Marijuana is Disgusting and Ought to Not Be Legalized, For Various Reasons Other Than The One Stated

http://www.webmd.com... http://www.drugabuse.gov... wikipedia.org Marijuana. What I don't understand is the disturbing preoccupation with it in the first place! It's one of those instant pleasures, isn't it? Everyone ought to be wary of those, because the risks are always unnecessarily many and great and not worth short- term "satisfaction". True satisfaction is contentment, and relying on instant pleasures for happiness, being aware of the risks, shows a desperate need for an escape from one's life. It is completely illogical that one should put their time and money into something that leaves them happy for only a short period of time only to suffer the worst effects possible. It shows weakness due to one's ability to take charge of their life, and a sad lack of self-control, and misguided beliefs as to the true sources of happiness in life. Anyone who practices these immoral pleasures is clearly not intelligent, disciplined, or mentally stable enough to improve their life, or just ignorant of the risks. I should like to be neither. Here, have a look at this list of instant pleasures and see if you disagree as to their high level of inherent risk. 1. Alcohol abuse 2. Sex as pleasure 3. Theft 4. Reckless activity 5. Cocaine 6. Marijuana Did you disagree with number six? Well, my friend, you must not be aware of the facts. Instant effects of getting high are altered perceptions of mood, impaired coordination, thinking and problem solving inhibition, and disrupted learning and memory. Heavy use during teenage years causes long-lasting negative effects on memory and thinking, as well as, according to a recent New Zealand study, a significant drop in intelligence quotient, averaging 8 points per teen interviewed. It is also noteworthy that the teens did not gain back all of their mental abilities as adults. And yes, there is of now no evidence of weed causing cancer, but consider this: Weed smoke is irritant to the lungs, and people who use it regularly can bestow upon themselves much of the same crap tobacco smokers have to deal with: Daily cough, more frequent acute chest illness, and increased risk for lung infections. That's not all. Schizophrenics who want to worsen their ailment can use this drug. There is a link between this drug and psychosis later on in life. Let's see- it also has widespread mental health implications, including depression, anxiety, self-destructive thoughts in teens, and personality disturbances. Teens who use may engage less in normal, rewarding activities. Mothers who use can cause neurobehavioral problems in babies. Weed can cause essentially the same thing as drunk driving can, due to the sensory and cognitive impairment and whatnot. It IS addictive, though admittedly not much- only 9% of research candidates became addicted. Long-term -users find it very hard to quit due to the symptoms of drug cravings, insomnia, diminished appetite, anxiety, and irritability that come with withdrawal. So, if that doesn't sound like it's enough for you, then there's more: Weed causes more than three times the tar amount of tobacco to be inhaled. Some research shows that the smoke has up to 70% more cancer-causing substances than tobacco smoke. It can cause temporary sterility in men (by deforming sperm cells) and menstrual abnormalities in women. And, well, as to it not being a gateway drug, people who use weed are 104 times more likely to use cocaine than someone who was never tried it before. I don't know how you can possibly ignore that fact. Besides, just think about the people who users hang out with. Not too honest, I'd imagine. But the thing that nags at me is the lack of information. I don't see why people would support weed legalization without making sure of all the risks first. This is one of the things I feel is ignored; significant studies have yet to be conducted. This is mainly due to the illegality of the drug in most states/countries. So, you can argue its supposed "benefits" all you want, but I'd wait until more studies are conducted if I were you. This is my main reason for opposing its legalization. Personally, I believe it would demean my morality to either get drunk or get high (Yes, I believe alcohol abuse should be illegal as well but I know this will never happen).