審視大麻應繼續保持非法的3個理由：英語精讀講義

All around the world,

在世界各地，

marijuana is being decriminalized or even made legal. 講解

大麻正被除罪化，甚至合法化。

But is this really a good idea?

但這真的是個好主意嗎？

In the online debate,

在網路辯論中，

the harmful sides are often downplayed. 用詞

其有害的一面常常被淡化。

So,

所以，

let's look at the three most powerful arguments against legalizing marijuana.

讓我們來看看反對大麻合法化的三個最強有力的論點。

Argument number one.

論點一。

In the last few decades,

在過去的幾十年裡，

marijuana has been engineered to become much more potent. 用詞

大麻經過培育，變得更加強效。

Today,

如今，

marijuana is so potent 文法

大麻的效力如此之強，

that it's actually a strong drug

以至於它實際上是一種強效毒品，

that may cause psychosis.

可能會引發精神病。

The main active ingredient of marijuana is THC, 片語搭配

大麻的主要活性成分是 THC（四氫大麻酚），

and there's strong evidence that THC is related to psychosis

而有強有力的證據表明 THC 與精神病有關，

regardless of other risk factors.

且無論是否有其他風險因素存在。

Marijuana also contains a substance called CBD

大麻中還含有一種名為 CBD（大麻二酚）的物質，

that seems to counteract its effect. 片語搭配

它似乎能抵消前者的作用。

It's even being tested as a treatment against psychosis and anxiety. 片語搭配

它甚至正在被測試作為治療精神病和焦慮症的藥物。

But because it doesn't make you high, 用詞

但由於它不會讓人產生快感，

growers have gradually decreased the amount of CBD in marijuana over the last few decades 文法

在過去幾十年間，種植者逐漸減少了大麻中 CBD 的含量，

while increasing THC levels.

同時增加了 THC 的水平。

Sample testing showed that THC levels have risen from around 4% in the 1990s 片語搭配

抽樣檢測顯示，THC 水平已從 1990 年代的大約 4%

to nearly 12% in 2014,

上升至 2014 年的近 12%，

shifting the ratio of THC to CBD 片語搭配

使得 THC 與 CBD 的比例

from 1 to 14 in 1995

從 1995 年的 1 比 14

to about 1 to 80 in 2014.

轉變為 2014 年的約 1 比 80。

It's unclear how precise those tests were, 表達脈絡

目前尚不清楚這些檢測有多精確，

however.

然而。

Overall,

整體而言，

recent findings suggest that the more marijuana you consume 文法

最近的發現表明，你消耗的大麻越多，

and the stronger it is,

且其效力越強，

the higher your risk of developing psychosis.

罹患精神病的風險就越高。

But how high is the risk of psychosis

但一般人群罹患精神病的風險

for the general population?

有多高呢？

A study from Britain found

英國的一項研究發現，

that while marijuana use has risen significantly 文法

儘管大麻的使用量顯著上升

between 1996 and 2005,

在 1996 年至 2005 年之間，

the number of schizophrenia cases,

思覺失調症的病例數，

a type of psychosis,

（一種精神病），

remained stable.

卻保持穩定。

The risk of marijuana-induced psychosis

大麻引發精神病的風險

remains the highest

依然是最高的

for people who already have a high risk of psychosis

對於那些原本就有高風險罹患精神病的人

to begin with. 片語搭配

來說。

For them,

對於他們，

it seems more likely that marijuana speeds up

大麻似乎更有可能加速

the development of their condition

他們病情的發展，

rather than causing it, 文法

而不是直接導致它，

as far as we know right now. 片語搭配

就我們目前所知而言。

So,

所以，

the reasoning goes, 表達脈絡

按照這個邏輯，

if fewer people have access to marijuana, 文法

如果較少的人能接觸到大麻，

the lower the risk of marijuana-induced psychosis.

大麻引發精神病的風險就會較低。

But actually,

但實際上，

you could argue that precisely because marijuana is illegal, 表達脈絡

你可以爭辯說，正因為大麻是非法的，

more people will end up with psychosis.

