Marijuana has been legalized to use for medical purposes since California was the first one approved it, and several states have followed after. Although it gives benefits to cue patients or supports the doctor in the medical field. However, it still should not be legalized at the federal level. First, people who have used marijuana in the long-term may have effects on the brain. Researchers have found out that chronic marijuana users can be addicted to it. Not only that, marijuana users have lower IQ compared with others who do not use it (“Marijuana’s Long-Term Effects”, 31). In addition, marijuana should not be legalized at the federal level, because marijuana alternatives can be produced with unknown ingredients. Since marijuana is legal in some states, users can buy or get it from anywhere, but they do not know exactly what they are getting in each packet or the dose level, especially illegal place. Therefore, the effects of marijuana can be unpredictable and extremely dangerous. According to “Under the Influence Study” in Canada, there are many consequences of drug-impaired driving affect the young generation (Minaker et al E386). Teenagers under twenty-one still cannot determine their own actions that driving under the influence of marijuana could get them seriously injured or even killed. Although the law is to be twenty-one or older to buy cannabis, legalizing it helps teenage to get the product from their acquaintances. In addition, they can also cause damage to other people and lives too. Thus, marijuana should not be legalized at the federal level because it may affect the brain in long-term, marijuana users can get the product with unknown ingredients, and juveniles cannot control driving under the influence of marijuana.
Marijuana is good for the medical purpose, but people who use it too long may have effects on their brain. In the study of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the effects of long-term marijuana use on the brain may depend on the age of first use and duration of use (“Marijuana’s Long-Term Effects” 31). The report of multiple MRI techniques shows that chronic marijuana users have smaller brain volume in the orbitofrontal cortex, a part of the brain commonly associated with addiction(“Marijuana’s Long-Term Effects” 31). Therefore, this will lead to increasing the tolerance of users and encouraging them to use more. Not just that, it also reduces gray matter, the part which defines people’s intelligence. Based on the study of Ph.D. Sina Aslan, she said, “The results suggest increases in connectivity, both structural and functional, that may be compensating for gray matter losses. Eventually, however, the structural connectivity or ‘wiring’ of the brain starts degrading with prolonged marijuana use” (“Marijuana’s Long-Term Effects” 32). This shows that chronic marijuana users have lower IQ comparing to healthy non-users.
Marijuana should not be legalized at the federal level because marijuana can be produced with bad ingredients. Jane Maxwell said, “Manufacturers are constantly creating and marketing new variations to the formulations, so they can stay ahead of the latest Federal and state legal definitions and laws to avoid prosecution. One almost needs to have a background in organic chemistry to understand their content and their effects” (“Marijuana Alternative Produces Bad Buzz” 2). This proves that manufacturers do not care about the effect of marijuana on users. Instead, they just want to stay away from prosecution by law. Jane Maxwell also explains, “Evidence is growing that cannabinoids can trigger psychotic episodes, especially among users with a positive family history of mental disorders” (“Marijuana Alternative Produces Bad Buzz” 2). This is extremely dangerous for society because people who have psychosis under the effect could carry weapons to massacre civilians.
The last reason marijuana should not be legalized at the federal level is that teenage using it out of control leads to the accident. In Canada, 35% of deaths caused by traffic collisions are charged by the aged 1-24 years group (Minaker et al. E386). This shows that marijuana consumption of teenage is dangerous to society. “In 2009– 2010, about 20% of grade 6–10 Canadian students rode with a driver who had consumed alcohol, cannabis or other drugs in the previous 30 days” (Minaker et al. E386). Therefore, cannabis has to be restricted to use and should not be legalized at the federal level.
Although critics believe marijuana should be legalized at the federal level, there is evidence to refute that. Many believe that this would boost teen marijuana use increasing in the significant rate. It is reasonable that legalization would increase adolescent use by making marijuana more socially acceptable or by making it available from legal buyers 21 or older (Sullum 12). Teenage can get the source from their acquaintances, even they are not allowed to use it. Therefore, this would make a big impact on young generations and affect their education at school. In her study, epidemiologist Magdalena Cerdá found that the use among 10th graders from 2012 to 2015, during the election approving marijuana use, rose remarkably in Washington, from 16.2 percent to 20.3 percent (Sullum 13). This proved that legalizing marijuana may have changed attitudes in a way that encouraged teenage use.
Overall, legalizing marijuana is a very risky act that could impact the economy in the future. First, using cannabis in long-term causes negative effects on users’ brain. These effects can pass down to their later generations. Next, people could get marijuana from unknown sources if it is marketing freely. The effect of it is extremely dangerous for them and cause serious illness. Also, this gives rise to increasing teenage use while driving. At this age, they are not aware of their actions and might cause terrible accidents. It could make them become disabled or even killed their lives. Therefore, marijuana should not be legalized at the federal level because it affects the brain in long-term, marijuana users can get the product with unknown ingredients, and juvenile cannot control driving under the influence of marijuana.