User:Dreka37/Cannabis dispensaries in the United States

Lead
=== There are many adverse effects associated with legalizing cannabis such as diminishing cognitive functioning, drug abuse and addiction, making healthy decisions, mental health related issues and increased risk of many medical conditions. These effects far outweighs the positive impacts linked to the legalization of cannabis. The CDC issued an advisory concerning the adverse effects that some cannabis products that are sold in dispensaries had on people's health. The article moves further to suggest that the reason for the increases were due to people are not being informed that products are being modified to obtain a higher potency level by placing more concentrations of Delta 8 THC Variant. If people are better informed they can make better more informed decisions. ===

Health Effects
According to the NBER, legalizing cannabis places people at greater risk of abuse and dependency that is associated with the use of cannabis. According to NIH, 30% of people who engage in the use of marijuana develop marijuana use disorder. This disorder is linked to dependence. People who experience such disorder they are more aggravated, have less tolerance of others, and they don’t eat as good as they should. The data from the NBER was taken with the purpose of examining the effects of legalizing medical marijuana. Statistical data shows that marijuana use went up 16%. Cannabis is said to be the gateway, being many people started doing drugs after there first joint or blunt.

While there is no strong relationship between antisocial behaviors and marijuana use, people who use this substance for prolonged period such as their entire life are more prone to developing Antisocial Personality Disorder.(Weinand 2021) People who use cannabis are more prone to develop metal health disorders such as paranoia and psychosis. Hallucinations, depression, anxiety and a host of other mental illnesses are associated with the use of cannabis

The use of cannabis for prolonged time periods interrupts the way think and process information. Cannabis use have an affect on multiple regions of the brain. Some effects cannabis has on the brain Is that it impairs cognitive functions such as learning, memory and retention of information be processed.(NIDA 2019)

David G. Evans is the founder and Executive Director of the Drug Free School Coalition. Evans was also a former researcher scientist of the Division of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse in New Jersey’s Department of Health. Evans evaluates the arguments for legalizing marijuana on an economic and social basis. The journal explains how the economy would benefit by adding taxes and the revenue that would come from cannabis dispensary operations. It also suggests that the criminal justice system will reduce spending by the millions if marijuana is legalized. The paper goes on to talk about the argumentative points of why not to legalize marijuana. The intended audience appear to be the government and voters, who are ultimately responsible for a state having cannabis dispensaries. The article also points out the harmful effect such a drug has on public health, public safety and productivity in people who use marijuana. This will be the basis for editing on the cannabis article in Wikipedia.

Today’s world thinks very differently about laws concerning the legalization of marijuana. Even though the article discusses the benefits it’s clear the negative impacts outweigh the benefits of legalization. His point of view opposes legalizing marijuana and provide valid reasons. This paper is pertinent to my article because it provides detailed information on how the legalization of marijuana has more harmful than helpful effects on society. The paper has been cited by many others. The article I am editing leaves out the harmful effects of legalizing marijuana on the body and society. I will review this article to gather facts that expose why cannabis dispensaries aren’t safe. The marijuana advocates provide no clear evidence this industry is beneficial to the economy. On the other hand, there is a large amount of evidence that points out the harmful effects of marijuana on public health, safety, and productivity. The author provides great references for further elaboration into why marijuana usage or legalization is not the way to go. David is on point and appears to be very knowledgeable about this topic. Even though the paper provides an overview of what good cannabis industries does for a society, the negative points are more in depth and are supported by evidence.

Dr. Brad A. Roberts is doctor who specializes in emergency medicine in Pueblo, Colorado, who obtain his medical degree from the Medical College of Wisconsin. The article highlights the negative impacts marijuana has on the body and how this in turns create problems for emergency room. Dr. Brad A. Roberts is a medical doctor so I would consider him fit to discuss this topic. The paper too is cited multiple times by others. The review focused on how mental health concerns increased since the legalization of the substance. It explains how the use of marijuana impairs brain function and cause problems in other body systems. It shows how fatal crashes increased since Colorado decided to legalize marijuana. This paper emphasizes on the reasons why other states should reconsider making weed legal.

Cannabis is considered to be a non harmful substance. Even though use has increased in develop countries, there is supportive data that dependence and other mental health illness are greater in people who consume cannabis product, with Individuals who are diagnosed with Schizophrenia and other metal illnesses are at greater chances of experiencing these effects.The article suggest there is substantial evidence using cannabis regularly can have negative mental effect. While cannabis gives the body a relaxed state, opens the body up to symptoms such as depersonalization, hallucinations, and going to the after life. The article suggests Drastic levels of cannabis in a persons system provokes psychosis with different types of symptoms. Prolonged use of cannabis also put people at risk of developing amotivational syndrome, with symptoms such as being indifferent, personality changes frequently, unclear and unmotivated. Basically use of cannabis intensifies pre existing conditions and make people more susceptible to a range of different mental and medical health issues. It’s also difficult for them to concentration, and retain information for memory.Youth use of cannabis places the at risk for emotional disturbances. There is suggestions that school performance is affected negatively when youth use cannabis. It places kids in deep thought about things such as life’s purpose that’s leads to hopelessness. (CDC)

Cannabis though not tied to any specific disorder, over 80% of people in a study reported some form of cannabis.(Allen & Frances)   With this, cannabis user are prone to diagnoses of social anxieties where a person is pressed or worried about being embarrassed, hurting someone else, or being judged by other. Other symptoms associated with social anxiety included increased perspiration and shortened of breath, are some of the body response to fear, and included in the stress response.

