The Legalization of Marijuana Outline
I. Introduction
A. What is Marijuana? Cannabis or more commonly known as marijuana is a type of plant cultivated because of its chemical properties that reaches at least 400 different types.
B. The Argument: The arguments on legalizing the use of marijuana in any form to regulate those who use and abuse the drug are still heating up different legislative assemblies to find a common ground about the problem.
C. Thesis Statement: Legalizing marijuana would be detrimental to the human body and to society in general due to its hazardous and deadly chemical components even if it would be used for medical purposes
II. Argument 1 from Sherman (2010): legalizing marijuana even if for medical use would not mean a thing since people still use it anyway even if there is a law against it or legalizing it.
A. Fact 1: It was classified as an illegal drug by both federal law and the Food and Drug Administration which includes the medical version of marijuana.
B. Fact II: if they legalized it, people would still use the drug no matter what the laws state about having it and using it
C. Fact III: lawmakers believe and fear that it could lead to more people getting addicted to the substance even if the FDA still states the substance to be illegal.
D. Fact IV: Once people become dissatisfied with the regulated medical or regular marijuana, another type of drug would take its place to replace the market marijuana has created underground and breed new drug addicts.
III. Argument II from Ruschmann (2004): supports Sherman’s claim stating that even if the laws are not enacted, millions still buy marijuana and use it
A. Fact I: The US’s Shafer Commission noted that “legalization of marijuana would bring an increase of users with some percent of them becoming heavy users”.
B. Fact II: He first stated that now that it is legal, there is no need for a black market to preside in drug trade to give users what they need and to give it to them in an affordable price.
C. Fact III: He also stated that the legalization of the drug would only make the public think that the government is endorsing the drug even with the warnings released by the government of the risks of the drug.
D. Fact IV: He also cited that users would only increase their consumption of the drug and even experiment on them to create more potent variants of the drug they are using.
IV: Argument III from Brux (2010): The physical side-effects cannot be reduced even if it is brewed to cure.
A. Fact I: Marijuana is more concentrated than tobacco.
B. Fact II: Its potency becomes more dangerous over the years with the effects lingering to a long time. Chemicals that would be added to it may cause it to have more side-effects
C. Fact III: Legalizing the drug would also serve as a “gateway drug” for inexperienced and new users once they experience the odd sense of relief and comfort while taking these drugs.
D. Fact IV: Legalizing the drug would also make patients curious to try out the drug to alleviate the problems of their own illnesses and be hung to it eventually even if they are not sick at all
E. Support Argument from Morgan (2010) The body may not respond with to the tetrahydrocannabinol in marijuana and may cause complications for those with existing problems.
V. Argument IV from Cermak (2003) Legalization would introduce the younger generation to a drug that originally meant a drug of choice for their generation.
A. Fact I: There would be an increase of child users throughout the country
B. Fact II: Children would believe Marijuana is now widely accepted and the risks are false.
C. Fact III: The consequences of using marijuana in a young age may hinder their development and cause some psychological incapacity.
D. Fact IV: Since children grow faster, should they use marijuana, the effects no matter what dosage would be more potent as if the child took the concentrated version of it.
VI. Conclusion
A. Whether or not marijuana be legalized completely or be legalized as a form of medical treatment, it is still an inescapable fact that it is toxic for those who would abuse it and the long-term effects cannot be treated.
B. The public image of the drug would not help in making people accept it as a new form of medicine.
C. People would question why these developments are happening now after all the drama the governments took to make sure people prevent using it.
D. The resolution of the issue is still not visible and it may take a lot of time and information to get it legalized.
References
Brux, J. (2010). Economic Issues & Policy. Mason: Cengage Learning.
Cermak, T. (2003). Marijuana: What's A Parent to Believe? Center City: Hazelden Publishing.
Morgan, K. (2010). Legalizing Marijuana. New Mankato: ABDO Publishing Group.
Ruschmann, P. (2004). Legalizing Marijuana. New York: Infobase Publishing.
Sherman, J. (2010). Drug Trafficking. North Mankato: ABDO Publishing Company.
