"Weed," "pot," "chronic," "sticky icky," and many others are all nicknames for the widely popular and intoxicating narcotic known as marijuana. The history of the drug can be traced back to 10,000 BC However, it is currently most commonly used for smoking for its mind-altering effects. Narcotic marijuana gives the user a temporary feeling of relaxation, tranquility and hilarity. Unfortunately, the disadvantages and potential dangers far outweigh the benefits. We must maintain our current marijuana laws and regulations as they protect the safety, health and future of this great nation. Members of Canadian society with healthy, stable and unaffected minds and bodies enable a safe community and a bright future. Regular and constant use of the narcotic causes dangerous effects on the health and development of an individual. Scientific research has indicated that frequent use of the drug causes harm and increases potential health risks to the human body, especially the reproductive, immune and respiratory systems, and the brain. THC is the main chemical property of marijuana responsible for altering what an individual perceives. Impaired short-term memory and the inability to process and remember new information are the result of THC binding to certain brain receptors. Marijuana can make a person's emotions vary and change from one moment to the next. The limbic system is the area affected by marijuana and can cause an individual to act paranoid. Similar to how emotions and short-term memory are affected, someone who is under the influence of marijuana impairs coordination, the ability to perform the simplest tasks one can usually do, such as driving a... half of paper. .....far outweigh the benefits of the drug. Marijuana harms the user of the drug as well as those around the individual. Parents, children, friends, other people and their families can all be affected by the irresponsible decision to consume the drug. Marijuana jeopardizes the quality of life of families and future generations by slowly deteriorating health and putting safety at risk. It is completely unreasonable to decriminalize the drug as it clearly has a negative effect on every individual. The rules and regulations set by the government keep the welfare of the public in mind. It is vital that current marijuana laws are protected, so that the minds and bodies of Canadians are safe from this dangerous and harmful narcotic. Responsible decisions are needed by everyone, as well as the government, to ensure that marijuana laws are never relaxed or abolished.