Blog 5 Draft

Andrew Frawley

Professor Dempsey

ENGL 1200-20

Project Two: Blog 5

7 April 2014

Why Is Marijuana Illegal When Alcohol Has More Negative Aspects?

            The debate of whether or not to officially legalize marijuana intensified when the first marijuana stores in Denver, Colorado opened on January 1^st, 2014 which began the sale of the substance to people of 21 years or older. In the analysis of whether or not marijuana should be made legal, it is important to consider different “legal” substances used by people to enjoy themselves or relax, a main one being alcohol. The negative aspects of alcohol give criticism to why marijuana, which does not have many of the problems associated to the consumption of alcohol, is not legal and alcohol is. Drinking alcohol can create short-term health risks, like injuries or violence when intoxicated, and long-term health risks, such as neurological problems or cardiovascular problems (Alcohol Use and Health). Along with these problems, the irresponsible consumption of alcohol has led to many fatalities, ranging from drunk-driving accidents to binge drinking. While marijuana does have its side effects and should not be abused, it does not nearly have as many detrimental results as that of when alcohol is irresponsibly used. 

            The United States has experienced its share of negative points of view towards the consumption of alcohol, with the varying drinking age over time and the criticism and awareness gained of alcohol-related fatalities occurring among teenagers. A large reason for the change of the drinking age from 21 to 18 in 1982 when President Reagan told each state they would lose a percentage of federal highway dollars if they failed to comply with raising the minimum drinking age (History 1). The efforts of Reagan to raise the minimum drinking age was a result of many drunk-driving fatalities that were occurring. These alcohol-related fatalities are creating world-wide problems, with the annual alcohol-related deaths worldwide is 2.5 million. Along with the varying factors alcohol has played in American society overtime, the misuse of alcohol is a global problem that is playing a large factor in decreasing both individual and social development. Some of these social development issues associated with alcohol include violence, child neglect and abuse, and absenteeism in the workplace (2.5 Million Alcohol-Related Deaths Worldwide-Annually). These negative characteristics that can come along with the consumption of alcohol provides a large question for why it is legal, with so many possibilities of detrimental events happening. The argument of whether or not marijuana should be legalized needs to be presented with the truth of how harmful the consumption of alcohol can be, even though it is legal in every state.

            Although alcohol consumption does provide a large amount of danger if not used responsibly, marijuana has problems and different side-effects associated with it as well. A few main negative effects marijuana may have is its effect it can have on the brain, heart, and lungs. The active ingredient in marijuana, THC, acts on cannabinoid receptors located in some brain areas and can influence the activity of those cells, although other areas of the brain have few to none at all. These receptors are usually found in parts of the brain that influence pleasure, memory, thought, concentration, sensory and time perception, and coordinated movement (T, Buddy 1). These effects marijuana can have on the brain do provide negative feedback on the use of marijuana, but still do not compare to some of the problems associated with alcohol. Along with the effect marijuana can possibly have on the users’ brain, it can also impact their heart. After smoking marijuana, the heart begins to beat more rapidly and blood pressure begins to drop within minutes. Marijuana can cause the heart to beat 20 to 50 more beats per minute and can make a person 4 times likely of having a heart attack than if they were to not smoke (T, Buddy 1). The faster heart beat and lower blood pressure may present negative qualities of marijuana, it does still not guarantee a heart attack to occur and could not be used as a valid characteristic used to argue why alcohol should be legal instead of marijuana. Along with the small effects seen in the brain and heart, marijuana can have effects on the lungs if smoked enough. Smoking marijuana, even infrequently, can cause burning and stinging of the mouth and throat. Marijuana smokers can also experience similar respiratory problems as tobacco smokers such as, daily cough and phlegm production, more frequent acute chest illness, increased risk of lung infections, and obstructed airways (T, Buddy 1). Although these are some negative effects marijuana has been said to possibly have on users,’ none of these include any fatalities or other serious problems that can come with irresponsibly consuming alcohol.

            In analyzing why alcohol is legal and marijuana is not, there is a large amount of evidence that questions why it is like this. The small side-effects marijuana has do not measure up to the alcohol-related fatalities that have occurred and the enormous global alcohol-related death rate. There is no doubt that the abuse of marijuana can have negative effects, but the possibility of these effects does not measure up to what will definitely happen if a person drinks too much alcohol, or binge drinks. These problems associated with alcohol needs to be made known to people who oppose the use of marijuana, but sit down every night and crush beers. The problems that can occur and the lives that have been lost from alcohol supplies a large amount of criticism to why it is legal and why marijuana is not.