In the scope of human history, it’s only very recently that we’ve really begun to understand addiction. Before our extensive research, it was thought that addiction was a moral affliction and addicts were merely bad people, weak of will and character, consciously choosing to be selfish and self-destructive.
As a result, substance abuse was largely criminalized, resulting in many people in need of help for their addictions being sentenced to jail as it was thought that prison time would force these individuals into abstinence; however, the high rate of recidivism — returning to crime after having already served a sentence for previous crimes — indicated that this was an unusual affliction with implications beyond those that could be attributed to sin.
Although the enjoyment of alcohol, tobacco, and many other substances goes back thousands of years in our history, it’s more recently become very controversial. This is likely due to the wide range of effects that habitual substance abuse can have, both at the micro and macro levels. For instance, an individual’s drug addiction will obviously have a tremendous impact on his or her family (micro), but it might also result in the individual burgling others in the community (macro) in order to obtain the money necessary to sustain his or her substance abuse problem. It’s this wide range of effects coupled with the moral implications and the destruction of health that trigger an extensive anti-substance abuse movement.
Lack of Scientific Objectivity in Marijuana Legalization Debate
As with many other controversial issues, there are many passionate individuals on both sides of the argument. If those against mind-altering substances could have their way, it’s probable that even alcohol would be made illegal as it was during Prohibition. Meanwhile, there have been recent attempts to add another substance — marijuana — to alcohol and tobacco on the roster of legal chemical substances. In fact, there are even a number of states that have not only legalized marijuana for medicinal purposes but even for recreational purposes as well. With each side of the debate being staunch in their convictions, it has become clear what the debate concerning the legalization of marijuana has been lacking: Scientific objectivity.
The Pro-Legalization Argument
There are a variety of statistics, facts, and points that the pro-legalization side have been making in their efforts to finally have marijuana made legal. First and foremost, the pro-legalization side insists that marijuana poses no harm to a user’s health. And not only is marijuana not harmful, the pro-legalization side points out that marijuana is significantly less dangerous and poses much less risk to a user than virtually any other substance, including heroin, cocaine, and other street drugs that are too often lethal. In fact, this side of the legalization debate often suggests that marijuana is even less dangerous than alcohol and tobacco, which are legal substances. Moreover, it’s also often mentioned that marijuana isn’t an addictive drug, which implies that those who use marijuana are at no risk of developing a chemical dependence on the drug.
When one puts aside political agendas and perceptions of morality in order to objectively assess the pro-legalization argument, one can see that many of the points the pro-legalization side makes aren’t completely factual, or may be conveyed with a lack of objectivity. For instance, there are a number of health effects that come from the smoking marijuana.
According to studies, an individual who smokes marijuana introduces three times more tar into the lungs as he or she would when smoking cigarettes. Moreover, it’s been suggested that marijuana has 70 percent more cancer-causing substances than tobacco. And while the pro-legalization side frequently states that marijuana isn’t an addictive substance, the available evidence is to the contrary, suggesting that individuals who smoke marijuana at a young age and/or on a daily basis are at immense risk of developing an addiction to marijuana.
The Anti-Legalization Argument
Those who staunchly oppose the legalization of marijuana similarly have a number of characteristic claims and go-to statistics when trying to convey the imminent danger that marijuana poses. The most well-known and oft-cited point that the anti-legalization side makes is that marijuana is a gateway drug, which is a way of saying that individuals who begin to use marijuana are significantly more likely to begin abusing other, more dangerous substances at some point.
Additionally, the anti-legalization side frequently makes claims on the high addictive potential for marijuana and comparing it to date-rape drugs in terms of its power and effects. There have also been a number of studies that have suggested some sort of relationship between certain marijuana and numerous other conditions, particularly those pertaining to mental and emotional health.
However, much like the pro-legalization side, the anti-legalization side seems to frequently exaggerate the dangers of marijuana. For instance, there have recently been a number of studies that have finally determined once and for all that marijuana is, in fact, not a gateway drug. Moreover, the studies that have suggested some sort of relationship between marijuana use and psychological disorders have explicitly stated that there could merely be a correlation, which isn’t the same thing as causation.
Finally, the anti-legalization side frequently discounts and disregards the wealth of evidence that has shown the various applications of marijuana for medical and medicinal purposes. Specifically, it’s been found that marijuana can stop or slow the growth of cancer cells, slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, relieve pressure in the eyes of individuals suffering from glaucoma, offer relief to individuals suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, and many others.
Let Drug Treatment Center Finder Help You Beat Addiction
The prospect of legalizing marijuana is expectedly controversial. However, it’s most likely that resolution lies somewhere in between the two sides where the actual facts can be found. It’s essential to be informed when making a decision with such momentous consequences, which is why we’re here. Drug Treatment Center Finder exists to be your go-to resource for anything and everything pertaining to addiction recovery. If you or someone you love is suffering from alcoholism or drug addiction and would benefit from learning more about recovery, call Drug Treatment Center Finder today at 1-855-619-8070 for a free consultation and assessment.