Pot, Weed and Mary Jane: Whichever Name, Keep it Illegal November 6th 2012, a date that will live in infamy for more reasons than one. While one may associate this day with the election of Barack Obama into his second term as President of the United States, weed smokers across the nation rejoiced for another reason. That very same day, a groundbreaking law was passed legalizing the recreational use of marijuana in Colorado and Washington. In the eyes of many avid smokers, this law was just as monumental as landing on the moon was for Neil Armstrong: one small step for man and one giant leap for mankind. Despite the fact that marijuana is legalized for recreational use in these two states and legalized for medicinal purposes in 16 others, the drug is still forbidden under federal law, meaning marijuana is still an illegal drug. For decades, the subject of legalization has been a recurring theme in Washington and state governments. Should marijuana join the ranks of alcohol and cigarettes and be made legal? No, we must realize the damaging health effects and the detrimental societal/cultural effects that legalizing marijuana could have on Americans in the future. Although there are some advantages to legalizing marijuana in the United States, the disadvantages tremendously outweigh any advantages when considering this touchy topic in politics. Of course, there has been research conducted that states that marijuana could be positive for the nation. Advocates to legalization suggest that if marijuana were legal, it would tremendously boost the economy, forcing drug dealers out of business. Roberto Trevino and Alan Richard explain the economic gain America would experience, stating “economists for the most part support the legalization of drugs…they argue that the legalization of dugs will lower drug prices and drive the economic rents enjoyed by drug deals to zero”(93). Running hand in hand with the economic boost, legalization of the drug could decrease crime in America. Advocate of general decriminalization of marijuana and director of government relations at the Washington D.C, - based Marijuana Policy, Steve Fox states, “If we take marijuana off the streets and regulate it, we will diminish organized crime problems.” (qtd. in Marshall). In addition to the illegal drug cartel being diminished, legalizing could authorize taxing on the substance. Commander Marc Alcantara of the San Mateo County Narcotics Task Force states that the marijuana industry makes at least $250,000 of untaxed revenue per crop, throwing out nearly 3 crops a year (qtd. in Katel 527). In addition to a potential boost in economy, advocates managed to dig out some positive health effects that marijuana may have on certain people. According to information gathered by Eric Barnes in a publication of Bioethics 2000, marijuana contains a dosage of Tetrahydrocannabinol otherwise known as THC. Barnes states, “THC is a drug that has been effective in relieving vomiting and nausea in patients being treated for cancer or AIDS”(18). This is one of the primary arguments that suggest marijuana may have positive effects that could potentially be helpful to people in pain. However, most of the nation is able-bodied and not in pain. Therefore, although pain is temporarily relieved for some, America is not in need of an illicit substance to be legalized, especially when a cure is not present in it. Instead of looking at the temporary medicinal effects of marijuana, people need to look at the long term and damaging effects marijuana has on the body. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) states, “marijuana can cause a variety of health problems, including cancer, respiratory problems, loss of motor skills and increased heart rate” (qtd. in Marshall 131). Furthermore, it can also make it more difficult for the immune system to combat infections, which will ultimately do more harm in people with pre-existing immune problems. Almost immediately the notion that marijuana can serve as a medicinal agent is eliminated when the facts are stated proving otherwise. In addition, marijuana causes great damage to the brain. THC, the same chemical that is said to have helpful pain relieving abilities, is found to also have detrimental qualities that interfere with the functioning of the brain. Essentially, marijuana is normally abused to alter consciousness and to to mask feelings of fear, anxiety, pain or anger. According to the Scholastic Scope, THC throws the endocannabinoid system off balance, preventing the natural chemicals in the brain from reacting properly. In doing so, the effect on the user can include: paranoia, impaired memory, hallucination, psychosis, etc. Playing and experimenting with the brain is dangerous, irreversible and irresponsible. We only get one brain in our lifetime, tainting it with marijuana isn’t a wise decision. To this day, there is still no agreement on whether marijuana is an authentic medicinal agent. The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) emphasizes the fact that the FDA has not permitted medical marijuana, because its medicinal value hasn’t been proved. Like any other medicine that is approved, it has to go through many clinical tests with numerous patients and intense analysis. James McDonough, opponent of legalization and director of Florida’s Office of Drug Control, disagrees with the idea that marijuana is a reputable medicine as well. He states, “until medical science determines that smoked marijuana can pass muster as medicine, we should refrain from dignifying marijuana as anything more than what it is – a harmful drug” (qtd. in Koch 707). Because it is grown from the earth, it is often misinterpreted that marijuana isn’t toxic. Yes it is from the earth, but there is nothing natural about being high and out of the element whenever one pleases. As previously discussed, marijuana is harmful to the body, and it isn’t a natural or positive contribution to the natural workings of the body. Think about it, there has to be a reason that employees have to be tested for substance abuse before receiving a job, and similarly athletes undergo random drug tests throughout their prospective seasons. If marijuana were so good for the body, there would be no reason for tests like these to occur. Besides the minimal health and economic benefits, the American society is better off without marijuana being a legal substance. People are often misguided in believing that they can smoke weed and still have a good quality of life, when in reality it will most likely be the exact opposite. Oftentimes avid smokers have no motivation to partake in anything other than smoking, thus proving that smoking is a bad influence on one’s