Marijuana Awareness Month takes place every February and aims to spread knowledge about the negative effects of marijuana use. Several surveys carried out in the U.S. reveal that millions of people use marijuana, making it the most widely used illicit drug in the country. Marijuana use is on the rise in the U.S., causing a rise in addiction too. The popularity of the drug is a result of the perceived myth that the drug is harmless because of its recent legalization in some states.
Where does marijuana come from and how it effects the body in a negative way:
Marijuana is made from the hemp plant, cannabis Sativa, containing the psychoactive chemical delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and other related compounds. Inhalation (smoking) is the most common method of cannabis consumption including joints, pipes, blunts, bowls, bongs, dabs, and vaporizers. Food products can also be made with cannabis as well as sprays and pills.
Effects can include lack of balance and coordination, distorted senses, increased appetite, impaired judgment, elevated heart rate, anxiety, etc. Dangers of marijuana include: anxiety, loss of motivation, impaired short-term memory and learning, slowed thinking and reactions, and addiction.
The legalization of marijuana varies drastically between states as of 2025, with some lawmakers approving its use entirely, others allowing its use only for medical conditions, and some still punishing possession of the drug by a prison sentence.
Thirty-eight states currently have it legalized for medical use, with 24 permitting recreational use, allowing many Americans to have access to marijuana, also known as weed, in one way or another if they are over the age of 21.
While it is still illegal on a federal level, when under President Joe Biden has made it clear that his administration intends to pursue decriminalization during his time in office. Whether this is likely ahead, however, appears questionable.
Since Colorado and Washington’s legalization of recreational marijuana in 2012, 22 other states, and Washington, D.C., have slowly amended their laws in favor of decriminalizing the substance.
Five more states could amend their laws soon: Wisconsin, Florida, Hawaii, South Dakota, and South Carolina.
The recreational use of marijuana is legal in 24 states, and Washington, D.C., as of April 2024. While jurisdictions differ on the legal quantity allowed for legal possession, almost half of U.S. states have now approved its use.
Marijuana is effectively illegal in the remaining 11 states: Georgia; Idaho; Indiana; Iowa; Kansas; Nebraska; North Carolina; South Carolina; Tennessee; Texas; and Wyoming.
February is still Marijuana Awareness Month. Marijuana is a hot button topic in America these days. While it is still illegal for recreational use in many areas, a few states have legalized it. It is up to us to continue medical research, and create awareness around those results, to form our own opinions. Making blind assumptions about any kind of medicine or drug is dangerous, so get out there and know your facts!
You may want to think twice about getting into using marijuana for ONE your health if you want to live longer. The better you treat yourself the higher the odds you will live a lot longer healthier life, and your medical bills will be a lot less. If you have to have it than once in a while smoke it, if legal where you live for recreational use.