Is Legalizing Marijuana Good for Society?

In different parts of the world, governments have begun to legalize the use of marijuana for both medical and recreational use.
The debate however is whether the legalization of this drug is actually good for society in general. Does the general populace stand to benefit from its legalization or are there long-term problems in the future?
Is the recreational use of this drug actually good for people and what are the problems associated with the use of marijuana?

In 2013, between 128 and 232 million people used marijuana. Currently, marijuana is one of the most commonly used drugs in the world. The population of people who use this drug will obviously continue to grow as the drug becomes legalized in more countries throughout the world.

Marijuana has been primarily illegal in many countries because of its short-term and long-term side effects.
Marijuana is known for causing sexual problems among male users; severe anxiety and panic attacks; hallucinations and strange behavior; low reaction time and poor coordination and also short-term memory problems.
Marijuana is also known for causing a reduction in a person’s IQ and it can increase the risks of a heart attack and a stroke.
Ultimately whilst this drug may have such side effects, this drug is very addictive, and it is capable of destroying an individual’s life in every aspect from his/her financial, spiritual, cognitive and social life.

Therefore from both a psychological and health perspective, the use of marijuana needs to be avoided because of its negative effects on the brain and its ability to depreciate one’s health.

1 Corinthians 3:16 says “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?”

We therefore should avoid practices such as smoking, or any kind of drug use which will end up drastically affecting our health or our body.
Marijuana’s ability to reduce an individual’s IQ and damage the brain is a major problem. It means that a drug user will eventually become lazy, unproductive and ineffective in society due to a diminished thinking capacity.
When you have a society that is plagued by an addiction to marijuana or any other type of drug, there are many social problems that can arise.
Addiction to drugs leads to broken relationships and families; poor performance at school and at work; drug related violence; financial difficulties or poor financial choices; more drug related deaths and a breakdown in morality due to drug dependency.

1 Corinthians 6:12 says “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be dominated by anything”

It’s imperative to realize that even though certain governments may legalize the use of marijuana, it does not mean that this drug is ultimately beneficial to society as a whole. It also does not mean that God agrees with the legalization of harmful drugs.
For example, even though smoking cigarettes has been legal for many years, it does not mean that cigarettes are beneficial to society or to the health of the smoker.
The same argument can be made for the legalization of drugs such as marijuana.
Individuals must not allow themselves to be dominated by any drug that is known to have addictive traits and influences.
Individuals must avoid any kind of drugs that are known to cause problems with health and one’s cognitive abilities.

Romans 12:2 says “Do not be conformed to the standards of this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

The legalization of such drugs as marijuana by many countries are not entirely linked to its medical benefits. Instead one of the main factors for its legalization are due to the supposed economic and monetary benefits that are to be gained. The world is motivated by money, even at the expense of society’s well-being. Pharmaceutical companies will benefit, marijuana farmers will benefit and unfortunately the marijuana drug users will experience the deception that they are benefiting when in fact, they are actually being destroyed by the use of this drug.
We should therefore not conform to a standard of thinking that damages people and society as a whole, just for the sake of making money or for the purpose of gratifying a temporary and addictive need.

Galatians 5:16 says that we should walk in the Spirit and we will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
Our minds must be transformed and renewed by the Holy Spirit through the meditation and obedience of His word. Our fellowship with God should lead us to have total dependence on God to meet all our physical, cognitive and spiritual needs rather than depending on the temporary stimulation of drugs.
We are to be filled by the Holy Spirit and not have our minds filled and influenced by brain damaging drugs such as marijuana.