才會有更多人最終患上精神病。

Prohibition makes illegal drugs stronger and more potent

禁令使得非法毒品變得更強、更具效力，

because this way you can ship more product

因為這樣你可以在更小的空間內

in a smaller space

運輸更多的產品，

and sell it at a greater profit. 片語搭配

並以更高的利潤出售。

This is what happened during the prohibition of alcohol 文化背景

這就是禁酒令期間所發生的事情，

in the US,

在美國，

where hard liquor became the norm. 用詞

當時烈酒成為了常態。

And the same is happening with marijuana now.

而現在大麻也正在發生同樣的情況。

Imagine a world where liquor is the only alcohol available. 表達脈絡

想像一個只有烈酒可供選擇的世界。

You have the choice of either not drinking at all 文法

你要麼選擇完全不喝，

or getting much drunker than you would like to.

要麼喝得比你原本想的醉得多。

This is the situation for many marijuana smokers today.

這正是當今許多大麻吸食者的處境。

People didn't stop drinking during prohibition,

在禁酒令期間，人們並沒有停止喝酒，

and the numbers show that laws don't deter people 片語搭配

而數據顯示，法律並不能阻止人們

from using marijuana.

使用大麻。

We can't make marijuana go away, 文法

我們無法讓大麻消失，

but we can make it safer.

但我們可以讓它變得更安全。

If marijuana were legal, 文法

如果大麻是合法的，

there would be more options for consumers,

消費者將會有更多的選擇，

and regulators could,

而監管機構可以，

for example,

例如，

insist on a high level of CBD.

堅持要求高水平的 CBD。

Just like most people don't drink an after-work bottle of vodka, 表達脈絡

就像大多數人下班後不會喝下一整瓶伏特加一樣，

many people would gladly consume

許多人會很樂意消費

the after-work beer version of marijuana.

「下班後啤酒」版本的大麻。

Argument two,

論點二，

marijuana is a gateway drug. 文化背景

大麻是一種入門毒品。

If it's legalized,

如果它被合法化，

there will be a spike in the use of much more dangerous drugs. 片語搭配

將會導致更危險毒品的使用量激增。

A 2015 study found

一項 2015 年的研究發現，

that about 45% of lifelong marijuana users

約 45% 終身使用大麻的人

took some other illegal drug at some point.

曾在某個時候服用過其他非法毒品。

Legalizing marijuana could reinforce this trend.

大麻合法化可能會強化這一趨勢。

As more young people try legal marijuana,

隨著越來越多的年輕人嘗試合法的大麻，

they might end up trying harder drugs. 片語動詞

他們最終可能會嘗試更強效的毒品。

But it turns out that the real gateway to drug use 表達脈絡

但事實證明，真正引向毒品使用的入門磚

comes much earlier,

出現得早得多，

cigarettes.

那就是香菸。

One study showed that teens who started smoking

一項研究表明，在 15 歲之前

before the age of 15

就開始吸菸的青少年

were 80% more likely to use illegal drugs 文法

使用非法毒品的可能性高出 80%，

than those who didn't.

相比於那些不吸菸的青少年。

And a 2007 study found

而 2007 年的一項研究發現，

that teenagers between 12 and 17 who smoked

12 至 17 歲之間吸菸的青少年，

were three times more likely to binge drink, 文法

暴飲的可能性是其他人的三倍，

seven times more likely to have used drugs like heroin or cocaine,

使用海洛因或古柯鹼等毒品的可能性是七倍，

and were also seven times more likely to resort to marijuana. 片語搭配

並且訴諸大麻的可能性也是七倍。

But if that's the case, 片語搭配

但如果真是這樣，

how could making more drugs legal stop the use of hard drugs?

讓更多毒品合法化怎麼能阻止硬性毒品的使用呢？

At first,

首先，

it's important to acknowledge that people don't use drugs 表達脈絡

重要的是要承認人們使用毒品

because they're legal or not.

並不是因為它們合法與否。

If you want to buy any drug,

如果你想買任何毒品，

you'll always find someone happy to sell.

你總是能找到樂意出售的人。

The real question is, 表達脈絡

真正的問題是，

why do people develop an unhealthy relationship with drugs at all?

