Index IntroductionPros and Cons of Legalizing Marijuana (Essay)Conclusion and ReflectionIntroductionCrossing Party Lines, Gender, Education, and Race; Public support for marijuana legalization has increased significantly over the past decade. The United States has seen several states legalize this drug, such as Colorado, and after the legalization of marijuana in Colorado, other state legislatures and government officials have asked Colorado officials questions about the possible benefits of legalization, one of which, the Democrat Colorado's John Hickenlooper told those officials, "Just say no." Currently, in New Jersey, marijuana is available through medicinal means. However, New Jersey State Senator Nicholas Scutari is proposing legislation to legalize marijuana. Senator Scutari believes that if the state “regulated the growth, marketing, and sale of recreational marijuana it would dry up the illegal drug market, clean up street corners, and fill state coffers with a new source of tax revenue.” Although Senator Scutari believes these assumptions about marijuana legalization, after careful examination of the social costs of marijuana, we can see that the repercussions of marijuana legalization are much more complex. Therefore, in this essay the pros and cons of legalizing marijuana are analyzed. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get Original EssayPros and Cons of Marijuana Legalization (Essay)Upon closer examination, we can find that there are social costs of marijuana legalization. First of all, marijuana causes long-lasting and negative effects on the human body. Marijuana can cause anxiety, distorted judgment, lower school scores, breathing problems, and slower reaction times. Additionally, the younger an individual begins using marijuana, the more likely the individual is to experience the negative side effects of marijuana use. Marijuana, as we know it today, is more potent than ever. According to Dr. Mahmoud ElSohly, director of the Marijuana Potency Project, the active ingredient in marijuana, tetraidcannabinol or THC found in marijuana “has skyrocketed from less than 1% to 3-4% in the 1990s, to nearly 13 % Today". This has led to a "higher potential for addiction" and according to Dr. Christian Thurstone, who runs an addiction treatment center in Denver, says: "It's harder to clean up kids... because they come in less motivated​ ​to treatment and more dependent "Additionally, legalization and decriminalization of weed have been shown to increase marijuana use among minors. The national average for individuals between the ages of twelve and seventeen who use marijuana is approximately 8%, while in Colorado this number is around 11%. Although this number may not be the case. Sounds alarming, reports have shown that the number of marijuana users increases during the high school years. For example, in 2011, "one in four Boulder Country district high school students surveyed indicated they were current marijuana users," which turns out to be the case. to be three times the national average among high school students. This increase in young marijuana users in Colorado has led to an increase in marijuana-related emergency room visits for individuals between the ages of twelve and seventeen from 25% from 2005 to 2008 to twenty-eight. percent in the period 2009-2011.6 At national level,.