Children nowadays have been exposed to so much when compared to past generations. As time passes, things change, whether it be people, norms or technology. Recently, there has been arguments whether marijuana should be legalized and more specifically, if it is legalized, “how will it affect children and young adults?” Many would argue that if legalized, there would be set boundaries for people underage however that argument could be debated if compared to the “set boundaries” on alcohol.
In the article the author, Sue Rusche explains how the legalization of marijuana can have a negative impact for the younger generation because of the higher chance of becoming addicted. Rusche explains how in California, where medical marijuana is legal, how eventually children could react to the substance if it were to be legalized for recreational use. Rusche research comes from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health where it states, “The younger kids are when they start using addictive drugs, the more likely they’ll become addicted. Children who start drinking or smoking pot at age 14 or before are eight times more likely to become addicted to alcohol, six times more likely to become addicted to marijuana than those who start in their 20s.” She explains with this research, just how high the chances are of children becoming addicted to the substance compared to alcohol. It demonstrates just how “strong” the law is on underage drinking, and how easy it would be for children to break the law against underage consuming of marijuana. With those two in comparison it only demonstrates and proves Rushe’s point of how dangerous it could be for children, if marijuana was legalized.
She explains how with the legalization, will not only hurt them now, but will eventually be carried on as adults because of the fact, that they were so young when exposed to the drug. “Keeping drugs illegal prevents commercial industries from emerging, ones that are free to advertise and market to increase consumption and free to target children, a given percentage of whom will become addicted—and lifetime customers.” She wants people all over the country to be aware of the dangers it can cause to children if exposed to the substance, she believes that if legalized, it will have negative repercussions to the growing generation who was exposed to the substance at a very young age. The limits that would be set if legalized, is not enough she says, many children break the law of underage drinking, whats to say they wont break the law of consuming marijuana underage?
Let’s just illegalize tobacco and alcohol then because they cause the same problems. Marijuana won’t have an influence on a younger child, if the parent informs them correctly. My father grew up around alcohol and drugs and guess what? He has never drank nor smoked. So, perhaps marijuana should just be kept in the jewelry box or somewhere safe. Instead of blaming the drug, they should be blaming themselves.
Tobacco, alcohol, and drugs are all bad influences on society. Unfortunately there is no way to avoid these things. It is up to the individual how the person deals with all of these things. It also the responsibility of the parents to notify their children about drugs and alcohol. The parent should notify the child the effects alcohol and drugs can have.
It is true what Kamran says about parents needing to notify their children of the harms drugs can have. It all mainly starts with the parents because they’re the ones who are responsible to raise their child and teach them the right from wrong. After that it all then depends on the choice of the individual.
In response to Rusche comment on “The limits that would be set if legalized, is not enough she says, many children break the law of underage drinking, whats to say they wont break the law of consuming marijuana underage?” Kids drink and smoke because of their curiosity of alcohol and tobacco, by telling them that this drink or cigarette is only for adults only makes them want it even more. Like the saying goes “you want what you can’t have.” As much as we like to believe we live in a perfect word and kids won’t get their hands on weed, it’s going to happen. However if marijuana is treated as a medicinal drug and kids are told this early on they may not see it as “forbidden or Tabu”, but as medicine.
Its true that kids these days are being exposed to a lot of things, but i don’t agree that legalizing weed will be that big of an impact. Don’t get me wrong, i’m not saying there wont be any affects, but way the article presents its info makes it seem as though kids don’t have a sense of morality. Nowadays kids are presented to some much anti-drug propaganda that if weed was legalized anyway, most likely they would have the better judgement to just not use it.