Documented Argument Rough Draft #2

The Legalization of Marijuana

Northwest University Online

March 16, 2019

The Legalization of Marijuana

Marijuana, which has a scientific name of Cannabis Sativa, is a plant that has sparked mixed feelings not only in the United States but all over the world. Jamaica has been the oldest nation that has come out openly to legalize marijuana, and it has been preaching the same gospel to other parts of the world (Campbell, Twenge, & Carter, 2017). Different nations are now seeing the need to legalize marijuana. However, irrespective of the fact that nations that advocate for marijuana legalization have provided facts that they believe should be followed, there are opposing forces from different perspectives , and they have sparked arguments that continue to increase the heat on the debate of whether to legalize marijuana. The controversial debate on whether to legalize marijuana has been argued from two different perspectives and each of the perspectives will be focused on.

Argument for

In the United States, more than ten states have so far legalized marijuana. What is more fascinating is the fact that other states are following suit and there are headed in the same direction. The states that have legalized marijuana have legalized it based on recreation and medical use. It is therefore evident that the topic of legalizing marijuana has been medically motivated (Campbell et al. 2017). Apart from the few states in the united states, there are other countries that have come in the open to legalize marijuana. Some of the nations are Canada, Belize, Jamaica, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay, Cambodia, Laos, and Belgium.

The people who support the legalization of marijuana have given their reasons. The first reason is the reduction of addiction and use of substandard marijuana. One of the reasons why some people are affected by marijuana is because of the quality of the marijuana that they are exposed to. The fact that marijuana is illegal gives the peddlers an opportunity to sell substandard marijuana, and that affects the health of the smoker. If marijuana was legalized, there would be an opportunity for the users to get information about the substance. As a result, the use of substandard substance would be frustrated. The legalization of marijuana would also promote the selling of high-quality marijuana because competitiveness would be promoted (Paschall, Grube, & Biglan, 2017). When there are different players in the industry who have been allowed to compete against each other, they are likely to focus on improving quality with the aim of winning more customers. Addiction to marijuana is associated with the secrecy that is promoted in its consumption. Human beings are naturally curious, and that means that if they are restricted from engaging in a specific act, they tend to engage in it more. Giving the users the freedom would limit their consumption rate thus affecting their addiction.

Argument against

Religious leaders and community leaders have been on the front line when it comes to arguing against the legalization of marijuana . They argue from the basis of the effects that the substance has on the users. Marijuana is addictive, and it also affects the reasoning ability of the user. From a religious perspective, the leader believes that a substance that affects the decision-making process of a person should not be consumed (Monte, Zane, & Heard, 2015). The abuse of marijuana has been evident in many cases, and it increases the dependency cases. The argument against the legalization of marijuana is based on facts as well, and these facts have been seen through observations.

The bipartisan argument

Even though there are people who have taken a hard position on whether marijuana should be legalized, there is a group of people who believe that the whole issue should not take an emotional turn and the argument should not be biased. The bipartisan parties believe that if the implementation of any law was to take place, it should take place not based on the emotions but on scientific facts (Hall & Weier, 2017). It would, therefore, be essential to call all stakeholders in this case and try to investigate some of the effects that might come with the legalization of marijuana (McGinty et al. 2016). The people who take this perspective believe that the legalization of marijuana should be based on the effects that it might have on the members of the community. It would not make sense to legalize a substance that can wipe the whole young generation, and at the same time, it would be unfair to stop the legalization of a substance that might have more benefits than harm.

The sections of people who take the bipartisan position believe that research would be essential in this case. The best way to deal with an issue is by making sure that extensive research is carried out with the primary aim of knowing the facts that are associated with the issue at hand. The reason behind it is because people who support the legalization have points which they consider to be facts (Hall & Weier, 2017). The same case applies to people who are against the legalization. When two parties present two different arguments and provide points that are factual to them, it becomes imperative to have a neutral body that helps in knowing which side presents facts that cannot be refuted, and which side presents mere assumptions.

Conclusion

The controversial topic of the legalization of marijuana continues to attract attention internationally. However, nations that feel it is right to legalize marijuana have done so. In some nations, the arguments continue taking center stage, and it is not clear on what will happen. Each side of the argument presents points which are strong. Therefore, it means that there is still a long way to go before all nations that want to legalize marijuana can do so.

You have all your organizational pieces in place. Now you are ready to build on the arguments/research and give us more specifics. Consider revising and/or removing sentences that are vague/repetitive, and replacing them with your own clear analysis. One thing that will be helpful is including some direct quotations. Great use of in-text citations as summaries – but don’t be afraid to use direct quotation as well. Your empirical studies will gives us numbers for the “facts” you briefly mention.

Using a third side – the bipartisan argument – gives your essay a unique/whole perspective that allows your argument to be both global and local. Looking forward to your next draft!

References

Campbell, W., Twenge, J., & Carter, N. (2017). Support for marijuana (cannabis) legalization: untangling age, period, and cohort effects. Collabra: Psychology, 3(1).

Hall, W., & Weier, M. (2017). Has marijuana legalization increased marijuana use among US youth? JAMA Pediatrics, 171(2), 116-118.

McGinty, E. E., Samples, H., Bandara, S. N., Saloner, B., Bachhuber, M. A., & Barry, C. L. (2016). The emerging public discourse on state legalization of marijuana for recreational use in the US: Analysis of news media coverage, 2010–2014. Preventive Medicine, 90, 114-120.

Monte, A. A., Zane, R. D., & Heard, K. J. (2015). The implications of marijuana legalization in Colorado. Jama, 313(3), 241-242.

Paschall, M. J., Grube, J. W., & Biglan, A. (2017). Medical marijuana legalization and marijuana use among youth in Oregon. The journal of primary prevention, 38(3), 329-341.

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�What facts? Why should they be followed?

�And what are the opposing perspectives? Be specific.

�What are the arguments?

You don’t need to spell everything out in the introduction – that is what you will be doing in the essay, after all. However, allude to what you will be discussing.

Remember introductions and theses share in the job of serving as a map for your readers. Intrigue and guide us.

�You just mentioned recreation, as well. Where does that play in here?

�Capital.

�Analysis here – consider if there any connections between these countries + the different states. Why these countries and not others?

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�Repetition of “reason” – vary your language.

�As you are speaking to both sides of the argument – be careful with language that deals in absolutes.

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�This feels like a new topic: addiction/consumption.

Engage with this further in a new paragraph. Doing this would also be a good transition to where you are going next.

�Great topic sentence!

�What are the facts? What are the observations? Give us specifics, and analyze why this is so.

�I like this additional side of the argument! Most are looking at the users/addicts and the businesses/drug cartels. Instead you are adding in the effect it has on the community at large. This will be a true strength to your analysis.

�And what are those benefits?