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STUDENT’S NAME WITHHELD BY REQUEST
English 9/Mr. Davis
Los Alamos High School
Editor’s note: This essay one of a series of letters submitted for publication by Adam Davis’s students at Los Alamos High School.
About 52.5 million people in the U.S. alone used recreational marijuana at least once, legal or not, in 2021 (CDC). Recreational marijuana can separate you from your family and friends, and have various horrible effects for the human body, despite the “high” you may get. Recreational marijuana should be seen as a completely negative drug with negative effects.
Recreational marijuana affects the brain and the body during and even after use. The University of Rochester states “The drug affects a person’s ability to understand and also their reaction time” (Finke et al.). Adding on, panic attacks, hallucinations, and even psychosis associated with the drug can create a dangerous environment. Long term effects can be vascular diseases, gum diseases, and when smoking marijuana you inhale the chemicals and compounds that cause life-threatening cancer and heart diseases that you can get from cigarettes.
The Athens Addiction Recovery Center stresses “it (marijuana) can have a detrimental effect on a relationship” (Recovery). Not only can it hurt important relationships, marijuana can cause changes in behavior and the brain that can make it harder to communicate. Second, users may begin to neglect loved ones and responsibilities as they see marijuana as the priority. Last, users will often be secretive about their drug abuse and use, so they may distance themselves from family and friends to keep it a secret.
While people may argue that recreational marijuana makes you happier or calmer, the “high” that marijuana offers is not worth the other effects on your life. The “high” of marijuana begins to show in around an hour, and lasts for 6-12 hours (Simcoe Muskoka). Less than half a day of feeling “good” is insignificant when you think about what could happen to your health and brain over time, or even what could happen to the relationships around you. Risking your own body and life or sacrificing the care and love others have for you is not worth the feelings you may get from marijuana.
The negative effects marijuana has on the body and on relationships with family and loved ones is very detrimental for a human. While some may disagree, the good feeling you may get from marijuana is not worth the negative consequences. Recreational use of marijuana should be seen as downright horrible, as the negative effects far outweigh the few and frail positive effects.
“]] STUDENT’S NAME WITHHELD BY REQUESTEnglish 9/Mr. DavisLos Alamos High School Editor’s note: This essay one of a series of letters submitted for publication by Adam Davis’s students at Lo… Read More
