Debate Topic - Recreational Marijuana ought to be legalized nationwide

Case One - The Spiraling Abuse of Gateway DrugsMarijuana is a gateway drug. Gateway drug (definition by Google): "a habit-forming drug that, While not itself addictive, May lead to the use of other addictive drugs. " Using marijuana at any age can be dangerous as it can lead you to believe that you do not get easily addicted to drugs. Using marijuana can be dangerous because the users of cannabis often proceed to more dangerous drugs like cocaine, Heroin, Opioids, And many other addictive and deadly drugs. Using marijuana is also terrible for the youth because the brains of children are not fully developed. Kids are much more susceptible to drug abuse and addiction because the areas of the brain associated with memory, Learning, Judgment, Decision-making, Risk-taking, Reward, Emotion, And stress are still maturing. 53% of people addicted to marijuana as adults started using it as teens. That is a startling fact. It has also been proven that those who use pot are more likely to hang around sellers and users of other drugs. When spending time with people who value drugs, One can only hold out so long before the peer pressure gets to them and they try the deadly substances. Marijuana can also lead to the idea that all drugs are okay, Which is not a fact. It is arguable that marijuana alone is not very harmful (though I disagree), But it can lead to the use of other illicit drugs that could eventually cause death. A study about the drugs that people tried first showed some fascinating information. The percentage of people that use alcohol first is 68. 1%. The portion has only increased by 1% since the 1960s. However, Marijuana use has gone up rapidly since the 60s. It has gone up over 10%, Quickly replacing the use of tobacco. Thankfully, The percentage of opioid usage as a person's first drug has always been quite low and is continuing to decrease. Cocaine use has spiraled in states that have legalized marijuana, Even for children as young as twelve. There is also data that proves that 92% of heroin users first used marijuana. This is increasingly worrisome evidence that cannabis is, In fact, A gateway drug and can lead to dangerous drug abuse problems. Case Two - Dangers of MarijuanaMarijuana is a drug, Which means that no matter what is used to prevent it, Using marijuana will be dangerous. Like all drugs, It comes with short term side effects, But also long term side effects. Using marijuana isn't always dangerous, But because of the large number of people that use it, Many people are admitted to the hospital every day with marijuana side effects. Cannabis hyperemesis syndrome is the number one reason users of pot are sent to the ER. CHS is an effect of long-time marijuana usage. Synthetic marijuana is also extremely dangerous. It is engineered to be over one hundred times stronger than natural cannabis. You can even experience epileptic symptoms [seizures], Which can be deadly. It is common that seizure patients bite off their tongues (just a fun fact). There are many different short-term side effects associated with over-using (or even just using) marijuana. These include: Short-term memory problems Severe anxiety, Including a fear that one is being watched or followed (paranoia) Bizarre behavior, Seeing, Hearing or smelling things that aren’t there, Not being able to tell imagination from reality (psychosis) Panic Hallucinations Loss of sense of personal identity Lowered reaction time Increased heart rate (risk of heart attack) Increased risk of stroke Problems with coordination (impairing safe driving or playing sports) Sexual problems (for males) Up to seven times more likely to contract sexually transmitted infections than non-users (for females) As terrible as that may seem, There are even worse long term effects that come with excessive use of marijuana. These include: A decline in IQ (up to 8 points if prolonged use started in adolescent age) Poor school performance and a higher chance of dropping out Impaired thinking and ability to learn and perform complex tasks Lower life satisfaction Addiction (about 9% of adults and 17% of people who started smoking as teens) Potential development of opiate abuse Relationship problems, Intimate partner violence Antisocial behavior including stealing money or lying Financial difficulties Increased welfare dependence Higher chances of being unemployed or not getting good jobs. Summary:One: The legalization of marijuana will lead to the excessive use of other, More dangerous drugs. These drugs may even be legalized one day. Two: Marijuana is a dangerous plant. It has both long term and short term effects. These can jeopardize one's life and relationships.