Free Essay

Legalization of Marijuana in U.S.

In: Business and Management

Submitted By ceasar36
Words 490
Pages 2
Learning Team Debate Paper Outline
June 5, 2011
BCOM/275

I Introduction • Should the U.S. legalize marijuana? • The U.S. legalization of marijuana has been a controversial subject for many years. Proponents of legalization cite many benefits including, what they claim to be substantial increases in tax revenue, reduction in crime, and widespread medical benefits. Opponents argue that marijuana is a harmful drug that increases crime, causes more problems with health than it benefits, and would cost taxpayers more than the revenue it would bring in.
II First Source Klein, J., April 2, 2009. Why legalizing marijuana makes sense. Time magizine Retrieved from: http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1889021,00.html • This author expresses the many benefits of legalization, while expressing just a few valid, weak arguments for those against legalization. • This article easily answers the question for the proponents of legalization but doesn’t offer enough information to argue against it. • Evidence is sufficient for legalization • Examples cited are revelant and conclusions do add up for legalization
III Second Source DuPont, R., April 20, 2010. Why we should not legalize marijuana, A CNBC special report. Retrieved from http://www.Why_We_Should_Not_Legalize_Marijuana.cnbc.com/id/36267223/ • This article supports the opponents of legalization and offers nothing for the opposing view. • Evidence is sufficient and well written for the points expressed for not legalizing marijuana. • Evidence is insufficient, a big part of this article is a comparison to legalizing gambling and this is not a sufficient example. Certain evidence in this article is sufficient, for example, the reference to impaired driving. • Many sources are cited but only some are relevant to legalizing marijuana.
IV Conclusion • The argument for legalizing marijuana is both complicated and emotional. There are many unknowns that tend to instill fear, and by legalizing marijuana, it is likely society would suffer many illeffects directly linked to using it. After researching, the conclusion drawn is in fact there are many benefits both economically and medically. These benefits are based on solid research and far outweigh the arguments against it based mainly on fear, assumptions and faulty comparisons. As with alcohol, prescription drugs, the government must regulate the sale and consumtion limits since marijuane does impair abilities, and like tobacco, marijuana should have health warnings that come with using it.
V Cultural Evaluation A Majority of the U.S. population invokes one of two reactions • A firm disapproval of the concept • An almost blind support of it • Opinions based from personal beliefs and unsubstantiated myths rather than facts B Unknowns on the marijuana industry • Productivity and drug related violence • Popular and personal beliefs instead of scientific facts

References
DuPont, R., April 20, 2010. Why we should not legalize marijuana, A CNBC special report. Retrieved from http://www.Why_We_Should_Not_Legalize_Marijuana.cnbc.com/id/36267223/
Klein, J., April 2, 2009. Why legalizing marijuana makes sense. Time magizine Retrieved from: http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1889021,00.html

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