cause and effect

Round 3 Sample Outline Legalization of Recreational Marijuana in Colorado

I. Introduction A. Attention Getter: Edibles, joints, and vapors, oh my! Marijuana is now legal for recreational use in the states of Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and Colorado, and will soon be legal in California, Maine, Massachusetts, and Nevada. And this list doesn’t include states like Illinois that have legalized marijuana for medical purposes. This information was found in a December 2016 Fortune Magazine article. B. Benefits: Clearly the legal use of marijuana is a growing trend in the United States. This trend has important impacts on state governments, social services, and citizen health; therefore, it is important that we understand what is happening. C. Thesis: Today I’d like to speak with you about the impacts of Colorado’s 2014 legalization of recreational marijuana. D. Preview: First I will explain what the state’s legalization entailed, and then I’ll move on to how it has impacted the state. Transition: Let’s get started to look at how Colorado regulates recreational marijuana. II. MP1: Recreational marijuana became legal in Colorado in January 2014. A. Let me first clarify what recreational marijuana is. 1. Recreational marijuana is any marijuana product that is purchased and consumed for the pleasure, or recreation of the user. a. Unlike medical marijuana, which is legal in Illinois, no doctor’s prescription is required to buy or use recreational marijuana. 2. This marijuana comes in many forms, including marijuana cigarettes, commonly known as joints, edible products like based goods infused with marijuana, and oils that contain THC, which is the main chemical component of marijuana. (EX) B. The state of Colorado regulates producers, sellers, and users of recreational marijuana. 1. Marijuana growers, producers and sellers must conform to several key regulations. a. First, all marijuana businesses must apply for and receive licenses in order to operate.

b. Second, Colorado also implemented a seed-to-sale tracking system in which each marijuana plant has a scannable bar code which traces the plant through the growing, production, and sale process.

i. This data is fed into a database that state officials use to track marijuana in the state and prevent it from being sold illegally. ii. This information was found in a June 2015 Case Western Reserve Law Review article. c. Finally, the state of Colorado charges a 15% excise tax when marijuana is sold between businesses, for example when a grower sells to a retailer. i. This information was found on the state of Colorado website, accessed in July 2017. 2. Those who wish to use marijuana recreationally in Colorado also must comply with state regulations.

a. First, one must be 21 years of age to buy marijuana for recreational purposes. b. Second, a person may legally buy or possess up to one ounce of marijuana at a time. i. According to the New York Times in July 2016, one ounce of marijuana is equivalent to approximately 84 marijuana cigarettes. (AA) c. Third, a person cannot consume marijuana in public, which includes bars and restaurants. d. Finally, individuals pay a nearly 13% tax rate on recreational marijuana. i. In comparison, you’ll pay 9% sales tax to purchase alcohol at Binny’s on Prospect. (AA)

ii. The information about Colorado’s law found on the same state of Colorado website I mentioned earlier. iii. As you can see, the legalization of recreational marijuana is accompanied by many regulations.

Transition: Now that you understand Colorado’s legalization of recreational marijuana in 2014, let’s move on to how it has impacted the state. III. MP2: The legalization of recreational marijuana has led to increased tax revenues and higher incidences of accidental marijuana consumption in Colorado.

A. First, State of Colorado tax revenues have grown due to the legalization of recreational marijuana.

1. In fiscal year 2015, Colorado collected just under $70 million in marijuana taxes, which was reported in a September 2015 Time Magazine article.

a. To put this in perspective, in the same year Colorado collected just $42 million dollars in taxes from the sale of alcohol. (AA) 2. According to a June 2017 article in Money, taxes on the sale of marijuana brought in $105 million dollars during the 2016 fiscal year. (ST)

3. The Coloradoan, the local Ft. Collins newspaper, reported in a February 2017 article that $875 million dollars of recreational marijuana was sold in 2016.

a. Clearly the legalization of medical recreational marijuana has increased tax revenues.

B. The second major impact of legalized recreation marijuana is an increase in medical related incidences.

1. A July 2016 New York Times article reports that researchers found a 150% increase in marijuana poisoning among children in Colorado since recreational marijuana was legalized. The known amount of cases was 200.

i. Dr. Genie Roosevelt, a professor at the University of Colorado, says that these poisonings are “significant and preventable”. ii. She goes on to say that this increase in poisoning is caused by the greater availability of marijuana due to legalization, especially when the marijuana is in the form of candy and treats that are attractive to children. iii. Children consume these edibles thinking they are simply sweet treats, which leads to these accidents.

Transition: In conclusion, IV. Conclusion A. Review: Today I have discussed Colorado’s 2014 legalization of recreational marijuana. First I told you how the state of Colorado regulates marijuana, and then I discussed its impact on the state. B. Final Thought: With Illinois’s budget woes continually making front page news, one has to wonder if our state leaders will join Colorado in the “green rush” and cash in on legalized marijuana.

Works Cited Adler, Jonathan. 2015. “Marijuana federal power and the states.” Case Western Law Review. 65(3): 505- 539. Academic Search Ultimate, EBSCOhost. Associated Press. 2017. “Colorado sells more than $1 billion of marijuana in 2016.” Fort Collins Coloradoan, February 10, 2017. Retrieved from http://www.coloradoan.com/story/news/2017/02/10/ colorado-sells-more-than-1-billion-marijuana-2016/97737742. Accessed July 17, 2017. Basu, Tanya. 2015. "Colorado Raised More Tax Revenue From Marijuana Than From Alcohol." Time.Com N.PAG. Academic Search Ultimate, EBSCOhost. Calfas, Jennifer. 2017. “How Colorado’s Booming Marijuana Industry is Helping Fight Homelessness and Drug Addiction.” Money. 1. Business Source Complete, EBSCOhost. Chokshi, Niraj. 2016. “How Much Weed Is in a Joint? Pot Experts Have a New Estimate.” NewYorkTimes.com. https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/15/science/how-much-weed-is-in-a-joint-pot- experts-have-a-new-estimate.html. Accessed July 18, 2017. Hoffman, Jan. 2016. "Study Finds Sharp Increase in Marijuana Exposure Among Children in Colorado." New York Times, July 26. A19. Academic Search Ultimate, EBSCOhost. Huddleston, Tom. 2016. “Colorado Topped $1 Billion in Legal Marijuana Sales in 2016.” Fortune. 1. Business Source Complete, EBSCOhost. Laws about marijuana use. 2017. www.colorado.gov/pacific/marijuana/laws-about-marijuana-use. Accessed July 18, 2017.