It may seem like the only way to completely end this debate is to look into the future at two different societies: one in which marijuana is legal and the other where prohibition was implemented. Because this is (unfortunately) impossible we must figure out another way to decide what’s best for our country. The first thing that needs to be done is that the facts about the effects of marijuana on the human body need to be evaluated in an unbiased fashion. If there was concrete evidence of the exact impact of marijuana on humans then the polarized debate as to what marijuana ACTUALLY DOES will be over. There are so many websites that affirm the health risks and benefits of the drug but marijuana really can’t be harmful and without negative side effects AT THE SAME TIME…it’s physically impossible people. The truths are not known about marijuana so society is getting information from multiple sources that have no basis. It is also vital that we educate the nonbelievers by demonstrating the stigma the media has placed on pot smokers is not true. Many US citizens believe that every person that smokes pot abuses the drug and ends up a “stoner”. If the drug is used responsibly, the consumer does not have a brain that is complete mush. Bottom line, an unbiased research team needs to assess the effects of marijuana on the human brain and body and then decisions can be made with factual support.
It is hard to imagine our society flipped on the side of complete allowance of marijuana smoking, as you explained, but it seems to me as if the prohibition of it that we are experiencing right now is not working. I agree with you on the idea that more research should be done on the long-term effects of smoking pot, although it is evidently harmful with frequent and constant use (as is any substance, like alcohol or cigarettes). Your point about the stigma surrounding marijuana smokers also resonates with me. Many people associate laziness, ineptness, and criminality with those who smoke pot, and that is not necessarily true. Though it will take time, I feel that in the future marijuana will be decriminalized for many reasons (like less incarceration of non-violent people, etc.) and only then will we truly no if it was a beneficial step for our society!
ReplyDelete2. Elaine, you make a key point in your comment: the process of legalizing marijuana will take time. America is hindered today because most people realize the vast amount of time it will take to solve this problem and simply avoid the topic BECAUSE of the time it will require to solve. That, to me, is the most lazy excuse of all time. We don't want the leaders of our country to shy away from solving a problem just because it is a complex one! What kind of leader is that? The US needs to stop avoiding this issue and look it straight in the eye.
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