There is a lot of controversy between many people following
the recent legalization of marijuana. Marijuana is becoming legal in various
places now, both for medical and recreational use. In the past, Americans and
people everywhere often associated marijuana with dull, snack hungry teenagers
with addiction issues. Though, recently, twenty-three states have legalized it,
and five of those states approved it for personal and recreational use. While
many people say that there are legitimate reasons for legalization, there is
sill a concern that remains about the effect it has on users and their
communities.
Those who
are in favor of the legalization of the drug say that cannabis’ active
ingredients can offer relief from some medical conditions. This is nothing new.
People have been using the drug for medical reasons much before it was
legalized in some states. It contains substances that help those with various
conditions. For example, it holds the ability to alleviate nausea and increase
appetite. It also has properties that are helpful for cancer and AIDS patients.
Though these facts are true, there is still a large portion of the country that
disagrees with the legalization. This could possibly be because of the smoking
aspect, but it is important to note that medical and recreational marijuana
isn’t limited to just smoking the drug. It is available in pill, oil, liquids,
and even edible objects. Besides all the good that marijuana does for people,
it also generates revenue.
Those
apposed to the legalization of medical and recreational marijuana might say the
drug is addictive. There is a common misconception that the drug is not
addictive, though research and experience have shown that some users will
develop dependence on the drug and even experience withdraw when they stop
using it. Some would also say that marijuana use impacts public safety. Marijuana
is a drug that alters both perception and judgment. This has serious effect on
communities. Research shows that, in many cases, marijuana is one of the most
common drugs found in the systems of drivers who were impaired or fatally
injured.
There are
many different groups of people who argue over this controversy, old and young.
One bid group would be those of cancer patients, those fighting cancer and those
who have beaten cancer. This is a big demographic that is being targeted who
are usually pro marijuana legalization. Another demographic that this
controversy targets are those who have unpleasant experiences with marijuana,
or know people who have. This demographic are those who would be against the
legalization of marijuana, both medical and or recreational.
Some
techniques that people use that are pro marijuana legalization would probably
be tests. This is a big one. Marijuana that is tested on people, primarily
those diagnosed with cancer, show actual results that can then be viewed by the
public. There is evidence from these tests that marijuana does help patients
who are diagnosed with cancer. This evidence is good for those who are pro
marijuana legalization. On the other hand, those apposed to marijuana
legalization might you techniques to persuade others that there should be no
legalization of the drug. Those techniques might include showing evidence and
telling stories about the harm the drug does to people.
OK - the controversy surrounding legalization of marijuana, or the War on Drugs more generally, is a more specific focus. However, the goal here is not to summarize or report on the talking points associated with "pro" and "con" positions. Additionally, many of the assertions you make are simply inaccurate - or too vaguely stated to be understood. You are not specific, for example, in suggesting that "research and experience have shown that some users will develop dependence on the drug and even experience withdraw when they stop using it." What research has shown this? Remember that Cannabis is a Schedule 1 substance, according to US federal law, which identifies the substance as prone to be abused, and without medical benefit.
ReplyDeletePlease remember that your term paper is not meant to reflect a debate - but rather is meant to be an effort to identify strategy as deployed within competing narratives. It's certainly true that propaganda has been deployed as part of the drug war for many generations. It's also true that current policy is often conducted and debated based upon false premises and downright untruths.
In this post, you make a string of unsupported assertions about generalized groups of people - presumably those who are "for" and "against" legalization. However, to suggest that people can neatly be divided into these camps is also not exactly accurate. In the most recent failed referendum in CA, one of the lobbies that spent the most trying to defeat the recreational-use vote were the medicinal growers - who did not want to lose their economic monopoly in the state.
Please come see me so we can discuss your progress.