It's 2014 and marijuana legalization is a hot topic in the state of Oregon. There are many ways that legalizing marijuana could benefit the public; However, legalizing marijuana use could also be very harmful and lead to many problems. Is it smarter to make money or make sure people are healthy? Marijuana use should not be legalized in Oregon because it has many harmful effects on the human body, it does not work well in other states that have legalized marijuana and it would end up costing money to Oregon State. who have used marijuana say that it is a harmless drug and has no effect on the human body. Some also say that it is just a myth that it can harm someone (White 2). These people are being blinded by a drug that is just as harmful, if not more so, than tobacco products. Marijuana smoke contains 50 to 70% more carcinogens than tobacco smoke. A major study found that a single cannabis joint can cause as much damage to the lungs as five regular cigarettes smoked one after the other. Is it really harmless? Marijuana not only affects the body physically, but it can also affect a person's mental abilities. This is supported by research on the long-term effects of marijuana, which indicates changes in the brain similar to those caused by long-term abuse of other major drugs. Some short-term effects of marijuana use are sensory distortion, panic attacks, anxiety, poor coordination of movements, reduced reaction time and, after an initial "up", the user feels feels sleepy or depressed, increased heart rate (and risk of heart attack) (The Harmful Effects). There is no reason for the state of Oregon to put people in its communities at risk...... middle of paper ......13. Internet. February 10, 2014Brady, Jeff. “Medical Marijuana Laws: A State-by-State Comparison” npr.org. National Public Radio., June 7, 2010. Web. February 10, 2014 “Cannabis ‘kills 30,000 people a year’” dailymail.co.uk. Mail Online., February 20, 2014. Web. February 20, 2014 Goldberg, Joseph. “Marijuana Use and Its Effects” webmd.com. WebMD., July 23, 2012. Web. February 14, 2014 Schankman, Paul. “Legal Marijuana: How Does It Work in Colorado?” » fox2now.com. FOX 2 St. Louis., February 19, 2014. Web. February 20, 2014 “THE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF MARIJUANA” drugfreeworld.org. Foundation for a Drug-Free World., February 20, 2014. Web. February 20, 20142White, Deborah. “Pros and Cons of Legalizing Marijuana” usliberals.about.com. About.com., February 20, 2014. Web. February 20, 2014White, Deborah “Readers React: Should the Sale and Possession of Marijuana Be Legalized?” » usliberals.about.com. About.com., February 12, 2014. Web. February 13. 2014