The Positive and Negative Side Effects of Marijuana

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Marijuana is the dried leaves, stems, seeds, and flowers of the hemp plant. (“What is Marijuana?”). Marijuana can be consumed in many ways including smoking, vaporizing, eating, and drinking in tea and soda. (“Ways to Consume Medical Marijuana”).There are known negative and positive effects of the substance. Some positives are relaxation for those with medical problems relaxing. Other positive effects include killing cancer cells, helps with tourette’s, seizures, migraines, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, alzheimer’s, and many more diseases and illnesses.
There is research being done on marijuana and its help on people with sickle cell. While studies agree that cannabis does not cure sickle cell, but it does reduce the pain of those suffering with the disease. Patients using medical cannabis experience better pain relief with lower doses of marijuana than major narcotics. (“Sickle Cell Disease and Cannabis”).
There is always consequences to every action. Short term negative effects include distorted perception, problems with memory and learning, increased heart rate, and reduced blood pressure. Sometimes it may produce anxiety, fear, distrust, or panic attacks. Users risk for a heart attack is four times higher within the first hour of smoking marijuana. Research has shown that THC, the main ingredient in marijuana, impairs the immune system from fighting disease. (“Sickle Cell Disease and Cannabis”).
Laws on marijuana in the United States vary from state to state. For example, in the state of Georgia, having 1 ounce or less for personal use is a misdemeanor, resulting in 1 year of incarceration and a maximum $1,000 fine. In Texas, having 2 ounces or less is a misdemeanor offense resulting in 180 days of incarceration and a ...

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...d be taxed just like any other product. Marijuana should be able to be used in public outdoors or in one’s home.

Works Cited
Anderson, D. Mark, Benjamin Hansen, and Daniel I. Rees. "Medical Marijuana Laws, Traffic
Fatalities, and Alcohol Consumption." JSTOR. The University of Chicago Press, n.d.
Web. 13 Oct. 2013.
Fergusson, David M., Joseph M. Boden, and L. John Horwood. "Cannabis use and other illicit drug use: testing the cannabis gateway hypothesis." Addiction 101.4 (2006): 556-569.
"Marijuana Abuse." What Is Marijuana? Web. 29 Oct. 2013.
Savage, Charlie. “Administration Weighs Legal Action Against States That Legalized Marijuana
Use.” Editorial. New York Times. New York Times, 6 Dec. 2012. Web. 10 Oct. 2013.
"What Happens Inside the Human Body When Marijuana Is Consumed? - Medical Marijuana
ProCon.org." ProConorg Headlines. 16 June 2008. Web. 29 Oct. 2013.

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