人們究竟為什麼會與毒品發展出不健康的關係？

Studies show that certain conditions make people

研究顯示，某些情況會使人

especially vulnerable to drugs and addiction. 片語搭配

特別容易受到毒品和成癮的影響。

A difficult childhood,

困難的童年、

early trauma,

早期的創傷、

low social status,

較低的社會地位、

depression,

憂鬱症，

even genetic factors.

甚至遺傳因素。

Which drug they get addicted to

他們會對哪種毒品上癮，

is more often than not a matter of chance. 慣用語

往往只是一個偶然的問題。

Addicts take drugs to escape their problems,

成癮者吸毒是為了逃避他們的問題，

but drugs don't solve any of those problems,

但毒品並不能解決其中任何一個問題，

and instead become a new problem.

反而成為了一個新的問題。

But punishing people for their unhealthy coping mechanisms 用詞

然而，因人們不健康的應對機制而懲罰他們，

doesn't change anything about the underlying causes either.

也無法改變根本原因。

So,

因此，

some argue we need to take a completely different route. 慣用語

有人主張我們需要採取一條完全不同的道路。

In 2001,

在 2001 年，

Portugal had one of the worst drug problems in Europe.

葡萄牙面臨歐洲最嚴重的毒品問題之一。

So,

於是，

it was desperate enough to try something radical. 文法

他們別無選擇，決定嘗試一些激進的措施。

Possession and use of all illegal drugs was decriminalized. 文化背景

所有非法毒品的持有和使用都被除罪化了。

You would no longer be arrested.

你不再會被逮捕。

Instead,

相反地，

authorities launched a major health campaign.

當局發起了一項重大的健康運動。

People who were found with a small amount

被發現持有少量毒品的人

were referred to support services 文化背景

會被轉介到支援服務機構，

and got help with treatment and harm reduction. 文化背景

並在治療和減少傷害方面獲得幫助。

Drug use was seen as a chronic disease, 表達脈絡

毒品使用被視為一種慢性疾病，

not a crime.

而不是犯罪。

The results were stunning.

結果令人驚嘆。

The number of people who tried drugs and kept using them

嘗試過毒品並持續使用的人數，

fell from 44% to 28% by 2012. 片語搭配

到了 2012 年從 44% 降至 28%。

The use of hard drugs decreased,

硬性毒品的使用量減少了，

as well as HIV and hepatitis infections and overdoses.

愛滋病毒和肝炎的感染及用藥過量的案例也減少了。

Making drugs legal might overall help society 文法

讓毒品合法化可能整體上有助於社會，

much more than it harms it.

遠勝於它帶來的傷害。

Argument number three.

論點三。

Marijuana is addictive and unhealthy.

大麻會讓人上癮且不健康。

It needs to remain illegal to keep harm at a minimum. 片語搭配

它需要保持非法，以將危害降至最低。

While marijuana addiction is more psychological than physical, 表達脈絡

雖然大麻成癮在心理上大於生理上，

it is still a real problem.

但這依然是個真實的問題。

The demand for treatment for marijuana addiction

僅在過去十年中，對大麻成癮治療的需求

has more than doubled in the past decade alone. 文法

就增加了一倍以上。

In total,

總體而言，

about 10% of people who try marijuana will become addicted.

嘗試過大麻的人中約有 10% 會上癮。

This is also related to higher THC levels.

這也與更高的 THC 水平有關。

A study released in 2017 tracked the potency of marijuana

2017 年發布的一項研究追蹤了大麻的效力

in Dutch coffee shops over a period of 16 years.

在荷蘭咖啡店長達 16 年的期間。

For every 1% increase in THC, 文法

THC 每增加 1%，

60 more people entered treatment nationwide.

全國就有多 60 人進入治療。

In terms of negative health effects,

在負面健康影響方面，

some studies linked marijuana use 片語搭配

一些研究將大麻的使用

to increased blood pressure and lung problems,

與血壓升高和肺部問題聯繫起來，

while a 2016 study found that marijuana use

而 2016 年的一項研究發現，大麻使用

was unrelated to physical health problems 文法

與身體健康問題無關，

except for a higher risk of gum disease.

