As of June 2015, 23 states and D.C. legalized marijuana in some way, mostly medicinal. Despite marijuana’s negative effects, many politicians have taken on its legalization as part of their platform, alongside other issues like drug rehabilitation and lowering the incarceration rate. With that said, anyone who supports drug rehabilitation and lowering incarcerations, while fighting for the legalization of marijuana for recreational use, expresses contradictory views.
Some states that legalized marijuana for recreational use report crime and incarceration rates have lowered over time. According to a report by the Drug Policy Alliance, Colorado’s arrests for marijuana possession decreased 84 percent since 2010. If this is the case, wouldn’t legalizing marijuana help everyone?
It sounds good to anyone who fails to see that the incarceration rates are lowering because people who were previously arrested for using the drug are no longer incarcerated. In fact, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation reports an increase in the crime rate since the legalization.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, using marijuana as a young person can have harmful effects, potentially changing the direction of a person’s life. Using marijuana could lower your IQ and damage your mental health. The study also states, despite popular belief, marijuana is addictive and can lead to harder-hitting drugs. This may not be the case for everyone, but the possibility alone is concerning.
The Idaho Office of Drug Policy released a list of facts about marijuana, which included a short comparison between marijuana and tobacco. According to the
report, using “marijuana results in approximately five times the carbon monoxide concentration, three times the tar, and the retention of one-third more tar in the respiratory tract than tobacco smoke.” This report also confirmed marijuana is indeed an addictive drug.
The drug also impacts the people around you. Imagine going to your favorite restaurant to enjoy a lovely meal. Before you know it, the smell of pot wafts through the air. This may seem extreme, but where do you draw the line once you make a substance legal?
Many politicians now push for more drug rehabilitation for those struggling with addiction. I will be one of the first to support helping people break away from drug abuse. At the same time, politicians who push for both legalization and rehabilitation confuse me. If we want to stop drug addiction, why legalize more drugs? It’s a vicious cycle, I know.
I just want to know why many Americans promote an addictive drug that can lower people’s IQs. As Americans, we should push for programs and items that empower our education system.
Our generation needs to set the standard and be a positive example for future generations. I want to see us rise above the desire for drugs to reach our full potential, so I challenge everyone to go marijuana free for one weekend.
Charlie Bonacquisti is a 20-year-old mass communication sophomore from Dallas, Texas. You can reach her on Twitter @Charlie_Bonac2.