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Mason Gupte
English 10118
Paper 3

The recreational use of cannabis should remain illegal in the United States of America. Cannabis, or marijuana, is a highly dangerous and addictive drug that not only leads to physical harm, but is a drug that if legalized, would inadvertently encourage the use of drugs among teenagers and adults all across the country.

In recent years, the country has witnessed an increase in popularity in what is known as “medical” marijuana. Although it’s viewed today as a medicine and something that is offered to help patients in America, the positive aura being created around the drug is something that should be considered extremely alarming. The more people become accustomed to the idea of marijuana being acceptable, the more likely it becomes that a serious push for the narcotic to become legal could happen. Legalizing marijuana for recreational purposes would be detrimental for numerous reasons.

Scientists have discovered enough about the active chemical in marijuana called delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, to allow us to understand that is a substance that should not be tampered with. When a person burns marijuana and starts to inhale the smoke, the THC in the plant quickly passes from their lungs into their bloodstream, which transports the chemical to the brain and other organs throughout the body. THC acts upon specific parts of your brain, called cannabinoid receptors, which then triggers a series of cell-based reactions that lead to the dangerous “high” that user will experience (www.DrugAbuse.Gov).

These receptors are found in parts of the brain that affect pleasure, memory, thinking, concentrating, sensory, coordinated movement and time perception. While a user is under the influence of marijuana, they are prone to chronic overeating and tend to show little to zero effort in any activity they attempt.

The use of marijuana can also lead to distorted perceptions, impairments, difficulty...
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