除了患牙齦疾病的風險較高。

Some studies showed that marijuana use alters teenagers' brains

有些研究顯示大麻使用會改變青少年的大腦

and decreases their intelligence,

並降低他們的智力，

but when more recent studies took drinking and smoking into account, 片語搭配

但當較新的研究將飲酒和吸菸納入考量時，

the results were inconclusive. 用詞

結果並無定論。

Overall,

整體而言，

research shows that taking any drugs

研究表明，服用任何毒品

while the brain is still in development

在腦部仍在發育的階段

is bad for you.

對你都是有害的。

But the truth is,

但事實是，

we don't know yet how unhealthy marijuana is. 文法

我們還不知道大麻到底有多不健康。

We need more funding for research,

我們需要更多的資金進行研究，

which is hard to get while marijuana remains illegal.

而只要大麻仍然是非法的，這就很難獲得。

We can put what we know into perspective, 片語搭配

不過，我們可以將已知的知識納入整體考量，

though.

來做個比較。

16% of people who consume alcohol become alcoholics,

消耗酒精的人中有 16% 會成為酗酒者，

and 32% of people who try cigarettes become smokers.

嘗試香菸的人中有 32% 會成為吸菸者。

We know for sure alcohol affects your brain,

我們確信酒精會影響你的大腦、

destroys your liver,

摧毀你的肝臟，

and causes cancer,

並導致癌症，

while tobacco clogs your arteries,

而菸草會堵塞你的動脈、

destroys your lungs,

摧毀你的肺部，

and also causes cancer.

同樣也會導致癌症。

3.3 million people die from alcohol abuse each year,

每年有 330 萬人死於酒精濫用，

while smoking kills more than 6 million people.

而吸菸導致超過 600 萬人死亡。

Nobody is suggesting tobacco and alcohol are harmless

沒有人會認為菸草和酒精是無害的

just because they're legal. 文法

僅僅因為它們是合法的。

Also,

同時，

nobody is seriously proposing to prohibit them,

也沒有人認真提議要禁止它們，

even though they are extremely dangerous. 文法

儘管它們極其危險。

Legality is a way to exercise some control over them, 片語搭配

合法性是一種對它們施加控制的方式，

especially when it comes to protecting young people. 片語搭配

尤其是在保護年輕人方面。

It's often much harder to buy legal drugs for teenagers 文法

對於青少年來說，購買合法藥物通常比

than to buy illegal ones.

購買非法毒品困難得多。

Official sellers can get hefty fines and lose their license 片語搭配

官方銷售商可能會面臨巨額罰款甚至吊銷執照，

if they sell to underage kids.

如果他們賣給未成年人的話。

Legality creates incentives here that drug dealers can't exploit.

合法性創造了毒販無法利用的誘因。

So,

因此，

making marijuana legal doesn't mean endorsing 表達脈絡

讓大麻合法化並不意味著認可

it. It means taking responsibility for the risks it poses. 片語搭配

它。這意味著為它帶來的風險承擔責任。

It could also open the floodgates to tons of new research 慣用語

這也可能打開大門，帶來大量新研究，

that shows us how harmful it really is

向我們展示它究竟有多有害，

and to whom.

以及對誰有害。

Conclusion.

結論。

Marijuana is a drug,

大麻是一種毒品，

and just like any other drug,

就像任何其他毒品一樣，

it has negative consequences for a sizable portion

它對相當大一部分的使用者

of the people who use it.

有著負面的後果。

It is not harmless.

它並非無害。

The best way to protect society from its negative consequences

保護社會免受其負面影響的最佳方式，

seems to be legalization and regulation. 表達脈絡

似乎是合法化並加以監管。

Thanks to our partnership with Funk,

感謝我們與 Funk 的合作關係，

this video has already been available on our German channel

這部影片已經在我們的德語頻道上播放

for two weeks.

兩個星期了。

Check it out and subscribe to practice your German skills.

去看看並訂閱，練習一下你的德語吧。

And if you want to support the creation of videos

如果你想支持我們製作這些

that take months to research and prepare

需要數月研究和準備的影片，

and get a bunch of cool stuff in return,

並獲得一堆酷東西作為回報，

you can do that on patreon.com/kurzgesagt.

你可以在 patreon.com/kurzgesagt 上進行支持。