Roy, Michel2023-08-092023-08-092021-09https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11875/4120The health issues that come with legalizing marijuana, the rise in crime, and more users of the illicit drug, which is considered by many in law enforcement to be a gateway drug, are concerns Texas should learn from other states that have legalized recreational marijuana. The cost of additional health issues in the medical field will cause more strain on medical practices that are already dealing with high numbers of health issues. Statistics have shown in the states that have already legalized the use of recreational marijuana, there are serious, directly related health issues such as bronchitis and asthma, in addition to psychotic disorders in heavy users to include mania, suicide and behavioral disorders in children whose mothers used cannabis during pregnancy (Hall & Degenhardt, 2009). All of these issues have shown to be the most prevalent among the adverse effects related to chronic recreational marijuana smoking studies. These are some of the reasons Texas should not legalize the recreational use of marijuana.en-USDrug LegalizationMarijuanaOther