Resolution: Legalization of Marijuana for Medical Uses in Florida - Essay Example

Resolved: The of Florida shall legalize marijuana for medical purposes General Purpose: To Persuade SpecificPurpose Statement: To argue why marijuana should not be legalized in the state of Florida for medical purposes. Central Idea: The legalization will create legal conflicts between state and Federal Governments, it has dangerous affects on health and the medicine may be abused Method of Organization: Topical Introduction I present here my views on the use of Marijuana, proposed for legalization in the state of Florida. I do firmly believe that use of this drug even for medical purposes shall bring more harm to the society than any good. Studies suggest that marijuana has the damaging affect on brain, even for more than one month after its use. Apart from causing alteration to functions of brain, it also damages the sexual organs of the user. Users could misuse the drug for their recreational adventures to get the ‘kick’, rather than using it for the medical purposes. I wish to continue by providing the following arguments to support my viewpoint. I. Marijuana causes serious health problems A. FDA, which is responsible for drug approval, has concluded that this drug is not safe to use by human beings, as it is addictive and damages the brain. 1 These conclusions are the result of over 50 year’s research studies done by the department, for this purpose. The drug causes shrinkage of hippocampus region in the brain, which is its memory and learning center, while it reduces the white mater in the brain to the tune of almost 80 percent. Since the brain development takes place until mid-twenties, use of this drug during adolescence is dangerous, as it can cause permanent loss of IQ points in the users. However, synthetic form of this drug is available for the use of patients, by the name of Marinol. 2. Studies have further suggested that Marijuana can cause cancer of throat, nose and head, as well as testicular region in young adults. Research studies reveal that this drug causes mental illness and tendency towards crime and violence. Young users of this drug are more likely to develop hallucinations, delusions and psychosis. In addition, use of Marijuana can cause damage to the newly developed fetus, while the children born of mothers using this drug can have severe abnormalities.(Do you Know Marijuana, nd) 3. Research studies reveal that one out of six users is addicted to this drug, after trying it just once, while overdose of Marijuana may be fatal. There are indications that regular users of Marijuana have reduced volumes in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) region of brain, which can cause addiction. This is sometimes responsible for malfunctioning of certain brain activities. The presence of main psychoactive ingredient, called THC in Marijuana plant has a profound damaging affect on the grey matter of brain in OFC region. B. Balanced brain wiring and connectivity is an important functional aspect of human mind. Any disturbance to this balance causes deterioration in the adaptive and learning processes of the brain in young children and adolescents. Use of Marijuana causes increased connectivity, which is not good for the brain functioning and wiring. (Young, 2014) II. State and federal laws are conflicting A. The legalization of Marijuana can cause serious conflict between the state and federal law enforcement agencies, as possession, distribution and production of this drug is prohibited by the federal regime. 1. The legalization of this drug will help criminal gangs and drug cartels to market this drug legally. In addition, the zoning laws would require firm amendments to ensure that Marijuana plantation is not near residential colonies, particularly with children population. 2. It can cause confusion and hardship for the traffic enforcement staff, while taking action against drivers smoking the ‘pot’. According to senior federal officials, the legal use of Marijuana can cause higher traffic violations. 3. The Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act (RCTCA) would ultimately aim at allowing all adults to posses and cultivate Marijuana plants, for personal use, at their premises. However, this can result the abuse of such regulation, as the restriction of 25 square feet land area for such cultivation may not be strictly followed. In addition, the land used for growing useful vegetables and other agriculture produce can be misused by such plantation. (Stimson 2010) 4. Legalizing Marijuana will not have any affect on percentage of drug abuse prisoners, as it is already low in American jails. There are more prisoners jailed for alcohol and driving problems. However, the benefit of experiencing the ‘high’ is not worth the risks involved that include major health problems. This is more evident in young adults below 25 years of age.(Gitlow 2014) III. Abusing Marijuana drug meant for recreational use A. States like Colorado and Washington, where recreational use of Marijuana is now legal, have witnessed increased rate of usage by young children and adolescents, just out of curiosity. 1. This has led to such users going for harder drugs, apart from continuously abusing the legalized medicine. Children witness, almost daily, parents and other adult relatives smoking the ‘pot’. This is the main reason for their curiosity to try the drug. The habit becomes addictive, within a short span of time. 2. The use of Marijuana for medical purposes gets the backstage as more people find it handy to help them getting the recreation and excitement. This in turn results in many health and mental problems, which can stay for life, due to continuous use of this substance. B However, many enthusiasts in these states have persuaded the local governments to spend a percentage of revenue, collected after legalizing Marijuana, towards the prevention of this drug abuse. Accordingly, the anti-drug promotion campaigns and Marijuana abuse treatment programs have gathered momentum. This may help to rescue the young adolescents from falling into the trap of trying this substance, just for recreational and excitement purposes.(Ackerman 2014) Conclusion Considering the long-term health problems created by the use of Marijuana, legalizing the drug for medicinal proposes makes no sense. Law making agencies need to understand that the use of Marijuana causes disturbance in the brain connectivity function, which can reduce the adaptive and cognitive capability in young adolescents. Biblography Ackerman, M. (2014)“Legalized pot promotes drug abuse” Drug Czar Retrieved on 17 Nov. 2014, from: http://www.rehabs.com/drug-czar-legalized-pot-promotes-drug-abuse/ “Do You Know Marijuana… (nd).” Calmca.org, Retrieved on Nov.17, 2014, from: http://www.calmca.org/wp-content/uploads/Do-You-Know-Marijuana.pdf Gitlow, S (2014) “Marijuana Legalizing is Risk not Worth Taking”, CNN Retrieved on Nov. 18, 2014, from: http://edition.cnn.com/2014/07/30/opinion/gitlow-marijuana-use/ Stimson, C (2010) “Legalizing Marijuana:”, The Heritage Foundation. Retrieved on Nov. 17, 2014, from: http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2010/09/legalizing-marijuana-why-citizens-should-just-say-no Young. S (2014) “Regular Pot Habit Changes Your Brain”, CNN.com. Retrieved on Nov. 17, 2014, from: http://edition.cnn.com/2014/11/10/health/pot-and-your-brain/index.html?hpt%20=hp_t2 Read More