quality of life. Devoted smokers oftentimes compare marijuana abuse to alcoholism to make their situation seem lighter. In reality, just like alcohol, marijuana puts America’s citizens under the influence. As a result, many dangerous risks such as car accidents emerge, adding to the drunk driver death rates that already cripple the American society. In addition, more people are becoming dependent on marijuana, especially adolescents. Researchers at the Department of Epidemiology at Columbia University conducted a study in 2011 testing the relationship between marijuana use, abuse and dependence. They found that “states that legalized medical marijuana had higher rates of marijuana use”(Cerdaa et al. 22). In addition, researchers have found that the numbers in adolescent dependence on marijuana are rising. “Monitoring the Future” is one of the nation’s most reliable sources when it comes to changes occurring in the legal and illegal drug use among young adults. Through their 30+ year research program, it has been found that marijuana is the most commonly used prohibited drug amongst adolescents because it “is seen as the least risky of the illicit drugs” (Bachman et al. 182). Lets examine the common fallacy that many smokers have which suggests that marijuana is not addictive. Researchers stated in the “Psychology of Addictive Behaviors” that “Marijuana dependence develops in approximately 14-17% of adolescents who ever use it and may lead to an increased risk of other illegal drug use and depressive symptoms.” (qtd. in Roffman et al. 727). These findings illustrate and emphasize that not only are young adults becoming more dependent marijuana, but also that it is an addictive gateway drug. Legalizing just opens the door, inviting the use of other harsher substances. After marijuana, will heroin and cocaine be accepted as well? Think about the children. Dr. Alain Joffe of the Committee on Substance Abuse and Dr. W Samuel Yancy of the Committee on Adolescence, explain that alcohol and tobacco are the most widely abused substances by the youth and like those two substances, “legalization of marijuana could result in advertising campaigns for its use, some of which may be directed toward adolescents” (e634). They further their claim saying that advertisements coerce adolescents into thinking that tobacco and alcohol is the “cool thing to do” and that “one can speculate that distributors of marijuana quickly would recognize the profitability of portraying marijuana in a similar manner” (e635). Furthering this claim on the effect marijuana advertisement can have on children, popular culture practically endorses smoking. Music artists brag about their smoking habits in their songs, and similarly actors are frequently getting caught in the media abusing marijuana and other drugs. Most recently, one of college football’s most prized possessions Tyrann Mathieu, has been in and out of the media, and on and off LSU’s football team because of failed drug tests. Sports franchises and college teams have a certain image to project, and a pothead player on their team doesn’t give off a positive image. Mathieu had the potential to be a Heisman winning college football player with hopes of entering the NFL, but unfortunately marijuana clouded his vision not once, but twice. Decriminalization will officially make it suitable to smoke weed, otherwise making it acceptable, and more enticing for children to try. As a result, those same children will grow up to be our future leaders, raised on the notion that smoking is not a threat. If the misconceptions that marijuana is pure and healing continue to outweigh and overpower the damaging truth, Americans are in for a rude awakening. Other countries admire America and look to emulate what we portray, but legalizing marijuana does not portray that America cares about its inhabitants. Therefore, the federal government should not legalize marijuana. Yes, the availability of marijuana could contribute to the economy, just as tobacco and alcohol continue to do, but adding another health stigma to the list will not encourage a better America for future generations. The government and law officials should continue to crack down on marijuana and drug usage and look for alternatives to the health benefits that marijuana is perceived to have. Instead of legalizing smoked cannabis and making it acceptable, the government should look into the research and production of medicine that may include the healing affects of some ingredients in the substance. There are other ways to encourage a strong economy that don’t include putting the nation’s health at risk and creating a society where it is acceptable to be under the influence whenever one pleases. Two wrongs don’t make a right, and the government must realize that before they make this big decision. The United States has made it this far without marijuana being a legal substance, and should continue to be a nation that encourages its citizens to stay above the influence.

Work Cited
Barnes, RE. "Reefer Madness: Legal & Moral Issues Surrounding The Medical Prescription Of Marijuana." Bioethics 14.1 (2000): 16-41. CINAHL Plus with Full Text. Web. 17 Oct. 2012.
Cerdaa Magdalena, et al. "Medical Marijuana Laws In 50 States: Investigating The Relationship Between State Legalization Of Medical Marijuana And Marijuana Use, Abuse And Dependence." Drug And Alcohol Dependence 120.(n.d.): 22-27. ScienceDirect. Web. Web. 17 Oct. 2012.
Bachman Jerald, et al. "Monitoring The Future: National Survey Results On Drug Use, 1975- 2007. Volume II, College Student And Adults Ages 19-45, 2007. NIH Publication No. 08-6418B." National Institute On Drug Abuse (NIDA)(2008): ERIC. Web. 17 Oct. 2012.
Joffe, AlainYancy, W. Samuel. "Legalization Of Marijuana: Potential Impact On Youth." Pediatrics 113.6 (2004): e632-e638. Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection. Web. 26 Nov. 2012.
Katel, Peter. "Legalizing Marijuana." CQ Researcher 12 June 2009: 525-48. Web. 28 Oct. 2012.
Koch, Kathy. "Medical Marijuana." CQ Researcher 20 Aug. 1999: 705-28. Web. 17 Oct. 2012.
Marshall, Patrick. "Marijuana Laws." CQ Researcher 11 Feb. 2005: 125-48. Web. 17 Oct. 2012.
Roger A. Roffman, et al. "Social Norms And Self-Efficacy Among Heavy Using Adolescent Marijuana Smokers." Psychology Of Addictive Behaviors 25.4 (2011): 727-732. PsycARTICLES. Web. 17 Oct. 2012.
"The Science Of Marijuana How The Thc Affects The Brain." Scholastic Scope 60.7 (2012): 22. Primary Search. Web. 26 Nov. 2012.
Trevino, Roberto A., and Alan J. Richard. "Attitudes Towards Drug Legalization Among Drug Users." American Journal Of Drug & Alcohol Abuse 28.1 (2002): 91. SPORTDiscus with Full Text. Web. 17 Oct. 2012.