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Claim: Montgomery County needs to deploy its law enforcement and justice
system in full force to fight Marijuana abuse.
Reason 1: high risk to Reason 2: effects on job Reason 3: health risks
young people opportunities and drug
abuse in the work place
Affects emotional, Passing drug test Cancer/heart risks
academic, and social
development Safety/negligence on the Risk of laced/bad quality
job
Gateway to other drugs
and crime

A. Introduction

1. Marijuana has negative effects on everyone mostly including adolescents. It is becoming more
and more seen as something normal and natural but it is a risk to health and daily basic skills and
needs such as emotional and academic development.

B. Thesis

Montgomery County needs to deploy its law enforcement and justice system in full force to fight
marijuana abuse.

C. Reason 1. High risks to young people

C.a. Evidence 1a

Affects emotional, academic, and social development in teenagers - According to an article by

Harvard Health Publication, chronic users off the drug often find themselves lacking
motivation, it also states that some even seem depressed or have other signs of mental illness.
This affects kids or young adults with their education.

Reason 2: effects on job opportunities and drug abuse in the work place

Evidence 1a

Passing drug test - In an article published on LinkedIn.com, Elias Cobb describes the importance
of being marijuana free by stating, Marijuana is NOT legal on the federal level. Many
companies will use this as their reasoning to continue to drug test new employees. And without
fail, marijuana in your system is a fail

Reason 3: health risks

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Evidence 1a

Cancer/heart risks - According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, "a persons risk of heart
attack during the first hour after smoking marijuana is nearly five times his or her usual risk.
(2017)
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Johana Guillenea

April 30th 2017

EN101

Essay 4

Marijuana and its danger to Society

Montgomery County needs to deploy its law enforcement and justice system in full force

to fight Marijuana abuse. Over the past decade, Montgomery County and our nation as a whole,

has experienced a steady increase of Marijuana users. According to a study produced by the

National Institute of Health, since 2007 the percentage of Americans who used the drugs has

increased from 5.8% to 7.5%, which is an increase of 5 million users. This drug is responsible

for negatively impacting the emotional, academic, and social development of our youth and

serves as a gateway to other drugs. Marijuana also is responsible for several health risks to the

heart and lungs and due to a lack of regulation and oversight; its users are at risk of bad quality

or laced versions of the drug. Lastly, Marijuana use can interfere with job opportunities and

dangers in the work place. It is up to our local government to unite in a concentrated effort to

combat this drug abuse in order to protect our communities.

Marijuana is looked at as something harmless and natural because its a plant but it can

cause several issues with emotional, academic, and social development. According to an article

by Harvard Health Publication, chronic users off the drug often find themselves lacking

motivation, it also states that some even seem depressed or have other signs of mental illness.

This affects kids or young adults with their education. Long-term marijuana use can hinder math

and verbal skills and the ability to store and retrieve information. Something natural and healthy

should never impact someone negatively when it comes to basic daily activities. A lot of people
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who are pro weed think it is not an addictive drug but if that was true then why is there a

possibility of emotional withdrawal when stopping the use of it? Anger and aggression,

relentlessness, irritability, and strange dreams are a side effect of withdrawal. This can lead to

falling back into weed or possibly the use of a stronger drug.

Aside from the potential negative impacts the drug has on young peoples natural

development, Marijuana is a huge risk to interfere with gaining and maintaining employment.

Whether people know it or not, marijuana is illegal on the federal level and employers respect

this. In an article published on LinkedIn.com, Elias Cobb describes the importance of being

marijuana free by stating, Marijuana is NOT legal on the federal level. Many companies will

use this as their reasoning to continue to drug test new employees. And without fail, marijuana in

your system is a fail. Imagine a world where employers look past marijuana use; do we want

our workforce high on marijuana? Our school bus drivers, nurses, and police officers cannot be

under the influence of drugs or alcohol when they are working so neither should anyone else.

Because marijuana can affect reaction time, motor skills, and attentiveness, the drug poses a

major threat to safety in the workplace. In an article published by the Occupational Health and

Safety Association, Terri L. Dougherty states that Marijuana use has been linked to an increase

in job accidents and injuries, and the National Institute on Drug Abuse notes that the short-term

effects of marijuana include impaired body movement, difficulty with thinking and problem-

solving, memory problems, and an altered sense of time. It is clear the marijuana use is a huge

contributor to negligence in the workplace.

According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, "a persons risk of heart attack during

the first hour after smoking marijuana is nearly five times his or her usual risk. (2017) People

are choosing this drug over cigarettes and alcohol due to it being known as less harsh but it is
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not. It causes plenty of the same health risks associated with cigarettes and alcohol; its just not

as common. Smoking marijuana causes lung problems such as lung infections and illnesses,

smokers cough, and an increased risk of lung cancer. Marijuana can play a devastating role in

child development during and after a pregnancy. Smoking weed while pregnant can harm the

babies brain development and is also linked to low birth rates. Marijuana can also affect ones

mental health and well-being. One might experience hallucinations, extreme paranoia, and even

anxiety attacks. Given the facts on weeds negative impact on ones mental and physical health,

our community must take a stance against its presence in our neighborhoods.

In the final analysis, it is clear that marijuana is a harmful drug and Montgomery County

has got to deploy its law enforcement and justice system sooner than later to lessen the

percentage of people abusing of the drug and the distribution of it in order to cost society less

money and less incidents within adolescents. It is a danger not just to one using the drug, but

also a danger to innocent Montgomery county residents due to crimes happening due to

marijuana, not to speak of the economic issues it causes. Whether other states are legalizing or

not, this county has to stick to keeping it illegal and enforcing harsher punishments. This will

make our county a better place for all residents.

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Works Cited Page

Shaw, Jerry. "Emotional Effects of Marijuana Addiction." LIVESTRONG.COM. Leaf Group, 17

Sept. 2011. Web. 01 May 2017. http://www.livestrong.com/article/89510-emotional-effects-

marijuana-addiction/

Abuse, National Institute on Drug. "Nationwide Trends." NIDA. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 May 2017.

https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/nationwide-trends

Dougherty, Terri L. Feb. "Marijuana Use and Its Impact on Workplace Safety and

Productivity." Occupational Health & Safety. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 May 2017.

https://ohsonline.com/Articles/2016/02/01/Marijuana-Use-and-Its-Impact-on-Workplace-Safety-

and-Productivity.aspx?Page=1

Abuse, National Institute on Drug. "Letter From the Director." NIDA. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 May

2017. https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/marijuana

Publications, Harvard Health. "Health Information and Medical Information." Harvard Health.

N.p., n.d. Web. 01 May 2017. http://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/marijuana-use-

may-be-harmful-to-mental-health-the-family-marijuana-addiction/