Defining Danger

Defining Danger
Tyreik Riggs
Montgomery College

Defining Danger

In the recent years, scientists, expects, and ordinary citizens have debated whether or not
the legalization of cannabis also known as marijuana, would create a danger to the general
public. When it comes to defining danger in regards to cannabis legalization, it is very important
to examine all effects both negative and positive when evaluating the danger of the drug. The
first factor that should be evaluated is direct effects of smoking marijuana both negative and
positive. Secondly, one should consider the effects legalization of marijuana would have on
driving safety, such as the number of D.U.I violations and incidence of traffic accidents. Third, a
statistical comparison of drugs such as alcohol and tobacco should be able to shine light on
whether or not the danger level of marijuana is low enough for it to be legal without
compromising a considerable amount of safety for the American people. With the consideration
of the factors including traffic threats, comparisons with currently legal drugs, and the direct and
indirect effects of smoking marijuana, it becomes clear that when marijuana is labeled as
dangerous, the drug doesnt come close to fitting into the category.
Although the effects of marijuana use is still currently being studied
throughout the world, some of the conclusive evidence collected has proved
marijuana comes nowhere close to being a severe danger to the American
people. The authors Katherine A Belendiuk, Lisa L Baldini, and Marcel BonnMiller writers of A Narrative Review of the Safety and Efficacy of Marijuana
for the Treatment of Commonly State-approved Medical and Psychiatric
Disorders, listed the many different conditions which most states recognize
are qualifying health issues. The list of conditions that cannabis is recognized
to be useful for include over 10 different types of conditions and diseases.

Defining Danger

(Katherine, Baldini & Bonn-Miller 2015). Seeing that cannabis has long list of
different conditions that could potentially be bettered by the use of
marijuana it becomes very difficult to argue that marijuana should be
considered a significant danger to the American people.
Despite the evidence found in recent studies some still hold firm on
their opposition of legalization of marijuana due to the danger they perceive
marijuana to hold, but under further inspection it becomes clear that the
arguments presented by those who oppose legalization are faulty. The
opposing side of legalization often claims that marijuana is addictive while
this claim does hold some truth how addictive marijuana is should also be
examined. The New York Times published an article discussing just how
addictive medical marijuana really is compared to other drugs. The article is
featured in an issue published by the American Society of Addiction Medicine
which included the likely hood of dependence when it comes to using drugs
like tobacco, heroin, cocaine, alcohol and marijuana. The article states that
those who use marijuana are only 9% likely to develop dependence for the
drug, which is important to note because drugs like tobacco and alcohol
received percentages at 32 and 15 percent (Boffey. 2014). How addictive a
drug should be taken in to consideration when gauging how dangerous a
drug is, and with evidence showing that marijuana has a significantly less
addictive when compared to alcohol and tobacco, the danger presented by
marijuana addiction shouldnt be enough for it to be illegal. Boffey writer for
the New York Times also drew from a study independent study located in

Defining Danger

Britain which evaluated the danger associated with 20 different drugs. In this
study, researchers compared the damages caused from recreational use of
drugs such as alcohol, heroin, cocaine, and marijuana. In the study, the most
damaging substance was awarded to Alcohol, 5th was awarded to tobacco
and cannabis was placed as the 8th (Boffey. 2014). The way these drugs were
evaluated was the harms to users, damage of family relationships,
association with crime, and other social drawbacks. Upon reviewing these
comparisons it becomes clear that if alcohol and tobacco are not considered
a significant danger to the point where they should be illegal, cannabis
should be viewed as a lesser threat to the American people and be legal for
recreational use.
Drivers using marijuana is probably one of the biggest of concerns when it comes to
legalization. The concerns can be primarily attributed to the fact that drivers under the influence
affect almost everyone in America even those who dont use marijuana. The theory that
marijuana legalization will cause a spike in traffic fatalities is easily refuted by an article
published by the Drug Policy Alliance, which stated that traffic fatalities in Colorado decreased a
total of 3% in 2014 which is the same year recreational marijuana sales began (Drug Policy
Alliance 2015). With this statistic taken into consideration, it is clear that if marijuana was
legalized it would likely not result into increase traffic fatalities thus proving that marijuana does
not pose a danger to America citizens in regards to traffic. While it is commonly believed the use
of marijuana does in fact worsen a drivers ability to drive, in the article How likely is the Worst
Case Scenario by Mark Anderson and Daniel I. Rees the authors cite a source which states that
when drivers are under the influence of marijuana or alcohol those who were under the influence

Defining Danger

of cannabis often drive slower and take less risks when compared to those who are under the
influence of alcohol (Anderson & Rees, 2013). With the observation made in the article, How
likely is the Worst Case Scenario it is clear that in regards to traffic marijuana does not pose a
large enough of a threat to justify it being illegal.
With the statistics presented in the previous paragraphs some will still say that if
marijuana was legalized, it will still poses a significant threat on the roads, but under further
examination of these claims it is clear that they hold no ground. An author named Stuart Gitlow
who writes for CNN posted an article stating driving accidents that have already been shown to
be related to marijuana use. (Gitlow, 2016). This is the most common claim that
Tetrahydrocannabinol has a substantial effect on a drivers capability to operate vehicle, while
that claim is true has been proven it is important to note that it is possible that there is a
compensation for this due to the fact that drivers under the influence of marijuana tend to drive
slower and take fewer risks (Anderson & Rees, 2013). Those who believe that legalization would
create danger on the roads also do not consider the fact that cannabis is rarely ingested in public
areas, unlike alcohol which is often consumed in public areas as in pubs and eating places.
In conclusion, there are several factors to consider when examining the danger marijuana
legalization poses. Traffic safety, health risks, and marijuana benefits are all factors to consider.
In comparison to other drugs that are legal in the U.S. cannabis legalization becomes
substantially more practical. After weighing the positive and negative effects and benefits,
marijuana legalization can be shown to be less of a danger and more of a benefit than harm.
Considering all of the factors of cannabis it becomes clear that cannabis does not fit in the
category as a dangerous drug that needs to be criminalized.

Defining Danger

Reference Page
Belendiuk, K. A., Baldini, L. L., & Bonn-Miller, M. O. (2015). Narrative review of the safety
and efficacy of marijuana for the treatment of commonly state-approved medical and psychiatric
disorders. Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, 10, 10.
Boffey, P. (2014). What Science Says About Marijuana. The New York Times. Retrieved from
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/31/opinion/what-science-says-about-marijuana.html?_r=0
Anderson, D. M., & Rees, D. I. (2014). The Legalization of Recreational Marijuana: How Likely
Is the Worst-Case Scenario?. Journal Of Policy Analysis & Management, 33(1), 221-232.
doi:10.1002/pam.21727
Gitlow, S. (2016). Marijuana legalization is a risk not worth taking. CNN. Retrieved 5 May
2016, from http://www.cnn.com/2014/07/30/opinion/gitlow-marijuana-use/

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Marijuana Legalization in Colorado: One-Year Status Report | Drug Policy Alliance.

(2016).Drugpolicy.org. Retrieved 5 May 2016, from
http://www.drugpolicy.org/resource/marijuana-legalization-colorado-one-year-status-report