In the modern age, opportunity can present itself in a flash but can just as quickly leave your hands. As cannabis becomes a new-age cash crop, more and more countries are lining up for a piece of the pie. Countries are starting to see how much revenue they can actually make. Countries like Canada which have introduced one hundred and eight six million in just five months of legalization. As numbers increase, countries like Costa Rica are applying their own forms of policy in hopes of targeting an ever-growing market. According to article 58 of law 8204 the personal use of cannabis is legal, but the sale, production and cultivation of cannabis are still prohibited. Closing the door to economic opportunity and personal income growth for small businesses and citizens. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Although it seems dark for the cannabis movement in Costa Rica, that doesn't stop people from hosting cannabis-related conventions and festivals which recently hosted their first cannabis cup “La Copa CR”. However, the country is still in a moral tug of war. Cannabis has highlighted several fundamental issues that Costa Rica is experiencing. Questioning the distinct aspects that make Costa Rica the place it is. Put pressure on the ethical, religious and progressive commitment of countries. There is a big gap to bridge between the new and young generations. As the two sides continue the debate over cannabis legalization, we hope they can reach a compromise that addresses the concerns and hesitations of all parties. Leading to a better, more open but fiscal Costa Rica. Long before the criminalization of cannabis in Costa Rica, cannabis has been an integral part of human civilization, from its depiction in cave paintings in ancient Japan to its use in funeral ceremonies in ancient China. It seems that our relationship with marijuana has increasingly transformed from friendship into a bitter misunderstanding and a challenging war effort. With stories of ordinary people using the plant as a healing treatment for cancer, post-traumatic stress disorder, seizures, anxiety, chronic pain, muscle spasms, glaucoma, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, hepatitis C, inflammatory bowel disease, related disorders to arthritis, we have finally found a tool that works for us and not against us. But also with all the studies and research done. People continue to stigmatize cannabis. With many people in the United States still viewing the plant as useless, harmful, and dangerous, there is still resistance from people. Many of the criticisms come from people who think that you can only smoke marijuana and think that it will negatively affect their breathing and heart condition. The reality is that smoking the plant is just one way to take it. Cannabis is absorbed through food, drinks, sprays, and even in pill form when the plant is diluted and turned into oil. It's a stigma that Costa Rican citizens still haven't shaken off. Sixty-two percent of the population in Costa Rica is Catholic, which is more than fifty percent of the population. Despite having a religious goal and a spiritual life it is a humble and gentle way of living. It can create prejudices in moral and political debate. Resistance comes from three main groups: religious, conservative and elderly. The good thing about these citizens saying no to legal cannabis is that it produces a bipartisan debate on regulation and hopefully a compromise that contains theeveryone's concerns. There are the main arguments and concerns. Brain Development: Prolonged use of marijuana can cause structural changes in the brain. This is because it can trigger mental illnesses. It can also cause a decline in IQ or a decrease in neuropsychological functioning. Functional and structural changes in the brain can also be caused by continued medical use of marijuana. Essentially, marijuana causes thinning of the cortex. Heart Attacks: Whether smoked or used with oil vape pens, marijuana makes the heart beat faster. This sensation lasts 20 to 30 minutes after use. This faster heartbeat increases the chances of having a heart attack when a person smokes marijuana. Additionally, increased blood pressure can increase this risk. Medical marijuana use is equally dangerous because marijuana contains 50 to 70 carcinogenic hydrocarbons. This implies that when a person smokes medical marijuana, they have a higher chance of developing cancer of the airway and lungs. Users inhale marijuana smoke into their lungs just like tobacco smokers. This increases the exposure of their lungs to dangerous carcinogens and harmful chemicals. Addiction: Although there are regulations regarding the medical use of marijuana, some individuals abuse it. Some people fear that while some individuals truly need prescription marijuana, others cheat doctors to obtain a medical marijuana card. When medical marijuana is used excessively, it interferes with other aspects of life. Overuse and interference with other aspects of life are what leads to its abuse and subsequent addiction. These are people's concerns and the reasons for hesitations towards full legalization. In a recent survey by the University of Costa Rica, 78.1% of the population believes that it is very easy to access marijuana. The percentage of people who confirm that they have tried marijuana at least once increased from 7.7% in 2010 to 17.7% in 2015. As seems quite obvious, the number of people using the plant will continue to rise. As more and more supporters become more visible, advocates like Gerald Murray remain the issue. “When will cannabis finally be legalized in Costa Rica?” Well, according to Murray, this question has no clear answer. A clear example of the mess presented by the current legislative bill comes in the case of a lawyer in Costa Rica who is facing four drug charges for his cultivation of eighty-five plants on his roof and is claiming in court that he grows the plants for your "horticultural hobby" and not for sale. While growing the plants, the cost was lower if no profit was made from the plant. Court cases like these are occurring all over Costa Rica and show the gray area of the current laws. How they can be manipulated or not clearly understood. Another problem that Costa Rica is having is the current drug problem and how it is trafficked in and out of the country. If you look at the geological position of Costa Rica, it is the penultimate land mass before arriving in South America. Despite being a continent that someone has to cross to enter Mexico, and being close to Jamica, much of Costa Rica's illegal cannabis comes from the island, making the drug trafficking situation threefold worrying. Criminals from countries such as Peru, Colombia and Mexico, known for black market drug production, use Costa Rica as a land bridge to transport drugs such as cocaine and heroin. Although cannabis laws have been passed in Costa Rica to prevent the/.
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