A little over 11 million young people reported that they use marijuana within the last 12 months. Monitoring survey, rates suggests use in teen aged 12-14 middle schoolers remained leveled, highly school student usage increased.

Marijuana affect multiple brain regions. Short effects of marijuana use may include disorientation, inability to concentrate,  and retention of information. All of these effects play a major role in the functionality of an individual. The article suggest that higher levels and more potent marijuana is responsible for psychological disorders.

People who consume marijuana in their teens are at risk of impaired brain function. In a study at Duke University people who use marijuana, showed a decrease in their IQ  scores. Another study with twins show a decline in articulation and basic knowledge. In the article they discussed how marijuana use effects a region that is involved with formation of new memories. Not that it impossible but it is  hard for people under the influence to acquire new information and task. The surge of dopamine after consuming cannabis is linked to it addicting powers. Marijuana is the number one drug that’s in blood test of people involved in vehicular accidents, though there is not enough evidence that points to marijuana being the cause. Marijuana does have addictive powers, with over 20% of people who use it have a disorder known as marijuana use disorder. Marijuana potency levels are much stronger than that of  the marijuana in the past. Researchers notice an increase the volume at ER’s for cannabis potency related complaints. Regions of the brain that’s  involved with verbal memory, There is still studies being conducted to see to what degree marijuana effect peoples learning capabilities.

Research and society views marijuana as the gateway drug, but lot of people who consume it don’t elevate to more elicit drugs because of its use. It’s suggested that many factors can contribute to substance abuse use due to the lack of evidence that links cannabis use to the use of more serious drugs.

The AKT1 gene that’s is associated  with dopamine signals makes people more prone to developing psychiatric disorders. This is not enough supportive data to say Marijuana increases the chances of suicidal ideations.

Smoking of marijuana placed the lungs in distress just as cigarette smoke does. People who smoke this substance are at greater risk for lung associated disorders. This is a cast amount of tar that builds up in the body in result of smoking cannabis.

Other related health issues related or associated  in someway to marijuana use is it makes the heart rate increase, but there’s no evident to say it is linked to greater chances of  a heart related illness.

Marijuana can be effective in medical treatment of patients suffering from nausea associated  to chemotherapy for cancer,  kids with epilepsy, and nerve damage. While the medical world prescribes marijuana for many different reasons, this substance has not been approved by the FDA. Second hand inhalation will produce a positive blood test for marijuana but at low levels. During pregnancy use can increase chances of miscarriage. There are treatment options available for marijuana use disorder.

PUBIC and TRAFFIC SAFETY CONCERNS

Everyones safety is in jeopardy when people decides to drive while under the influence of cannabis. More people are driving drugged since cannabis was made more a available through dispensaries. Because there are no current methods that detects cannabis use this is a challenge faced by law enforcement.

People who are for legalizing cannabis argues that crime rates went down since the legalization of cannabis but according to DCJ of Colorado, organized crime increased. Seattle Police Department Statistics shows a 12% increase in crime in 2018. African American were arrested double compared to the arrest numbers for marijuana related offenses.

Cannabis has not went through the requirements assessment to ensure that the drug is okay for consumption.

Marijuana impairs motor and decision making skills. It’s the main drug that shows up in blood test of people in vehicular accidents. In a European study there was evidence that says people are more likely to be blamed at fault in accidents as well.(NIDA) However, the function of marijuana in all this remains unclear according to the NIDA. There are several studies that link marijuana use to an increase probability a vehicular accident will occur.~

References

NIDA. 2021, April 13. Does marijuana use affect driving?. Retrieved from https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/marijuana/does-marijuana-use-affect-driving on 2021, December 9

NIDA. 2021, April 13. What are marijuana's long-term effects on the brain?. Retrieved from https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/marijuana/what-are-marijuanas-long-term-effects-brain on 2021, December 9

Johns, A. (2001). Psychiatric effects of cannabis. British Journal of Psychiatry, 178(2),116-122. doi:10.1192/bjp.178.2.116

Increase in Availability of Cannabis Products Containing Delta-8 THC and Report Cases of Adverse Event. (2021). CDC Health Alert Network. https://emergency.cdc.gov/han/2021/han00451.asp

Robert B. A. (2019). Legalized Cannabis in Colorado Emergency Departments: A Cautionary Review of Negative Health and Safety Effects. The western journal of emergency medicine, 20(4), 557–572. https://doi.org/10.5811/westjem.2019.4.39935

Evans, David G. (2013). The Impact of Drug Policies on Our World. The Journal of Global Drug Policy and Practice, https://www.dfaf.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Vol-7-Issue-4.pdf 

CDC~