not healthy because it affects the brain, which is the most delicate part of the human nervous system. The brain is the part that coordinates all functions of the body. When it is interfered with, the body will lack proper coordination. Cannabis confuses people. Individuals who consume cannabis are often confused, especially when the chemical is in the body (Winters, 2017). Also, marijuana consumers experience fatigue after taking the drug, which makes them lose concentration. Individuals who use marijuana do experience anxiety. They hallucinate and develop unknown fear in them, which is not healthy. Besides, they lack a quick response. They are slow to respond to their responsibilities, which makes the idea that marijuana is healthy a myth.

Further, psychotic episodes that are characterized by paranoia, delusions, and hallucinations are the result of cannabis consumption (Factsheet, n.d). Besides, research reveals that the cannabidiol contained in marijuana can make a person lose his or her memories and develop psychological problems. Also, research has revealed that tobacco combined with cannabis can increase individual strength with psychoactive effects. The combination of tobacco and marijuana can as well lead to the development of mental health outcomes. Moreover, cannabis effects are felt within the first six to seven hours after smoking, whereas vaporized cannabis lasts between thirty minutes to twelve hours.

Effects on the Body

Like the brain, the body experiences side effects of cannabis. Smoked cannabis causes damage to the blood vessels. Also, it leads to reduced or decreased blood pressure that can make an individual faint. People with heart conditions are at risk of an increased heart attack when they consume marijuana. Consuming cannabis causes impairments to people. Moreover, people who take marijuana are not in the position of operating machines or drive. Something that causes impairment to human is not healthy; therefore, it is a myth assuming that marijuana consumption is healthy for people. Cannabis consumption makes people miscalculate distance and increases the lack of body coordination. The effect that causes impairments can last between twelve to twenty-four hours after smoking.

Long Term Effects

Effects on the Brain

Increased addiction is a long term effect of cannabis. Addicted individuals will need to smoke at least three times a day, which is not healthy. Besides, addiction can lead to reduced IQ, inability to think and make decisions that are followed by memory loss. These adverse side effects of cannabis are worse in youths who abuse drugs at an early age, and later in life, they need to stop (Keyhani. 2018). In case they stop using cannabis in adulthood, they may not be able to reverse these effects. Cannabis consumption is not healthy for individuals because it makes people vulnerable when they lose their memories. Moreover, many people will not want to associate with people who have lost their memories. People who have lost memory as a result of smoking marijuana are often referred to as mad people by society.

Effects on the Body

The long term effects of smoking tobacco are almost similar to those of marijuana. These effects are threats to human life because one can develop bronchitis, lung infection, and chronic cough. The body should be able to fight diseases such as cough; however, smoking cannabis stresses the body. Besides, it weakens the body because it destroys blood vessels (ADAI, 20017). Youths or teenagers who smoke are most likely to develop poor performance, which can make them drop out. Essentially, consuming cannabis is not healthy for humans. Even though cannabis has therapeutic uses, it is a myth when one says it is healthy. The chemical extracted from it can be used for medical purposes.

Apart from the brain and body, there are other risk factors caused by marijuana products. The THC potency from illegal marijuana, for example, is not known by many people; therefore, an individual can end up using a stronger drug, which he or she did not expect. The THC found in marijuana can lead to prolonged confusion because it has a significant effect after smoking. Marijuana is not good for people's health because it affects pregnant women. Tobacco and marijuana have similar effects on a new mother because it will affect the fetus, which will lead to health complications. Cannabis has toxins that can flow through the mother's blood to the fetus. After birth, the toxin can be passed to the baby during breast causing health problems. The baby may develop mental disorders or can be born with deformities. Also, cannabis leads to lower birth weight of the baby. Cannabis can affect a child's development up to adolescents by decreasing their abilities to solve problems and lowering their memories.

Addiction

There is an existing belief that cannabis is not addictive. Contrary to the belief, people can be addicted to marijuana. Individuals who use cannabis develop a disorder leading to addiction. Besides, they will develop a habit of using cannabis all the time, which will lead to addiction and dependency (Volkow. 2014). According to the research, people using cannabis will experience an increase in dopamine, which is a chemical in the brain improving pleasure that motivates individuals to keep using the drug. Even though addiction can develop at any age, irrespective of age, but youths are the most vulnerable population. Young people are the most vulnerable to cannabis addiction because they are still developing, both mentally and physically. Therefore, the argument that marijuana is healthy is a myth.

Effects on the Youths

Cannabis usage is not healthy especially to adolescents because they are developing, and a lot of biological processes happen in their bodies. Their brain is significant during development, and it is the part that marijuana interferes with when they smoke. The THC contained in cannabis also interferes with the cognitive development of teenagers. When they use cannabis, they become inactive and helpless. It is at adolescents that children are expected to become more active, but after using marijuana, they become inactive. Therefore, it should be the responsibility of parents to observe changes in their children and determine whether they are exposed to drugs like marijuana.

Parents must be able to guide and prevent youths from abusing cannabis because it will destroy their developments and performance both in school and at home. Besides, children react to marijuana in different ways; some become dull and sleep while some become extra active and violent, depending on their attitudes. Research proves that children who use marijuana have poor class performance than sober children. Also, children who use drugs can develop stress than youths who do not use marijuana. Therefore, it is a myth when people say that marijuana is healthy for individuals.

Conclusion

Conclusively, the notion that marijuana is healthy is arguable because it is used in hospitals. However, when it comes to health and psychology, its negative impacts outweigh its positive usage. Therefore, individuals shouldn't use marijuana thinking that it is healthy. Marijuana is not healthy for everyone even though children in adolescents are the most affected because of their biological developments. Pregnant women are as well vulnerable because of the fetus they carry. Cannabis can affect the fetus through the mother's bloodstream. Essentially, marijuana has adverse side effects on anybody using its products. People who use it excessively can also experience severe side effects; thus, it is a myth to say that marijuana is healthy.

References

Factsheet. (n.d). Health Effects of Cannabis. Retrieved from https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/hc-sc/documents/services/campaigns/27-16-1808-Factsheet-Health-Effects-eng-web.pdf

ADAI. (2017). Effects of Marijuana on Mental Health. Retrieved from https://adai.uw.edu/pubs/pdf/2017mjanxiety.pdf

Volkow. (2014). Adverse Effects of Marijuana Use. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4827335/

Keyhani. (2018). Risk and Benefits of Marijuana Use. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6157909/

NIDA. (2018). Marijuana. Retrieved from https://d14rmgtrwzf5a.cloudfront.net/sites/default/files/1380-marijuana.pdf

Winters, K. (2017). Marijuana and Health. Retrieved from http://drugabuse.imedpub.com/marijuana-and-health.pdf