To Legalize Or Not To Legalize

For this paper, I’m a going to do an analyzation on two different op-eds on the legalization of Marijuana, one for and one against it. Should marijuana be legalized and if so why? Is it a good idea or are the laws just getting too crazy? The legalization of Marijuana has been a huge issue for some time and there are many who oppose it and there are those who agree to this new law. There are those who say Marijuana is good for many illnesses and others say it’s damaging to the brain, and a gateway drug.

Does it lead to other uses or is it good for your health? Let’s look at these two arguments and decide.

The first argument that I’m going to discuss is A Case Against Marijuana written by David Leonhardt. The writer is making an argument against the new law that would legalize the use of Marijuana in many states. He explains that the use of Marijuana is widespread, and many believe that it isn’t harmful.

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The writer believes that we really don’t know how harmful Marijuana is to a person’s health, especially the widespread effects. He discusses a story that was written for The Standard Time by reporter Tony Mecia. Which involved a new law that was passed in Colorado for the legal use of Marijuana. He explains how many other States have decided to relax their laws and allow the use of marijuana. Leonhardt states according to the Pew Research center, there are more than 60% of Americans who are siding with this law and believe Marijuana is ok, and it went up from 16% in 1990.

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“The effects of legalization citing academic research “are mixed at best”- far from the unqualified success that Marijuana boosters like to project (Leonhardt) In Colorado there has been a rise in marijuana- related traffic deaths (Leonhardt). There has also been a rise in marijuana -related hospitalizations and infants testing positive for the drug. This information is based on Mecia story about a Pueblo, a working-class city that has become the center for the Marijuana growing industry (Leonhardt). Leonhardt goes on to list arguments that would come up against Mecias claims. One argument state’s, that because of the criminalization of marijuana it has placed many Americans behind bars (Leonhardt)(Leonhardt). Another argument that many would use is that Marijuana isn’t as harmful as alcohol and therefore is safer. Leonhardt believes that rushing to legalize this drug is a bad move because it hasn’t been completely researched or thought through. Legalizing it would mean creating a whole new industry which would allow and push the use of more drugs that would impair a person’s ability to make good judgments.

“A pediatrician Aron Carroll had written in the times, “America could be falling prey to the wishful thinking about the effects of marijuana”, A new evaluation of Marijuana risk is overdue’. (Leonhardt) Leonhardt states that Carroll isn’t too alarmed about marijuana’s effects, but “we unquestionably need more research”. (Aron Carroll)

Some recent research that had been done which was led by Deborah Hasin of Columbia University had found that due to the legalization of Marijuana which went back to the 1990s has since increased the use of the drug, but according to information, it hasn’t increased by teens. A new study that was done by the National Institute on Drug abuse and the University of Michigan. The use of Marijuana by teens has in fact gone down, and in this study ‘Monitoring the Future” which is a survey done yearly on teens in eighth, tenth, and twelfth grades. The study shows that there has been a two percent drop in teens reporting that they use Marijuana. Research also reports that about 15.6 percent of eighth graders had reported using Marijuana in their lifetime. Of these 33.7 percent of tenth graders and 44.4 of twelfth graders reported the same thing. It has been said that the availability of the drug for teens has dropped, and the percentage of the use by teens on a daily bases has dropped, but with 5.8 percent of seniors using it daily. It has been reported that adults use of Marijuana is much more than teens today and is widely popular with adults and the elderly.

Still today the debate goes on whether to legalize Marijuana or not and many agree that it’s a catastrophe waiting to happen. Others side with it and believe that it will bring in more revenue for the country. By allowing Marijuana to be legal it allows for growers to bring in factories to mass produce and in turn brings in jobs for the cities., but not everyone agrees, and communities are fighting back. In conclusion, the writer is against the legalization of Marijuana and is concerned about the risk factors involved and the possible outcomes.

In this next Article Legalizing Marijuana is fine. But don’t ignore the science on its dangers written by Judith Grisel. In this article, the writer discusses reasons for legalizing it but also the measures that should be taken before doing so. Grisel discusses 'her' experiences with Marijuana and reasons why it should be legalized. In the next part of her article, she discusses the effects of Marijuana, what it does to the mind and shares other’s experiences with Marijuana.

The writer believes that before legalizing this drug it should be studied more and researched. The writer doesn’t believe this should be done without first taking precautions and studying the effects of the drug. Before getting a definitive answer. The writer explains that lawmakers need to study the science behind the drug. We need to know what kind of effects it has on a person’s health and does it, in fact, affect, a person’s mental state.

