For quite some time now, the medicinal use of marijuana has become a hotly debated subject in majority of literature works. Marijuana, which is also commonly termed as cannabis, exists in different varieties, which are such as cannabis ruderalis, cannabis sativa along with cannabis indica. In addition to the aforementioned varieties, there are also various marijuana hybrids, which share diverse species’ properties.
Cannabis sativa along with cannabis indica are the marijuana hybrids, which are mostly used for medicinal purposes. Given that these two marijuana hybrids are considered to bring about diverse therapeutic effects, a good number of individuals are advocating for the medicinal marijuana decriminalization within the Canadian borders. However, prior to the legalization of marijuana, it will be of great essence to evaluate the negative effects, which may end up outweighing the perceived positive effects.
In the first place, it should be recognized that decriminalization of individual use of marijuana for the medicinal purposes will most definitely trigger a significant increase in its use, as well as, abuse (Joffe et al., 2004, p. 632). Even though those advocating for its legalization solely focus on adults, it is highly possible that an alteration on its legal status will definitely have impacts on the adolescents. Various studies indicate that psychoactive substances such as Alcohol along with tobacco products are the ones, which are greatly abused by the adolescents. In reference to the study undertaken within Canada in 2003, it was established that within a period of one month, 47.5 % of individuals within the 12 grade were already using alcohol.
On the other side, within the same time, it was also discovered that 24.4% of this same group were involved in the illegal use of tobacco product (Furler et al., 2004, p. 217). The increase in the abuse of these drugs by the adolescents has come about despite the fact that Alcohol remains illegal for the individuals who are aged less than twenty-one years. On the other hand, persons below the age of eighteen years are not legally allowed to use tobacco products. It is therefore quite evident that even though the marijuana legalization will go hand in hand with a set minimum age within which individuals will be allowed to use it, at the long run the adolescents will end up becoming heavy users of the said drug (Joffe et al., 2004, p. 632).
Moreover, bearing in mind that marijuana legalization will result in the emergence of advertisements; majority of the advertisements will only be directed toward the adolescents. Although majority of the marijuana legalization proponents will argue that, its legalization will come along with stringent control measures regarding its advertisement, these measures may turn out as difficult to implement. Besides, introducing such control measures to both alcohol along with tobacco products advertisements has brought about insignificant results and it may be simply considered to have failed to meet the set objectives. Consequently, tobacco companies continue to market their products to the adolescents despite them alleging that they strictly observe the specified advertisement rules regarding their products (Connell & Bou-Matar, 2007, p. 4).
To make the matters worse, not even the Comprehensive Tobacco Settlement, which was aimed at prohibiting all youth-oriented advertisements, could make the tobacco companies stop marketing their products to the youth. Similarly, the companies involved with the production of alcoholic beverages continue to advertise their products through advertisements, which are clearly appealing to the youth.
Majority of the alcoholic beverages advertisements portray drinking as a sexy, popular and the ideal means of “breaking the ice” within social settings. As result, majority of the youth is lured into drinking by these cunningly designed advertisements (Furler et al., 2004, p.216). Therefore, a critical review of the alcohol along with tobacco products advertisements indicates that the marijuana distributors will be tempted to advertise their product in a similar process to maximize their sales. After recognizing the profitability of targeting the youth, the marijuana distributors will not observe the advertisement rules, which will be aimed at regulating such behaviors. It is in that regard that it can be strongly argued that legalization of marijuana even if it will be for medicinal purposes only, it will result to its increased abuse amongst the youths (Connell & Bou-Matar, 2007, p. 5).
It will be inappropriate to legalize marijuana citing its medicinal value because it cannot be considered as a benevolent drug. In fact, recent various psychopharmacologic researches demonstrate that marijuana possesses numerous features, which are available in other illicit drugs. Whereas those calling for the legalization of marijuana will argue that it is highly beneficial for the individuals infected with HIV, they should recognize that marijuana influences negatively on disease progression, as well as, drug adherence. For instance, smoking of marijuana has been linked to the escalated risk of bacterial pneumonia along with pulmonary aspergillosis (Connell & Bou-Matar, 2007, p. 5).
Even though majority of the aforementioned adverse effects of using marijuana come about as a result of administrating the drug by smoking, they should not be underestimated. On top of this, the results obtained through the use in vitro along with animal models indicate that cannabinoids will most likely bring about suppressive effects on the diverse chemokines along with cytokines available within the human T, as well as, B cells. It has also been established that the cannabinoids have negative impacts on the macrophages cells and eosinophils, which are actually the natural killer cells (Furler et al., 2004, p. 218). Therefore, it is vital to note that even though marijuana is a potential solution to certain diseases, it may make worse HIV infection. Besides, the medicinal marijuana clinical efficacy is yet to be established.
The usage of marijuana even amongst the patients is set to bring them various positive effects but this will occur at the expense of the adolescents’ moral development. In respect to various developmental studies, it is evident that the children’s along with adolescents’ moral development assumes a developmental pattern, which is trajectory in nature. Early adolescents are considered to have an approach, which is concrete in nature towards morality; which is, ‘in order to stay away from punishment, one has to strictly obey all the set rules (Oakland et al., 2003, p.144). It is in that perspective it can be rightly argued that the drug laws deterrent effects will greatly affect the adolescents. The legalization of marijuana even if for the medical purposes may not only contribute towards the lessening of the deterrent effect but also to its total disappearance.
Looking at the various negative impacts discussed within this paper, it is evident that the legalization of marijuana will not only affect the patients but the society in general. Moreover, the utilization of marijuana for medicinal purposes will face problems in establishing the appropriate dosage along with the best form of administrating it to the patients. Other issues such as drug potency along with ‘joint sharing’ are set to complicate further the matters, which have been earlier on discussed. It is therefore evident that laws legalizing marijuana should be formulated with great caution. This is due to the fact even though it will be aimed at resolving various problems experienced by patients; other individuals will end up using it for recreational purposes.
Reference List
Connell, T. & Bou-Matar, C. (2007). Long term marijuana users seeking medical cannabis in California (2001-2007): demographics, social characteristics, patterns of cannabis and other drug use of 4117 applicants. Harm Reduction Journal, 4(16), 1-7.
Furler, M. et al. (2004). Medicinal and Recreational Marijuana Use by Patients Infected with HIV. AIDS Patient Care and STDs, 18(4), 215-228.
Joffe, A. et al. (2004). Legalization of Marijuana: Potential Impact on youth. American Academy of Pediatrics Technical Report, 113(6), 632-636.
Oakland C. et al. (2003). Allowing for the violate Federal Drug Laws? Massachusetts:.EBSCO Publishing.139-157.