Should cannabis be legalised?


Introduction: Nowadays (some) most of young people use some type of drugs, despite of the fact they are illegal. (parties, discos, bars...) The most popular in our country may be... I am going to write about... but first of all let me define....

Cannabis is the general term applied internationally to the Indian hemp plant, Cannabis sativa, when the plant is used for its pleasure-giving effects. It is primarily a depressant, however it may have hallucinogenic effects. Types of preparations: resin (hashish) and dried flowers and leaves (marijuana, grass, pot).

Pros of legalisation: Therapeutical use. Chemicals found in the plant can relieve pain in people suffering illnesses like multiple sclerosis and arthritis. Also it may be used in the chemotherapy treatement used in cancer patients to prevent some highly stressful side effects (nausea, vomiting.)

Cannabis is often contaminated with some toxic components which may cause more harm than the substance itself. A legal supply would be pure and therefore safer.

Countries which have experimented with decriminalisation have not encountered massive increases in use. There are some people which use drugs basically because they are illegal exciting and dangerous, a thrill.

Alcohol and tobacco consumption would decrease. Cannabis causes people to be calm and peaceful, unlike alcohol which often leads to violence.

There is no evidence that cannabis use itself causes the use of harder drugs. All the evidence suggests that the cause is a personality type.

Cons of legalisation: All drug use has some dangers, there is no need for anyone to risk their health. Risk of bronchitis and respiratory diseases, lung cancer...

Loss of inhibition which may increase risk taking behaviour. This may lead to a person saying or doing something they would not normally do, or taking risks which may put them in danger...

Legalisation could make cannabis socially acceptable and so encourage use of this substance and others more dangerous. Almost all heroin addicts started with cannabis. It is the first step on the road to hard drug addiction... It is a gateway drug which leads to use of harder drugs...

To smoke cannabis for some time can also make people less motivated. If you or your friends use cannabis it may result in you/them not willing to study, socialise, play sport or go out.

Some scientists believe that teenage cannabis smokers develop the so called amotivational syndrome. It consists of losing all desire to work or compete, introversion, passivity, unability to concentrate for long periods, loss of the ability to express (speaking and writing.)

Tax payers do not want their money spent on treating hopeless drug addicts. More police would be needed to deal with the increasing crime...

Conclusion. Looking on both sides of this controversial issue/topic, I think that...