Introduction
Marijuana has in the resent times toped the headlines of most media stations, particularly in the state of California. A bill concerning the legalization of the herb has been developed waiting to be passed through the vote of confidence. Based on my opinion, marijuana smoking has more adverse psychosocial effects associated with its use than it has benefits. Thus in this paper I will evaluate on the adverse psychosocial effects.
Marijuana effects on the brain
According to the national institute of drug abuse (National Institute on Drug Abuse 5), the active chemical in marijuana, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), act on the region of the brain responsible for time awareness, sensory, attention, thoughts, memory and pleasure. It’s no wonder then that marijuana abusers can manifest evidence of distorted sensitivity, difficulty with memory and consequently learning; impaired coordination; and primarily problem in thinking and problem solving.
Imagine for example how a pilot who abuses marijuana will react when an emergency arises in the course of flight. Assuming that he suffers form thinking and problem solving impairment, he will put the lives of the passengers at stake. This situation will ultimately lead to loss of innocent lives.
If you extrapolate this scenario across all faculties, the number of mistakes arising from abuse of the damn herb will be overwhelming, leading to a huge social and economical loses. In fact, National Institute on Drug Abuse (13) claims that marijuana smoking in workers increases job turnover, compensation claims, accidents, absence, and lateness.
The socio-economical draw backs of marijuana
Lots of essay (para. 3) Argues that marijuana is associated with increase in crime rate, although this view points is disputed by many social psychologist. This hypothesis can be explained by the loss of reasoning ability effect on the user.
The abuser seems to execute every single thought which crosses his/her mind without considering the repercussions. For instance, when the abuser develops desire for sex, he will take the shortest and immediate path to meet the desires, even if it means raping a minor or a senior member of the community.
Another scenario is when an abuser desire for money, he will jump to the first idea that strikes his mind, even if it will mean robbing a bank. In fact there is a belief circulating among the criminals that the herb instills courage on the user, giving him the audacity to commit the crime.
Obviously this will lead to increased crime rate, and subsequently congestion in penitentiary. In turn this will imply increased cost of prisoners’ upkeep, money which could be channeled to a more constructive course, such as home keeping services for the aged or even be donated for rescue purposes of fellow human afflicted by such catastrophes as the case with the Haiti earthquakes.
Nevertheless, some people have argued in favour of the resent drug policy in connection with decongestion of the penitentiaries. For instance, in the Los Angles Times (30th October 2010) Soros argues that marijuana business besides fetching the government extra revenue will save the taxpayer a lot of money used in the imprisonment and enforcement expenditures. Such speculations do not have tangible evidence, and thus they require further development.
How addiction of marijuana adversely affects a person’s social live
Marijuana abused by students has been associated with poor learning, decisive thinking and other tasks for 24 hrs space of time following the last use (the canyon). If you imagine the magnitude of the loss the communities will suffer, in the sense of waste of potential human resources, resulting from the legalization of this drug, you will support this course (Culture Shock para. 3).
Another effect of the drug abuse is loss of motivation. This drug is known to cause the addict to be prone to easy distractions or forgetfulness of task schedules or just a mere lack of motivation to perform them (The Canyon para. 6).
This will implies increased disappointments and consequently stress. A society lacking in motivation must have lots of problems. In addition, lack of motivation can put strain on friendship because lack of motivation to see other friends other than fellow smokers, may lead to breakage of genuine friendship.
In another instance, lack of motivation in the working place can lead in decreased productivity, punishment or even termination. Worse, is if the person has a family dependent on him/her because this can culminate in domestic quarrel leading to divorce, and subsequently suffering to the family members.
Although it is claimed that legal supply of marijuana will make some people very rich (Culture Shock para. 7), abusers of the drug can become indolent, bankrupt, and obese. Drivers who smoke marijuana account for an increase in accidents, since it has a tendency to cause extreme relaxation on the smoker.
Marijuana effects on the mental health
National Institute on Drug Abuse (3) claims that chronic marijuana abuse can cause mental diseases such as schizophrenia, anxiety, depression, and even suicidal intentions. Studies have supported that chronic abuse of the drug; particularly by a minor, predict risk for an imminent mental disease arising from environmental or genetic predisposition. Overdose on marijuana can cause an acute psychotic effect; as well as initiate or cause schizophrenia to relapse in susceptible abusers.
Despite the adverse effects associated with marijuana, studies have revealed some medicinal properties of the drug. For instance, it has been proven to help manage insomnia. In fact there is claim that some aged love to use the herb because of its sedation property. Many studies have been performed on the herb to ascertain its medicinal properties.
Conclusion
Finally, convicted marijuana abusers should be arrested and confined in rehabs, to help the person give up on the habit, and lead a meaningful live. Contrary to the belief of many, marijuana use can never bring any communal benefit, because its benefit is just on the supplier. It beats logics for one person to benefit, at the expense of the community.
Works Cited
Culture Shock. The social effects of legalizing marijuana.” Culture Shockk a collective truth. n.d. Web.
Los Angeles Times. Experimenting with pot: the broader desire to legalize marijuana is no reason to vote for badly flawed Prop.19. Los Angeles Times. 30 October 2010.
Lots of Essay. Marijuana as social drug. 2007. Web.
National Institute on Drug Abuse. NIDA infoFact: Marijuana. US Department of Health and Human services. 2009. October 30, 2010. Web.
The Canyon. Social effects of marijuana addiction. 2010. October 30, 2010.