English Persuasive Essay -Marijuana Essay

This essay will attempt to persuade its readers that the use of marijuana is in actual fact more dangerous than is generally thought. Marijuana is a mixture of dried, shredded leaves, stems, seeds, and flowers of the hemp plant. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol is the active hallucinogenic in marijuana. Marijuana is smoked, chewed and eaten in various methods and forms. This has adverse psychological, physical and behavioural effects on to those who consume it. Immediately after consuming the narcotic one may experience harmful effects from marijuana use such as hallucinations, paranoia, psychotic episodes, impaired coordination, impaired motor ability and extreme mood swings The anxiety can range anywhere from mild anxiety to complete panic. The THC in marijuana is believed to change a psychoactive compound in the liver, which may be the cause of the psychological and subjective effects. The psychological effects of marijuana are most often seen in altered perceptions of distance and time, impaired memory and physical coordination, and a heightened sensitivity of the visual and auditory senses. Marijuana has often been touted as one of the safest recreational substances available. This is perhaps true; many reputable scientific institutions, such as the National Medical Board support the conclusion that cocaine, heroine, alcohol, and even cigarettes are more dangerous to the user’s health than marijuana. Smoking marijuana regularly damages the cells in the bronchial passages, which protect the body against inhaled micro-organisms and decrease the ability of the problems with memory and learning; distorted perception, trouble with thinking and decision making, loss of motor coordination; and increased heart rate. Long Term effects of marijuana may include: the loss of brain cells, lung cancer, chronic bronchitis, energy  loss, slow confused thinking, apathy, and blood vessel blockage. According to the National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse, 44% of people who had an extensive history of smoking Marijuana developed forms of psychosis and schizophrenia. Although there are celebrated pharmacological properties of cannabis have led some states in Australia to permit its use as a therapeutic drug for, among others, those suffering from AIDS; various painful, incurable and debilitating illnesses; the harmful side effects of cancer chemotherapy, and glaucoma However, it would be fallacious to conclude that because the chemicals in marijuana have been found to present fewer dangers than some very harmful substances. In a recreational context, marijuana has been shown to affect health, brain function, and memory. Marijuana contains five times the amount of tar and more carcinogenic than a normal cigarette. The consumption of marijuana has been proven to have unpleasant effects on the users behaviour. All forms of marijuana are mind-altering. One is subjected to extreme mood swings and neurotic behaviour when experiencing withdrawal symptoms. Marijuana can be a gateway drug, which means it can lead to the use of many other harmful drugs. According to the study by the Queensland State Resources and Services Related to Alcohol and Other Drug Problems 1995, Children ages 12-17 are 85 times more likely to use cocaine after using marijuana. One may say that marijuana is harmless, that it does not cause one to convulse or dehydrate as other harder drugs such as ecstasy or heroin would; that there are no dangers with overdosing. However this is not the case. Marijuana affects memory, judgment and perception. Prolonged use of marijuana can have detrimental effects on one’s life and peers. This may generate a loss of interest in appearance, schoolwork/work and life. There are also subjective effects refer to those effects that are going to change from person to person. Euphoria, lowered inhibitions, drowsiness, contentment, and relaxation are generally the desired effects of people who use marijuana. As the video illustrated marijuana has serious effects on ones ability to safely, marijuana use can make it difficult to judge distances and react to signals and sounds on the road. A majority of people,  who smoke marijuana, may habitually consume alcohol in conjunction with marijuana. This would increase one’s chances of involvement in a car accident. Thus concluding, that with the combination of the adverse psychological, physical and behavioural effects smoking marijuana has it on the human body, it is far more dangerous than is generally thought.