This article is written to highlight the dangers of marijuana use and propose that the current measures are not sufficient to cause a significant change in reduction in its use. The article calls for tougher measures to combat marijuana use, especially with more stringent public policy. These measures should place emphasis on kids, as they are the ones more likely to adopt marijuana use and become addicts than addicts. The article is aimed at addressing adults and more specifically parents, to inform and warn them of the implications of marijuana use and the need to support tougher policies against it. To advance his argument, the author uses various rhetorical strategies.
The article begins the article by establishing himself as a credible authority on issues related to drug abuse. The author is the president of National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, and has in fact written a book on substance abuse. In addition, he served as a Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare and indeed managed to beat a smoking addiction himself.
He does this by presenting statistical data to cement his claims. He has done this by using data from surveys and research studies which are able to quantify his claims. The empirical evidence reports that youth dependence on marijuana rose by 142% since 1992; and its use has been involved in approximately 50% of emergency admissions.
The author emphasizes his position by comparing the treatment of a teenager who has been accosted for drunk driving to that of one arrested for possession of marijuana. He blames parents who do not make much effort of disciplining kids found smoking marijuana. He also faults the legal system for not making much effort to control this. He writes of a statement made by the mayor of Los Angeles years ago, where he reported that before a teen could be arrested up to nine times for marijuana possession before receiving punishment.
The author has been quite persuasive in his argument which proposes more stringent laws and policy. He has been able to express the need for more focus on marijuana and the growing impact of the drug using statistics. He has also used this forum to appeal to parents by emphasizing the adoption of the drug in kids, and their role in curbing it.
Works Cited
Durham Technical Community College. A General summary of Aristortle’s Appeals. Web. 19th December, 2012. http://courses.durhamtech.edu/perkins/aris.html
