Marijuana’s Negative Factors, Essay Example

The pros and cons of marijuana have been debated for decades. However, no matter how the advocates spin their position, marijuana is bad. The focus of this paper is to show how marijuana users spend a large amount of money maintaining their habit; have a drug dependency, and that marijuana is the pathway to heavier drugs. Marijuana has presented as harmless by so many advocates, but that is not the case. Marijuana should not be legalized nor used because of the negative factors associated with its usage.

Cost of Marijuana

The first reason in opposition of marijuana is that it takes people’s money. In some cases, necessities are put on the backburner to support the habit. The street price varies, but legalized states have increased the cost of purchasing marijuana. “If you’re an average pot smoker in Colorado — paying average prices for average quality marijuana — you can expect to spend around $650 on weed next year” (Tuttle, 2013). That is a lot of money for recreational activity, and if the individual is a daily user, the yearly cost is significantly more. Using Colorado as an example, the average marijuana enthusiast can plan to pay $185 per ounce. It is a hefty price tag for daily recreational activity.

The cost of marijuana is more than just the price tag it takes to purchase the product. Individuals will work all week to throw a lot of their earnings away purchasing marijuana. The use of marijuana can also cost people their employment or even a better job. Some jobs mandate that their employees be drug-free, this includes the usage of marijuana, and if they fail a random or prescreening drug test is can result in termination. This type of cost needs to be factored into the equation to understand how truly detrimental marijuana can be.

Drug Dependency

People who use marijuana can experience withdraw when they are not using, forcing them to return to the drug. Individuals can experience a drug dependency, where they need to use marijuana. “It is estimated that 9 percent of people who use marijuana will become dependent on it. The number goes up to about 17 percent in those who start using young (in their teens) and to 25 to 50 percent among daily users” (Is Marijuana, 2015). It is concerning that individuals will become hooked on a product that will take so much of their money to support their habit. Products that lead to dependency like marijuana, tobacco, and beer all can lead to serious health issues due to the continual and long-term usages.

It is alarming to see how many people are dependent on marijuana. According to the 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, “marijuana accounted for 4.2 million of the estimated 6.9 million Americans dependent on or abusing illicit drugs” (Is Marijuana, 2015). To see the numbers 4.2 million Americans are no longer using marijuana on a recreational basis, they are now dependent on it on a regular basis. That number will most likely increase as recreational users get addicted and become more and more dependent upon the drug. It also ties into the cost of buying marijuana, increasing the likelihood that individuals will spend outside of their means to buy it.

Marijuana Pathway

In addition to the cost of buying marijuana and the potential to become addicted, marijuana can lead to heavier drug usage. There is a lot of controversy about the likelihood of those who use marijuana turning towards heavier, more dangerous drugs. “There’s a strong correlation between marijuana use and other drug use: a person who smokes marijuana is more than 104 times more likely to use cocaine than a person who never tries pot, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse” (Szalavitz, 2010). The National Institute on Drug Abuse’s finding that the likelihood for heavier drugs such as cocaine or heroin is highly probable. Users should be educated on the fact that they are 104 time more likely to turn to heavier drugs than if they never used marijuana.

Heavier drug leads to even more issues than that of marijuana users. Other drugs cost more to obtain, and they are illegal across the United States. The legalization of marijuana is a highly political topic with the basis that it is a harmless product; however it is clear to see that that is not the case. The potential for regular marijuana users to move towards dangerous and heavier drugs is a significant reason marijuana should not be used, in addition to cost and dependency.

Marijuana should not be legalized nor used because of the negative factors associated with its usage. There are many reasons why marijuana can be considered bad including the cost associated with buying marijuana, the likelihood of dependency, and the possibility that it can lead to heavier drugs. It is important to educate individuals prior to them making the decision to use marijuana. It is also important to keep these facts in mind when voting or participating in the legalization of marijuana. Marijuana has many negative factors associated with it, and it is vital to understand that it is not just a recreational product. Marijuana is a bad product with even worse potential side effects for its usage.

References

Is Marijuana Addictive? (2015). National Institute on Drug Abuse. Retrieved from https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/marijuana/marijuana-addictive

Szalavitz, Maia. (2010). Marijuana as a Gateway Drug: The Myth That Will Not Die. Time.com. Retrieved from http://healthland.time.com/2010/10/29/marijuna-as-a-gateway-drug-the- myth-that-will-not-die/

Tuttle, Brad. (2013). How Much Will a Legal Marijuana Habit Cost You? Time.com. Retrieved from http://business.time.com/2013/05/20/how-much-will-a-legal-marijuana-habit-cost-            you/