The recent acceptance of marijuana in Colorado and Washington has caused an uproar debating if that was really a good thing or not.

There are multiple positive outlooks on the subject, however, I believe that it is not. According to the NIDA, marijuana is a dry, shredded green and brown mix of flowers, stems, seeds and leaves derived from the hemp plant Cannabis Sativa.

The main active chemical in marijuana is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC for short. According to chemistry.com, the effects from smoking marijuana are felt as soon as the THC enters the bloodstream and last from 1-3 hours.

Absorption of THC is slower if marijuana is ingested, typically producing effects 30 minutes to an hour after exposure and lasting up to four hours.

Marijuana increases the heart rate, relaxes and enlarges bronchial passages, and dilates the blood vessels in the eyes, which may cause them to appear bloodshot.

There really is no point for marijuana. Why do we need something to make us feel a certain high when we can just change our perception on things and be happy?

Teens using drugs is extremely unacceptable. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) found that the first use of marijuana occurs on average at the age of 18. Of those users, about 9 percent will become addicted to the drug by the time they are 25.

According to Micheal’s house, a drug and alcohol treatment center, teens need to clearly get the message that marijuana is an illegal substance to use and it can affect their lives in more than one way. If they do not get this message one way or the other, there are no chances for teen marijuana statistics to improve.

According to NIDA marijuana intoxication can cause distorted perceptions, impaired coordination, difficulty with thinking and problem solving, and problems with learning and memory.