Just Say "NO" to marijuanaIn Hawaii, we know marijuana as "Maui Wowie or Pakalolo." While people in Hawaii continue to have fun using this drug, they don't know the other potential side effects of what this harmful drug can do to their body. Former Hawaii Governor, Benjamin Cayetano signed a bill on Wednesday, June 15th 2000, legalizing the medical use of marijuana, making his state the first to pass such a law through the legislature. While Hawaii joins seven other states like Alaska, Arizona, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, Maine and California, as well as the District of Columbia they are other states who approved the medical marijuana laws. But of course, people in Hawaii are taking advantage of recent changes in Hawaii's laws and using marijuana for recreational purposes. The State of Hawaii should not legalize marijuana.First, marijuana poses health risks. It contains many toxic chemicals including some of the cancer causing agents found in tobacco. According to the National Drug Information Center of Families in Action they point out various health risks that marijuana poses. The harmful effects of marijuana on the Endocrine System that include the damages the network of glands, organs, and hormones involved in growth and development, energy levels, and reproduction. These can include; pituitary gland, thyroid gland, stomach, pancreas and adrenal glands. The harmful effects of marijuana can do significant damage and destruction of the air sacs of the lungs, reduces your lungs ability to bring oxygen and remove carbon dioxide, which in results in emphysema. Marijuana also causes bronchial tubes to be inflamed, thickened and is able to produce more mucus; resulting the narrowing of the air passages, called chronic bronchitis. (7) Marijuana smoke has five times as much "tar" as cigarette smoke and significantly increases chance of lung cancer, inflammation and infection. (3) Since some bronchial cell changes appear to be pre-cancerous in frequent users, an increased risk of cancer must be considered for this group. Marijuana contains more than 400 chemicals, some of which can cause short-term of marijuana usage such as: Impairments in learning, memory, perception, judgment, difficulty speaking, listening effectively, thinking, retaining knowledge, problem solving, and forming concepts. Other effects marijuana that causes long-term use are: Enhanced cancer risk, decrease in testosterone levels and lower sperm counts for men, increase in testosterone levels for women and increased risk of infertility, diminished or extinguished sexual pleasure and Psychological dependence requiring more of the drug to get the same effect. (4) Sandra Lacar, executive director of the Coalition for a Drug Free Hawaii says, "The legalization of marijuana as a medicine and the abandonment of our science-based FDA testing and approval process are irresponsible as long as proven, positive alternative treatments are in place." (5) We are supposed to find new support for...