The writer goes on to discuss 'her' use in her early days from a teenager throughout her early 20s. She goes on to say, during that time of her life she would have been ecstatic to see the law being passed. Grisel explains that it would have been easier to purchase, and she wouldn’t have had to hide it from detection. Grisel goes on to explain how in today’s day and age it’s difficult to find anyone who is against Marijuana. The use of Marijuana is popular amongst Americans today and about 63 percent have been in favor of ending the prohibition according to a pretty recent Quinnipiac poll. She claims that legislators have also been on the side of approving the legalization of Marijuana, rather than disapproving it. The writer states that there have been signs that the Federal government will fallow behind the states and approve the use of Marijuana. The writer discusses that in April, that the Senate Leader Charles Schumer, D-N-Y has been the first leader of either party to approve the legalization of Marijuana and end the decriminalization of it at the federal level (Grisel). Grisel also states in her article that Donald Trump had made a promise to a Republican in Colorado that states who legalized pot would be protected.

The writer explains that why shouldn’t the drug be legal it’s already accepted by many and said to be benign or beneficial. It’s even appealed to many because of the possible tax revenue it could bring in and its benefits. Many believe that Marijuana is a good thing so why go against it, Grisel states that she would be sympathetic, but then she goes on to say that she is a neuroscientist. Grisel goes on to argue that this issue is being oversimplified. She argues that rather than look at the science behind the drug legislation is only looking at the history of racist drug laws and their selective enforcement (Grisel). She argues that legislators are naive about how it would affect the communities, and individuals, especially teenagers. Grisel argues that we shouldn’t rush to allowing this drug in without first studying its effects on the adolescent brain.

Grisel explains how she did her research on the plant and in the 1980s pot was so readily available for her to get. She began a habit and thought it was like a great antidote without the side effects of alcohol or cigarettes. She states that Marijuana commuted the voice in her head and filled her with curiosity and delight. The writer goes on to describe the effects and states that Marijuana would make something boring into something dramatic and pleasurable. Some examples could be things like going out with family, functions, school, work, and just hanging at home lounging on the couch. Marijuana made something that was boring into something fun and exciting for her when she was high.

In the next parts of her article she goes on to explain how Marijuana is like any other mind-altering drug and it produces its effects by changing the rate of whatever is going on in the brain (Grisel). Grisel claims that the ingredient 9-THC substitutes our natural endocannabinoids and mimics their effects. (Grisel) She explains that these substances do activate the same chemical process in our brains that employs thoughts, emotions, and experiences (Grisel). Grisel explains that the substance can make any boring moment into an enjoyable one. Grisel states that in a conversation with a father he stated that Marijuana made spending time with his child more tolerable. The father explained that it made him a better parent and changed his attitude.

So why not accept this drug, it does wonders for a person right? But the writer also argues that the extensive use of Marijuana is like how watering a field is moot. The same can happen to our brains, too much marijuana can dampen the brain’s machinery to compensate for the excessive stimulation. Too much exposure to the brain can cause lasting effects. Marijuana can impair the ability to imbue value or the importance of experiences that truly warrant it (Grisel). She goes on to explain how its effects are harder on a teens brain as opposed to an adult. She explains how the adolescent’s brain is fragile and during puberty is at a critical stage for stimuli and enhancement. Grisel explains how these effects can leave damaging effects on us. Grisel goes on to discuss how legalizing or not it hasn’t shown any increase in the use of marijuana in adolescents. Grisel states its due to the drug already being popular and that teens smoke more Marijuana than cigarettes. About 30- 40 percent of teens have reported smoking pot within the past year and 20 percent have gotten high within the past month. Then there’s the 6 percent who have admitted to using every day.

Grisel states that about 60 percent of teenagers will not graduate high school and are at a high risk for becoming addicted to heroin or alcoholism. Grisel also claims that teens are at a higher risk of harming themselves or committing suicide. The writer then talks about how indulging in this drug can leave effects on their offspring which can lead to mental illness. She claims there are studies in the works, but it’s not easy linking the effects of cigarettes to Marijuana because no study can be done where each group is assigned to smoking or non-smoking with Marijuana. She does state that there are being efforts made to follow groups who do and don’t smoke, from children through adolescence to adulthood. Grisel goes on to state that all these assumptions about marijuana not being addictive is false because like any other substance the brain adapts to marijuana and its dependency on it (Grisel). Grisel explains no matter the risk factors or laws in place it hasn’t stopped any drug use. Whether it be pot, heroin, or alcohol, and explains that she’s still not against legalization just against the skeptics about it.

