Keep Marijuana Illegal

Arianne Faye Gonzales

Mitchell Allbee

Raymond Borigsay

Should marijuana be legalized? Supporters of

legalization say that medical marijuana has led to abuse that legalization would prevent.

The goal of legalization is not to make access to marijuana easier, but to regulate who can obtain the substance.

How to tell if you’re addicted

Some people are able to use recreational or prescription drugs without ever experiencing negative consequences or addiction.

No matter how often or how little you’re consuming, if your drug use is causing problems in your life, then you likely have an addiction problem.

Common signs and symptoms of drug abuse

Neglecting your responsibilities -at school, work, or home Using drugs under dangerous

conditions or taking risks while high

-using dirty needles -having unprotected sex. Drug use can get you into legal

trouble - arrests for disorderly conduct -driving under the influence -stealing to support a drug habit  Drug use can cause problems in

relationships -fights with your partner or

family members -an unhappy boss, -loss of old friends.

Marijuana and its effects

Facts: The average age of first use is 14. Can be smoked using homemade pipes and bongs

Other names: Weed, pot, reefer, grass, dope, ganja, Mary Jane, sinsemilla, herb, Aunt Mary, skunk, boom, kif, gangster, chronic, 420, kush, L, leaf

How it is consumed: It can be smoked or eaten

Effects: Bloodshot eyes, dry mouth, impaired or reduced comprehension, altered sense of time, difficulty in performing tasks requiring concentration, bad memory, impairments in learning, perception, and judgment, difficulty speaking, listening effectively, thinking, and problem solving.

Positive and Negative Effects Positive Not more harmful than alcohol

or tobacco in moderation. Limiting use intrudes personal

freedom. Related crimes would be

reduced. Medical benefits. Police and court resource

would be opened up. FDA would regulate safety of

the drug

Negative“stepping-stone” drug to other drugs.Leads to “stoned" driving.Easier for very young children to obtain.Because of drug related arrests, people more likely to commit serious crimes and imprisonment.Physical damage to users.Would increase dangers to second hand smokeWould lead to legalization of all drugs.

Impact on Society If marijuana is legalized in California,

85.1 to 93.6 million grams of marijuana would be sold a year

The price of drug abuse to the United States has amounted up to $180.9 billion in the past

Children whose parents abuse drugs often are physically or emotionally abused and often lack medical care, and necessities such as food, water, and shelter.

Drug abusers who are put into important positions (airplane pilots, policemen, doctors or nurses, drivers) can put other people’s lives at risk.

Teenagers Marijuana’s use has

increased among teenagers

People who use drugs as teenagers are at greater risk of becoming addicted

More likely to engage in unprotected sex

Teenagers associate little to no risk with marijuana use, and use marijuana anyway

Conclusion Marijuana can be a potential medicine, but it should still be considered

an illegal drug. Legalization of marijuana supports other drugs. We believe that marijuana should not be legalized because of the

dangerous effects it could have on society. Solution: Doctors need to be more strict when it comes to handing out

marijuana prescriptions. It would make it more difficult to obtain and abuse marijuana, as well as implementing harsher punishments on people found with it.

How we plan to pay for it: People found with marijuana without a proper prescription should be fined instead of immediately being sent to prison.

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