Marijuana is a hot topic, people have different opinions about the use of marijuana. In my opinion, marijuana should only be used medically, however I think it should be legalized for recreational use. In the United States, over 128 million people have tried marijuana. This is despite the fact that marijuana is federally illegal. Out of the 128 million people, 600,000 of them are arrested every year. There are some benefits to recreational marijuana, but with pros there are always cons.

 

The legalization of marijuana would allow the government to enforce regulations to ensure the marijuana isn’t laced or doesn’t contain unsafe toxins. Lives have been ruined by laced marijuana, some have even lost their life. It is hard to attend school assembly after assembly to remember the short life of a fellow classmate. I believe that Marijuana should be for medical use only, but I know that people will get it whether it is legal or not, so I believe that it should be legal so the government can regulate. Government regulations would require “safe” Marijuana use.

 

Legalized marijuana surprisingly decreases crime. Neighborhoods with dispensaries have seen a decrease in crime because there is an increase in security, and  more people around. Dispensaries require strong security, in most jurisdictions it is a legal requirement to have 24 hr surveillance. Marijuana dispensaries generate big business, this means that a lot of people will be around the dispensary which will prevent crime, how often do people witness a crime? Not often, most crimes occur when no one is around. With the increase in people surrounding the area, people would be less inclined to commit crimes.

 

Marijuana isn’t all good, there are negatives in consuming pot. Marijuana increases risk of depression and schizophrenia. According to “researchers at Harvard and Northwestern, recreational marijuana smokers showed abnormalities in shape, volume, and density of certain areas of the brain” (Recreational Marijuana Pro/Con 7). If this is the case why do people smoke weed? It is a common belief that marijuana is a healthier option over typical tobacco products such as cigarettes. However this is false, one joint can do equivalent damage to the lungs as 5 tabacco cigarettes. It’s disappointing to see teenagers posting about the weed they smoke, saying to their parents that it’s healthy when they get caught. Marijuana is not healthy, it leads to a weakened immune system, lung infections, and hallucinations. Short-term use can lead to memory loss, anxiety, loss of coordination, and even a loss in senses.

I believe that marijuana should only be used medically but it is unreasonable to expect that it will only be used medically, that is why it is important for it to be legalized. It is too dangerous for the government to not regulate.