Transcript Subtle Accents - University of Miami

Should marijuana be legalized?
Payam Habib
TAL101
12/2/2009
The great debate...
One of the most heated debates in recent years has been
over whether marijuana should be legalized, or continue
to be illegal...
The problem is that many people – on both sides of the
debate - provide an opinion that is based very little on
actual fact, or knowledge, but one derived from myths or
incorrect information. My goal is to try and provide an
unbiased perspective on the pros and cons regarding this
hot-button issue in our society.
So with that in mind, should it in fact be legal?...
Yes
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No more harmful than cigarette
smoking or alcohol.
“Street justice” disputes, and the
violence that accompanies it,
would be resolved.
In addition to alcohol and
cigarettes, the legalization of
marijuana would be a huge
source of tax revenue for the
government.
Police and court resources would
be freed for more serious crimes.
Drug dealers, including terrorist
organizations, would lose a
majority, or all of their business.
FDA could oversee and regulate
the quality and safety of
products.
No
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Some people believe marijuana
use may be a stepping-stone
drug to more dangerous
substances such as cocaine, and
LSD.
“Drunk driving” is still a huge
problem in our society, “High
driving” would only exacerbate
this issue.
Physical damage to your body.
Another source of second hand
smoke.
Would make it more accessible
to younger children.
Pros further examined:
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Right now, when there is a
dispute involving drugs, the two
parties involved obviously can't
get the police to help resolve it.
As such, these disputes lead to
“street justice” where people will
take matters in to their own
hands, and violence is the tool
they usually decide upon.
Besides the billions in additional
tax revenue, billions would be
saved on the “war on drugs”, that
some consider to be a failure.
Pros further examined:
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Prisons in the united states are at
over 100% their max capacity.
marijuana arrests for sale or
possession account for 6% of all
arrests, intensifying the over
crowding issue. Marijuana
arrests cost the government
$10.3 billion in 2007, which is
bad news for tax payers.
Male youth (15-24) account for
the majority of arrests.
Unfortunately, these arrests
sometimes lead to involvement in
more serious crime when the
youth are released, as well as
high rate of school and work drop
out for a life of crime.
Pros further examined:
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Currently, it is common practice
for a drug dealer to “lace” their
product with more dangerous
additives such as ecstasy. They
do this to get their customers to
believe their product is superior
to the competition. This
dangerous lacing process, as
well as a general unsafe
production of marijuana, would
be non-existent if marijuana was
legalized, and under watch from
the FDA.
Pros further examined:
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Most importantly, Doritos and
other snacks' sales would
increase dramatically, providing
the boost our economy needs.
(just kidding)
Cons further examined:
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Evidence shows that some users
who start off with taking
marijuana as “harmless fun”,
sometimes get desensitized to its
effects, and go on to try more
dangerous, and addictive drugs,
such as cocaine, meth, LSD, etc.
Not taking regard to the damage
caused by more deadly drugs
that a person may take after
using marijuana as a gateway,
the drug itself has harmful
effects. Similar to smoking
cigarettes. These include lung
cancer, second hand smoke, and
increased heart rate. Additionally
distorted perceptions, impaired
coordination, and learning and
memory problems are viewed.
Cons further examined:
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Despite all the attempts to raise
awareness of the harmful effects
of drunk driving, it is still rampant
in our society today. This is a big
problem for the safety of the
driver, the passengers, as well as
any other driver who happens to
be in the wrong place at the
wrong time. Legalizing marijuana
would most likely create an
increased number of “high
drivers” on the road, which can
sometimes be as deadly as a
drunk driver.
Cons further examined:
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Some people fear that
legalization of marijuana would
just make it all the more easier
for young persons to obtain the
drug.
So should it be legal?
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It's up to you to
decide on which side
of the debate you
choose by weighing
both the pros and
cons, but hopefully
you will be able to
make a more well
thought out and
informed decision
now.
The end.