Marijuana is a misunderstood drug that is thought of as dangerous, when in fact this is in anything but the case. Because of people's ignorance and gullibility, marijuana has become illegal for all the wrong reasons and should highly be reconsidered for legalization. People today don't understand that for centuries marijuana has been used by different nationalities of people for religious, recreational, and medical use. Marijuana has been legalized in such European countries as Holland and Belgium. Currently, it is speculated that Germany, Spain, and Portugal are also leaning towards the idea of legalizing marijuana (www.marijuanareform.org ). So why is the legalization of marijuana in the United States such a problem for many people today? Considered to be a gateway drug and the reason for the downfall of our youth today, marijuana has developed a negative reputation. However, many people who are chronic users believe the drug is no more harmful than cigarettes. Despite its useful medical effects for relieving pain and nausea, marijuana is a psychedelic drug that will be looked down upon because of false claims about the influences it has on the mind. The use of marijuana dates back over 5,000 years ago when the Chinese used it as an anesthetic. Greeks, Persians, and Romans also used the drug to control muscle spasms, reduce pain, and treat indigestion (www.innerbody.com ).
On March 15, 2002 a recent study was performed which showed teenage drug abuse has dropped slightly in recent years, but still 54 percent of American kids use marijuana before high school graduation (Leaver 1). Since marijuana was made an illegal narcotic, there have been many arguments over its illegal status. Why is such a commonly used drug such a problem to most people? Well, the answer may be that not everyone fully understands what happens to a person when he or she is intoxicated from marijuana. Ignorance about marijuana is a problem for most people today.
