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Should Marijuana Be Legal For Recreational Use?

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Marijuana, or cannabis, is a drug that has had legalization remain a question in the United States for several years. In countries such as Bangladesh, North Korea, and Uruguay, marijuana is completely legal for recreational use. In America, the states Colorado, Washington, Oregon, and Alaska have also legalized recreational use. While there are many disadvantages of the use of cannabis, there are also some potentially useful advantages. Marijuana is a mixture of dried-out leaves, stems, flowers and seeds of the natural hemp plant that many people around the world ingest to “get high.” It is usually green, brown, or gray in color and can be ingested in different ways, such as smoking it or sometimes baking it into “edibles.” The chemical in marijuana that creates distortion or makes the user “high” is tetrahydrocannabinol, otherwise known as THC. The amount of THC in the plant can vary, but over the years it has increased. Louis and Anne Pagliaro emphasize that in 1974, the amount remained at 1% but in 2008, it was tested at 9.6% (“Handbook” 102-103). After smoking cannabis, one feels a sort of “high” sensation. The peak of this “high” is felt approximately 30 minutes after ingestion and wears off within two to three hours, depending on how much marijuana one smoked and how much THC is in it. While under the influence, a user may have a slower reaction time, confusion, reddened eyes, poor coordination/balance, distortion, and increased appetite, blood pressure, and heart

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