Legalizing cannabis will be unhealthy, immoral and potentially dangerous for America’s youth

Illegal drugs have long been a cause célèbre for youthful revolt. For decades, many misguided Americans have rallied for drug legalization in a revolt against societal norms. Some see the legalization of marijuana as a necessity for their demented pursuit of a liberal society.

California’s new initiative calling for the legalization of marijuana is the next step toward this vision of society. This bill, if passed, would widen the use of a damaging drug in the public on an unprecedented scale.

Marijuana usage  is  stereotyped  as a form of  misguided  juvenile revolt. However, it is not youths who are responsible for the influence of marijuana, but those who have failed to curb the drug’s usage.

In the midst of failed initiatives in schools, marijuana has become treasured by young Americans as a forbidden fruit that they are eager to consume. These attempts were well-intentioned, but their blatant ignorance for marijuana usage among youths is criminally negligible.

Bewildered by the failure of their efforts against drug use, politicians are now adopting an “if you can’t beat them, join them” attitude toward marijuana, arguing for legalization. President Obama has actually instructed the FBI to stop enforcing federal marijuana laws.

This new kind of approach is even more injurious to American youths. After decades of anti-drug education, this reversal in policy would change society’s perception of morality.

Legalizing something that was once condemned leaves young Americans with the perception that collective morality is the result of impulses, not principles. When laws become a relative thing subject to the whims of the public, they lose  credibility as tools of justice.

While issues of morality surrounding the drug have much danger to society, the drug itself is deadly to users. The risk of cancer from marijuana is twice as high as cigarrette smoke. Also, studies show that disorders such as schizophrenia and psychosis have been linked to its consumption.

Many have stated that marijuana is less addictive than other illegal drugs. While it is true that marijuana lacks addictive features of other drugs, it is still very dangerous to its users and puts its users in serious risk due to subsequent impaired judgment.

Like alcohol, marijuana is known to impair one’s driving ability even in small amounts. California organization Mothers Against Drunk Driving stated that this bill would increase the number of crashes relating to marijuana. With thousands of deaths annually because of disorienting drugs, this state does not need more any impairments for drivers.

Some argue that legalization makes no difference, as the drug is already widely available. But even with an age limit, it will be as easy to obtain as alcohol, which is easy for many underage users to obtain.

The initiative to legalize marijuana represents a challenge to the young, as well as the concept of justice upon which society is founded. If we allow the state to function on  harmful impulses, we lose our identity as a society. For this purpose, marijuana should remain illegal in California.