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Debate Info

15
20
Agree Disagree
Debate Score:35
Arguments:33
Total Votes:37
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Argument Ratio

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 Agree (14)
 
 Disagree (19)

Debate Creator

ThePlague(218) pic



Marijuana is a dangerous drug and should be avoided

Personally, I see Marijuana as a dangerous drug. It should be avoided unless it is to be used for medical purposes. Does anybody agree?

Agree

Side Score: 15
VS.

Disagree

Side Score: 20
1 point

It is particularly dangerous for schizophrenics as its been proven to cause relapse. Under no circumstance should they take it. Also it can trigger mental illness that wasn't present before. Therefore its not advisable if you have a family history of mental illness.

As for the rest of us, it is dangerous but not so much if taken in moderation. Risks with occasion use include anxiety, paranoia and panic.

Of course it is usually taken with tobacco so you have all the risks associated with that too.

Side: Agree

Marijuana has never been shown to "trigger mental illness that wasn't present before" it has only been shown to agitate existing mental illnesses or conditions. Anxiety, paranoia and panic are mainly associated with marijuana for two reasons:

1. It is their first time getting really high and they get freaked out.

2. It is illegal and they fear being arrested for smoking.

Also, I don't know anyone who has ever mixed marijuana with tobacco so I don't know where you are getting that from.

Edit: I meant to click dispute.

Side: Disagree
sauh(1106) Disputed
2 points

The judge is from England where they roll joints with tobacco in them. Anxiety and/or paranoia after smoking can manifest in a seasoned smoker.

Side: Agree
Atrag(5666) Disputed
1 point

Sauh is right. Its always smoked with tobacco here. I didn't know you could without it :S

Marijuana has never been shown to "trigger mental illness that wasn't present before" it has only been shown to agitate existing mental illnesses or conditions

Well, what the research shows is that it causes mental illness in people that are already predisposed to develop the condition. There are some indications, such as a family history, but a predisposition isn't always something that is known. Therefore in taking weed you are taking a risk.

I have had paranoia when smoking weed and it wasn't for the reasons you mentioned.

Side: Agree
1 point

mary jane has high amounts of hashish. this causes murder

Side: Agree
2 points

As far as my studying goes (I have studied marijuana as a hobby for the last couple of years), marijuana can be classified as a dangerous drug.

Schizophrenia

It is true that there is a significant risk associated with cannabis, but that doesn't mean that this topic isn't controversial. Most notably it seems to be the case that heavy cannabis use among 18-year-olds correlates with 6 times higher prevalence of schizophrenia in adulthood. It's true that there is a significant risk here, but there's still two points of controversy: Whether there is a causal connection between the two, and if there is, which way the arrow of causation points. There is no clear cut evidence to support the claim that heavy cannabis use causes schizophrenia later in life, but there is very strong reason to suspect so. A study done in Denmark shows two things: 1) Heavy cannabis can induce a psychotic state popularly known as 'hashpsykose' (hash psychosis). 2) Occurrences of hash psychoses is significantly associated with a higher risk schizophrenia even when controlled for earlier life mental problems. Furthermore studies tend to show that schizophrenia does not predict cannabis use, which suggest that schizophrenia doesn't cause cannabis use. It's therefore reasonable to assume that heavy cannabis causes schizophrenia.

http://bjp.rcpsych.org/content/187/6/510.full.pdf+html?sid=4acc04a6-c62c-4c1f-a3b4-6f341cb1b540

http://www.bmj.com/content/325/7374/1212.short

Depression

It's basically the same story with depression as with schizophrenia. It's a bit controversial, there's no clear cut evidence, but it is the case that cannabis use correlates with depression, while depression doesn't predict cannabis use. It is reasonable to assume that heavy cannabis use causes depression.

http://www.bmj.com/content/325/7374/1195.1.short

Myths

There's tons of myths about cannabis use, and basically all of it is bunk. Cannabis scientifically isn't a gateway drug, it doesn't cause brain damage, cannabis addiction is nothing serious (it's more easy than cutting sugar or coffee, even after long term use), it doesn't cause cancer like tobacco does, etc. It's however no myth that cannabis is basically the best plant medicine on earth with its many surprising uses (among the newest uses is active cancer treatment)

So should it be avoided?