In conclusion, legislation shouldn’t be so quick to legalize it until there has been a full study done on the substance and how it will affect our communities.

In my opinion, I believe the article that was more cogent was the Article Legalizing Marijuana is fine, but don’t ignore the science on its dangers written by Judith Grisel. My reasons for this are because I feel she made a clear and concise argument. She supplied good evidence to back up her claims and gave examples of her experiences, but she also is educated on this subject. She is a professor of psychology and neuroscience at Buckley University. These credentials give her qualifications and credibility to make such an argument and make it believable. She provided great reasons for her arguments and her explanations were clear. Even though some of her reasoning was based on her beliefs and values. Grisel did provide great scientific facts and sources to her argument and it was clear, convincing. The writer made good valid points, and it caught my attention and although she did provide good information. I do believe there were some fallacies in her arguments, one example would be the two wrongs don’t make a right fallacy. In her article, she states that the drug has been accepted by most Americans so why not legalize it, when most already use.

Another fallacy I found was an Appeal to tradition and popularity. She uses these fallacies to make her argument more believable and to convince the reader to side with her. In her article she states, “these days it’s hard to find anybody critical of Marijuana. “The drug enjoys broad acceptance by most Americans. “Then she also states the drug is widely thought to be benign and beneficial.” Another area where I believe she uses the fallacy Appeal to popularity is where she states, it’s been approved in Colorado, and that president Trump promised to protect any state that legalizes it. She also uses her experience in my view to make the proposal seem great.

She describes Marijuana as being amazing, good, and gives you a more enjoyable life. I think she also uses the fallacy an appeal to fear, she uses that when stating that to legalize they must first look at the science behind the drug. She uses this fallacy when she is discussing the side effects of the drug, stating that it can cause brain damage and mental illness, so legislation should do more research before going any further (Grisel). She also uses it when she talks about teens being more at risk for suicide, and not graduating. I think with these statements it’s instilling fear, fear that approving this drug will cause more harm. In here we see another fallacy the slippery slope claiming that if they rush to approve it will lead to bad health and hurt the communities.

In the second article, I feel the writer did not provide enough to convince me of his argument. He did give some good points. He did provide two sources a statement from a qualified pediatrician and some research that was done by Deborah Hansin from Columbia University. I felt that the information still wasn’t enough because he did not provide enough facts or sources. His argument was short, and he went off topic.

The fallacy I found was an appeal to fear, he used this fallacy in one of his statements, ‘In Colorado, marijuana- related traffic deaths have increased” and marijuana hospitalizations and infants testing positive for the drug is up” In my opinion he, is trying to convince the readers that legalizing is wrong and dangerous. He also uses the fallacy slippery slope when he states that legalizing it without fully thinking it through will just encourage the use of mind- altering drugs and produce big industries. He’s claiming that this one action will lead to others bad ones, and we will fall prey to the bad effects of Marijuana.

Overall, I enjoyed both articles, but I would have to say Grisel’s was more convincing, though it did make for a good argument my views did not change. Whether it’s wrong or right, and 'my' opinions aside I stand by facts and the law. Yes, I was taught and told this drug was bad, and I followed behind society, but as I got older I got to think and decide for myself. I did my research and educated myself. No matter how many arguments I read, I still stand by my view and that is to legalize would be a bad idea. Because there just isn’t enough research to say hey this drug is beneficial. There just aren’t enough studies to prove that it doesn’t damage your health, Legal or not it’s not going to stop the use in adolescents. It’s not going to stop criminals from producing illegally and adding dangerous chemicals in it. I agree with Grisel know the science behind the drug.

Works cited

Grisel, Judith. 'Legalizing marijuana is fine. But don’t ignore the science on its dangers.' 25 May 2018. .

Leonhardt, David. 'A case against Marijuana.' The New York Times (2018). .

Scanlon, Kate. 'What Percentage of Teens Use Marijuana? The Answer Might Surprise You.' 16 December 2014.

Updated: May 23, 2022
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To Legalize Or Not To Legalize. (2022, May 23). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/to-legalize-or-not-to-legalize-essay

To Legalize Or Not To Legalize essay
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