Governor Lamont Must NOT Legalize Recreational Marijuana

Marijuana is a drug. This is an indisputable fact. What do we become when we start 

integrating drugs; mind altering, organ killing, rationality destroying consumables into our 

society? There is a drug which is becoming a new normal, marijuana. While 

marijuana can be used for medicinal purposes under doctor recommendation, which is an 

obvious positive,  it should not be available to the general public, in the reach of children

and teenagers. Governor Lamont wants to make marijuana legal for recreational use, and

we can’t let this happen. Why let one more life-threatening object into our culture? What

are marijuana’s health effects? According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, or NIDA,

marijuana’s short term effects include: altered mood senses, time, and senses, impaired

motor coordination and function, reduced memory, thinking, and problem solving

capabilities, hallucinations, psychosis, and delusions. If teenagers are using marijuana

before or during school, imagine how these effects could reduce their learning. Speaking of

students, the NIDA states that, “the number of teens in 8th and 10th grades who say they

use it daily has increased.” While Governor Lamont could place age restrictions on

marijuana, kids still get their hands on cigarettes and alcohol, so why not pot? It would be

much easier if they could just walk down to the local weed shop with a fake ID. In the long

term, marijuana can cause: loss of IQ, issues with breathing, increased heart rate, child

development problems, severe vomiting and nausea, paranoia, hallucinations,

schizophrenia, anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts and actions. We know how

marijuana is clearly bad for one’s health, but how are other states that have 

legalized marijuana holding up? According to ProCon.org, a nonpartisan 

information source, in Colorado, emergency room visits due to marijuana rose to 30%,

while hospitalizations due to marijuana skyrocketed to 200%. Dr. Karen Randall, a 

Colorado emergency room doctor says that, “The emergency department has seen

increased visits for primary care needs, breathing problems related to marijuana,”. Some

say marijuana would increase our states revenue greatly. This is true, to some extent. Let’s

look at California. According to “The Motley Fool.com” in 2017, California gained 3 billion

dollars from medical marijuana purchases, however, in 2019, after its recent legalization,

marijuana brought in 2.5 billion dollars. This is still a substantial profit, but with a 500

million dollar drop-off! So, we have learned that marijuana, in the long run, is not

worthwhile due to its health and economic failures. However, Governor Lamont does not

see it that way. He wants to endanger our children and our children’s children with a

dangerous drug they can pick up at a market corner. Governor Lamont, recreational

marijuana must not be legalized!

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