Lydia Pelzer

Mr. Newman
English 101- Rhetoric
18 November 2014
What are You Smoking?
Marijuana legalization has always a controversial topic in todays society. Marijuana
proponents say marijuana helps with certain medical conditions. The opponents of the
legalization process say marijuana has certain properties that can cause problems later in life.
Marijuana has been made legal in some states for medicinal purposes while other states legalized
marijuana because the legislature was pressured to legalize this drug. Common sense seems to
dictate that legalizing marijuana has more negative outcomes, though opposition speaks with
authority on the benefits of marijuana , which brings up the question Should marijuana be
legal? Marijuana should not be made legal as the side effects show there are health concerns
that can be fatal.
Consider this information, marijuana has been legalized in Colorado, Alaska, Oregon and
Washington. But, the problems of legalizing marijuana are real, and, arguably the most
significant factor in this debate is the effects. Marijuana has become, in a sense the new
tobacco.To quote Mr. Charles Stimson, a Senior Legal Fellow in the Center for Legal & Judicial
Studies at The Heritage Foundation ,who complied information from the National Institute on
Drug Abuse, [l]ong-term marijuana consumption impairs the ability of T-cells in the lungs
immune system to fight off some infections. These negative effects clearly show why
marijuana should be kept illegal, as there have been examples of how marijuana has encouraged
violent behavior and crimes. For evidence, just ask the drug cartels or other sellers of this drug in

the black market. Some more negative effects that are also addressed by Stimson are the fact that
[t]hese studies have also found that marijuana consumption impairs short-term memory, making
it difficult to learn and retain information or perform complex tasks; slows reaction time and
impairs motor coordination; increases heart rate by 20 percent to 100 percent, thus elevating the
risk of heart attack; and alters moods, resulting in artificial euphoria, calmness, or (in high doses)
anxiety or paranoia. The proponents of marijuana are right to argue that regular medications
can have these side effects. But they exaggerate when they claim that the positive effects
outweigh the negative in the grand scheme of things. And it gets worse: Marijuana has toxic
properties that can result in birth defects, pain, respiratory system damage, brain damage, and
stroke. Basically, Stimson is saying the effects can be devastating. How the proponents of the
legalization of marijuana refute these negative effects seems indescribable. Another less
important but still relevant reason why marijuana should not be made legal is the fact that
companies are only doing this for the money. Kevin Sabet, the author of Smart Approaches To
Marijuana says that companies only care about what gets them more money, but not so much the
negative effects of the good or service they are providing.
Despite the fact that the opponents of legalizing marijuana have put up a good fight, it is
time for the real debaters to step in. Marijuana, so to speak, is the best thing that has happened to
America because the public loves it.Steve Fox, the executive director of the Council on
Responsible Cannabis Regulation, is all for marijuana being legal. Legalizing marijuana,Fox
says, will give those who need it or use it for medicinal purposes safety while purchasing it.
Marijuana that is legal offers the United States government more revenue and provides new
medical remedies that are otherwise inaccessible, as discussed by Malik Burnett, from the Drug
Policy Alliance. Agreeing .with the fact the marijuana has medical uses is Mitch Wallick, who

has a Ph.D., a C.A.P.,a F.A.B.F.C.E., a C.M.H.P., is executive director of C.A.R.E. Addiction

Recovery, and a holistic drug rehabilitation facility in North Palm Beach, Fla. He says marijuana
is excellent for suppressing nausea and enhancing a patients desire to eat. Marijuana can also
treat some cancer symptoms, as well as some HIV and hepatitis C symptoms and lastly,
glaucoma. The experts have said marijuana is safe. The opposition continues to bring up the
negative effects of this drug, but like any other medication, those effects can be caused by
overdosage. Proponents of marijuana do not deny the cold, hard evidence that marijuana is
addictive, and say that rehab can be used to fight the effects. Mark Kleiman, a professor at
U.C.L.A. Luskin School of Public Affairs and co-author of Marijuana Legalization: What
Everyone Needs to Know, says if marijuana is legalized, there will be less black markets and less
illegal selling of the drug, but there will be some attempts to trade the drug from differents parts
of the country, so there will be more enforcement needed.
Although the proponents of marijuana have brought some hard evidence to the table,
there is still not enough proof that marijuana should be legalized. The legalization will bring
medical breakthroughs, but at what costs? On the one hand, I agree with Wallick that marijuana
has medical benefits. But on the other hand, I still insist that those benefits are too costly, the
cons completely outweigh the pros. The proponents have even noticed the negative effects are
prevalent. Mark Kleiman contradicts himself. On the one hand, he argues legalizing marijuana
will reduce black market activity. But on the other hand, , he also says the trade across states will
be more common , as each state will trade to get money. One key point of the argument for the
legalization of marijuana has been disproved by the very people who support it.
To summarize, the legalization of marijuana is a topic that has divided the country.
Common sense seems to dictate that all drugs are not good for you, as there have been the

campaigns such as DARE to resist drugs and several examples in my high school, such as Peace
Out to Drugs. Ive always believed that marijuana will not benefit the culture at all. I see that
there are some benefits to marijuana, I can not join the bandwagon on this issue. The reasoning
of the proponents for marijuana is circular reasoning, and they are using no new evidence. The
opponents of marijuana keep bringing new evidence to the table, so that argument is relevant.
The final word: Marijuana legalization is not morally correct and should never occur.

Works Cited
Burnett, Malik. "Racial Justice at the Core of the Marijuana Movement." Room for
Debate. NY Times, 17 Nov. 2014. Web. 28 Nov. 2014.
<http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2014/11/17/is-big-marijuana-inevitable-4/racialjustice-at-the-core-of-the-marijuana-movement>.

Fox, Steve. "Marijuana Market Will Benefit Consumers and Society." Room for Debate.
NY Times, 17 Nov. 2014. Web. 28 Nov. 2014.
<http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2014/11/17/is-big-marijuana-inevitable-4/marijuanamarket-will-benefit-consumers-and-society>.
Kleiman, Mark. "Marijuana Legalization Doesn't Have to Lead to Commercialization."
Room for Debate. NY Times, 17 Nov. 2014. Web. 28 Nov. 2014.
<http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2014/11/17/is-big-marijuana-inevitable-4/marijuanalegalization-doesnt-have-to-lead-to-commercialization>.
Sabet, Kevin. "Marijuana Legalization Is Just a Gateway to Profits." Room for Debate.
NY Times, 17 Nov. 2014. Web. 28 Nov. 2014.
<http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2014/11/17/is-big-marijuana-inevitable-4/marijuanalegalization-is-just-a-gateway-to-profits>.
Stimson, Charles. "Legalizing Marijuana: Why Citizens Should Just Say No."
Heritage.org. Heritage Foundation, 13 Sept. 2010. Web. 27 Nov. 2014.
<http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2010/09/legalizing-marijuana-why-citizens-shouldjust-say-no?ac=1>.
Wallick, Mitch, and Earl Heslin. "Medical Marijuana Pros and Cons: Expert Opinions."
The Survival Doctor. Hubbard, 14 Feb. 2013. Web. 27 Nov. 2014.
<http://www.thesurvivaldoctor.com/2013/02/14/medical-marijuana-pros-and-cons-doctorsdebate-opinions/>.