garette smoke. Smoking three to five joints is equal to about smoking approximately 20 cigarettes, and the marijuana smoke leaves three times more tar on a person's lungs (Schleichert 29). Some of the short-term effects of smoking marijuana include distorted perception, difficulty in thinking and problem solving, loss of coordination, and an increased heart rate. The Harvard Medical School of Mental Health Letter notes "It is dangerous to operate complex machinery, including automobiles under the influence of marijuana because it slows reaction time, and impairs attention and coordination"Legalization of marijuana would benefit medicine, the economy, and the environment and the government needs to concentrate on the positive qualities of the drug, rather then concentrating on the negative aspects. The government needs to realize that there are already many dangerous substances that are legal for citizens to get and that the benefits that marijuana can have on America are astronomical. A good compromise to legalizing marijuana would be to have laws limiting the amount of marijuana one can smoke before driving, similar to laws involving alcohol. When marijuana is legalized, it should be as easily available as alcohol with the same age, and use restrictions. Marijuana should be sold both as pre-rolled cigarettes, and just as the plant. Although marijuana is a dangerous substance, the use and sale of alcohol in the United States proves that a drug can be enjoyed by many people. Legalization of marijuana is in the near future. With legalization, people will need to be aware of how marijuana affects them and what the physical limitations are while under the drug's influence. ...
