Rhetorical Analysis Essay

In this 2015 article about the legalization of marijuana in regards to the district of Columbia, author Ethan McLeod synthesizes both written and oral sources to write an article with multiple perspectives that gives a depiction of the different arguments in this debate on legalization. The author successfully juxtaposes quotes from opposing sources like the D.C Mayor Muriel Bowser, pro-legalization, and representatives Jason Chaffetz and Mark Meadows, con-legalization. McLeod goes on to cite different legislative documents that were passed either in favor of or against this legalization because it gives perspective on the political standing, as well as gives the article a sense of legitimacy because the author is citing such credible sources.

Marijuana is a drug that is an ongoing issue in the United States for many years debating about whether it should be legal, so in 2010 the state of California proposed the “Tax, Regulate, and Control Cannabis Act” for voters to vote on which would make marijuana illegal. Charles Stimson, a former assistant U.S. Attorney specializing in crime, had strong opinions about what he thought about the issue and was paid to write an article by the Heritage Foundation where he could voice his opinion about legalized marijuana. In his article “Legalizing Marijuana: Why Citizens Should Just Say No,” Charles Stimson tries to persuade his audience, voters of California, that they should vote against legalized marijuana. He tries to persuade his audience

Healy wrote this article stating her negative opinion on marijuana, and in addition explaining why she agrees with the research. The National Institute of Drug Abuse agrees with her that marijuana is harmful to our brains and hearts, particularly younger ones. This statement tells all of her opinions on the matter, “But as I see it, in an age of responsibility, protecting our young people’s health is the stronger imperative and should rightfully keep policymakers from cozying up to this brain-toxic drug” (Healy 10). Bernadine Healy is out to convince her consumers and audience they should not agree with the legalization of marijuana in the best interest of their

As recent as 2015, big reputable news companies such as ABC have started to show their support for the topic, publishing articles such as “University of Sydney to study effectiveness of medicinal cannabis on children’s epilepsy”. This article manipulates the reader to pity the families mentioned, who must go outside the law to get medical cannabis for their children. The sympathy of the reader is manipulated to support the authors agenda, which is to show cannabis in a positive light. The author specifically chose a story which makes medical cannabis appear to be a ‘miracle drug’. In this article, the author uses several quotes from the boy’s mother such as “I was going, ‘no, it’s just too quick and too easy’” referring to the drug and the effect it had on her son’s seizures. The author wants the reader to know that the parents of this boy must go outside of the law to get medication for their child. They tried to make the reader think, “what if it was my son?” and change the reader’s perspective of the substance from a drug to something with medicinal properties. The author consistently referred to the drug as Medical Cannabis throughout the entire article to make the substance appear as medicine, even when the drug was illegally obtained. Throughout the last couple of years, the constant barrage of positive media and feedback from the public has convinced the government to finally start trials for medical cannabis in Brisbane, given these families the opportunity to gain medication legally. This is clear proof that media can influence the publics decision, and in this case, the media even went as far as legalising a drug for medical

Society’s view of the legalization of marijuana is rapidly changing. Many states have accepted cannabis as a valuable form of medicine, and some states have legalized its use for recreational purposes. Citizens operating within the parameters of established law should have the legal right to grow marijuana. Restricting adults from the independent choice to cultivate this plant creates unnecessary issues for both medical patients and recreational users, as well as a strain on the judicial system.

“Marijuana”, “pot”, or “weed” are some of the distinguished nicknames used to reference the plant Cannabis in our society. Cannabis, as defined on Webster’s online dictionary, is a “drug (such as marijuana or hashish) that comes from the hemp plant and is smoked illegally”. However, up until 1996, according to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, the use of medical marijuana has been legalized in 20 states and Washington D.C. Yet, under the Federal government, the legalization of medical marijuana in various states does not legitimize nor protect the medical use of the drug itself – it is still considered a Federal offense (The White House). The intention of the states legalizing the use of medical marijuana was to decriminalize the use of marijuana for approved medical conditions and purposes. The states which have legalized the use of medical marijuana have done so through the citizen initiative and the formal legislative process (The White House). Still, legalizing the use of medical marijuana has not been sufficient for some citizens as they are pushing for the legalization of cannabis in a whole. In fact, most recently, few states have adopted the legalization of recreational cannabis which is causing great controversy not only in government but in local state agencies as the separation of medical and recreational use is becoming blurred and forgotten. This analysis examines the new legalization of recreational cannabis and medical marijuana, and how the

In March, 2015, The New England Journal of Medicine published an article on how the legalization of marijuana affected the state of Colorado. The article, titled “Medical Marijuana's Public Health Lessons — Implications for Retail Marijuana in Colorado,” was written by the combined efforts of many individuals highly distinguished in their respective fields. The authors are: Tista S. Ghosh, M.D., a physician with a master's degree in public health from Yale University and specialized training in applied epidemiology and public health practice through the U.S. Centers for Disease Control; Michael Van Dyke, Ph.D., an Associate Professor of biochemistry at Kennesaw State University; Ali Maffey, M.S.W., the Policy and Communication Unit Supervisor

