Is The U.S. Prepared To Legalize Marijuana?

The recent push throughout the U.S. to legalize both medical and recreational marijuana has spawned a new industry that many have praised for increasing states’ tax revenue and creating new job opportunities.

However, some of the negative side effects of the drug’s growing user base could be creating new problems that are being overlooked during the legalization process.

Young People Unaware Of Dangers

Marijuana usage, not surprisingly, has risen among Americans. The drug’s negative connotations are slowly dissipating as everyone from athletes to the elderly have begun touting its benefits.

Because of this change in perception, some believe that younger generations are not effectively educated about the risks of drug use.

While marijuana is often seen as an effective treatment for several ailments, the drug can also have dangerous side effects that are often overlooked.

Knowledge About Risks Limited

Colorado recently put together a collection of existing studies that examine the effects of marijuana use on several segments of the population and found that regular use among adolescents has a strong association with the development of psychotic disorders like schizophrenia later in life.

Not only did the report detail some troubling findings, but officials say it also underscores how limited our knowledge of the drug’s effects are. Since marijuana has only been legal remotely since 1996, studies documenting cannabis interactions in the body are scarce.

Related Link: Is Virginia On Its Way To Legalizing Medical Marijuana?

Driving Under The Influence

Even more concerning was data coming from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which showed that the number of drivers under the influence of marijuana and other drugs had risen nearly 50 percent since 2007.

That figure, officials say, suggests that more effort should be made educating the population on the dangers of driving under the influence.