There's risks associated with it's use, but as far as I can tell these problems are only serious in adolescence (and childhood). We seem to have no problem accepting people driving around in cars, despite the fact that driving is probably more dangerous than smoking weed. We don't seem to discriminate again people who likes to drink excessive amounts of coffee, eating unhealthy, etc. Most people can see it's a wrong that adolescents drink, yet that doesn't mean it's wrong for adults to drink. Of course we need to avoid the significant risks, which are predominantly associated with teenage use - cannabis is a dangerous drug, but we should allow adults to smoke for several reason. Cannabis is probably less harmful drug than alcohol and that it doesn't increase aggressiveness. You can have quite meaningful experiences on it, and while it is dangerous is shouldn't be completely avoided. Clear cut rules are almost always bullshit. It should be moderated and dealt with respect like everything else in life.

Side: Disagree

It is in no way dangerous.

If people are high on the drug and they decide to go do things that require attentiveness and they fuck up and lose an arm or something. It's not the drugs fault it's the persons fault. There are prescription medications that forewarn a person "do not operate heavy machinery while on this medication". And that is basically saying "watch the fuck out and don't do shit while your on it."

Marijuana is no different in this situation.

Now how is it dangerous?

Side: Disagree
ThePlague(218) Disputed
1 point

Marijuana has dangerous effects on the body. It overactivates the cannabanoid receptors. Which is an obvious side effect, but leads to dangerous acts. It increase your heart rate, which also increases your chance of heart palpitations and arrhythmias. This is highly dangerous to older people who may have a heart condition. Young users increase their risk of developing a mental illness. The list goes on further.

Side: Agree
Intangible(4934) Disputed
1 point

Is it the marijuana smoke that causes these problems? Or do these problems start by simply ingesting the weed or using the extracted THC?

I can agree that smoking Marijuana can be dangerous, but there are other ways to do the drug.

Side: Disagree
Nebeling(1117) Disputed
1 point

That's like saying we should ban movies because elliptics could die from going to the cinema. We shouldn't ban something that healthy individuals can do without a problem, because a minority of unhealthy individuals can't.

Side: Disagree
Grishnackh(10) Disputed
0 points

It is common view among people that you can separate subject from its effect. When we see a sentence such as "lightning flashes" grammar would lead us to conclusion that there is subject called "lightning" and predicate "flashes". Grammar misleads us to conclusion that you can separate subject from its effect. There is no doer and deed, deed is everything. What is lightning if not flash?

Same goes with marijuana, it is not substance that EFFECTS and individual who consumed it can not choose whether he will act this or that way. He releases his subconsciousness and it is not effect of marijuana but the marijuana user itself who does this. He can not choose will he operate heavy machinery or not.

Side: Agree
1 point

Nothing in life is risk free and marijuana is less dangerous with fewer side effects than alcohol or tobacco, you said earlier that marijuana increases heart rate so does red bull or anything containing caffeine. You can't blame the plant for someone making a bad choice and not educating themselves on possible side effects before ingesting something.

Like I said nothing is risk free, the meat McDonald's uses in its burgers is actually classed as not being fit for human consumption until it has been doused in a ridiculous amount of chemicals, (in the UK the meat they use is normally what is used in pet food), good for you? I don't think so. Life is just one big risk from beginning to end

Side: Disagree
1 point

Legalizing Marijuana would increase the nations GDP, even more so if the government were to put a "sin tax" on it like tobacco.

Side: Disagree
1 point

it is not dangerous because no one has ever died from weed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Side: Disagree
0 points

Aspirin has more risks, but it is legal. .

Side: Disagree
ThePlague(218) Disputed
1 point

My debate description says "unless its used for medical purposes". Aspirin is used for medicinal purposes, but can be overdosed. Marijuana is still a dangerous drug.

Side: Agree
Sitara(11080) Disputed
1 point

I disagree. Cannabis does have very few risks when used properly.

Side: Disagree