They preach on the words of how marijuana is medically usable, its economic benefits, its logicalness and how the government is restricting us from our own rights. These pro-marijuanists address the thought of how marijuana can be used to heal and save precious lives. They tell the stories of people who are grateful to marijuana. They talk about the economic benefits of marijuana and how greatly our country can be affected, and show how the American government is at a loss. The logic of marijuana uplifts the controversy to a new level, illustrating the simple yet impacting ideas that the drug brings up. And finally, the legitimate evidence of the legal and the Constitution show the reasons as to why marijuana should be legalized for the freedom that our country symbolizes. And as the controversy of marijuana continues, there is no doubt that America will liberate something that Americans

There is a salient and continuous negative stigma concerning the legalization of marijuana for medicinal purposes. The pathology that arises from this issue is a subjective matter, highly provocative because those who oppose and those who endorse present rhetoric in a very polarized manner. Like many in the medical marijuana community “…People start out a skeptic intent on researching marijuana’s harms.” (Flatow, 2014) It seems that there is a preponderance of people who have a proclivity to naturally oppose the legalization of marijuana, because there is what is called an apparent distortion in understanding. Psychiatry professor Lester Grinspoon penned a necessary explication on medical marijuana, detailing his own encounter from natural

Marijuana, is and will most likely always be the most used "illegal" drug used in the United States following tobacco and alcohol. This drug , also known as cannabis, is obtained from a plant named Cannabis Sativa, which holds the sought after chemical named delta-9-tetrahydrocannibinol, or THC (Barbour 14). This plant, when smoked, causes a "high" due to how THC interacts with the brain. But nonetheless, this paper is not based off of what marijuana is, but rather how the controversial plant has divided America into two sides, with how it should be legalized because it could provide necessary medical help to those who need cannabis, boost state income by taxing recreational use, and because the opposition exaggerates its risky effects, while on the other hand, marijuana is thought to be kept illegal because it 's immoral due to creating a high (drugs are bad!), is detrimental to society, and could damage our youths..

Weed, grass, and bud are all names for one of the most misunderstood plants in the world: marijuana. Through the use of government slandering propaganda and stereotyping, many people have tunnel vision when it comes to the controversial issue. Many view marijuana as a harmful drug, not realizing all of the economic, resourceful, and medical uses that can generate from it. These are the same people who want to keep marijuana illegal and out of the public 's hands. Only in the past twenty years has marijuana made progress with the United States Government by legalizing medical and recreational marijuana in select states. Within this short time frame, several states have seen unmistakable results with the increase in state revenue, decrease in crime rates, and overall better living for its citizens. The states that have legalized marijuana are proving to be valuable examples to the other more conservative states that are being hesitant when it comes down to legalization; “this summer, the Marijuana Policy Project, one of NORML 's [National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws] allies, announced an ambitious goal: legalize marijuana in ten additional states, including California, by 2017” (Thomson-Deveaux). Due to medical and economical findings, public opinion on marijuana has drastically altered from general disapproval to acceptance; which can not only be useful for the citizen, but prove invaluable to the patient.

Throughout the last few decades, there has been an increasing amount of prejudice regarding the usage and consumption of marijuana. Several laws have been enacted to prohibit its distribution and control the consumption of this drug. However, prohibition must be weighed against the loss of personal freedom. Countries have a responsibility to respect individual free will and the right of self-determination. We should be allowed to do whatever we find satisfying as long as it does not affect anyone else. A more critical and perhaps open view is required if this issue is to be addressed objectively and in a manner that benefits everyone. Legalizing marijuana can decrease crime, help people with chronic pain, and it can act as a significant source of money for the government.

Several topics in modern day society cause controversy, but one topic that out ranks them all is the legalization of marijuana. The main argument is whether not marijuana should be treated the same as already legalized drugs, such as tobacco and alcohol. Many Americans use marijuana illegally; the people using the drug range from the age of teens to even adults in their eighties. Marijuana is considered by most, especially in legal terms, as a dangerous drug. Although the drug is seen as such, many still continue to use it and argue it should be legalized for several reasons. Both citizens and government officials alike debate this topic. To successfully develop and argument for the legalization of marijuana

The prohibition of marijuana in the United States of America (coined by many as an essential part of the “War on Drugs”) has ultimately shown itself to be a self-destructing mission, led by ultra-conservative political leaders unaware of the opinions of the people they’ve been elected to represent. The situation we find ourselves faced with today seems like deja vu to many, as the government’s attempts to control the recreational use of marijuana reminds people of the Alcohol Prohibition from 1920-1933, known as “the noble experiment.” (Thornton) Both the prohibition of alcohol and the prohibition of marijuana have very similar traits, and these traits are evidence of just how ineffective the criminalization of marijuana is.

In October 2015, Bernie Sanders said, “Too many Americans have seen their lives destroyed because they have criminal records as a result of marijuana use. That’s wrong. That has got to change…In my view the time is long overdue for us to remove the federal prohibition on marijuana.” In our everchanging society, there is still a violent stigma surrounding the usage of marijuana, because most people are not properly informed of the facts. Cannabis is the third most widely used recreational drug, after alcohol and tobacco (About Marijuana). Yet, it is the only contender out of those three that is not legal. While marijuana is very addictive, recreational marijuana should be legalized because of the benefits it could provide for our economy and society as a result of the loss of business for drug dealers, less arrests and freeing of space in prisons, and major tax revenue.