Marijuana Should Not Be Legalized

Olivia French

English 1250- Elements of Speech

Section 12S

Due: 11/20/14

Marijuana SHOULD NOT be legalized

INTRODUCTION:

Within the last decade, the idea of legal marijuana use has risen to one of the most talked about topics in the United States. According to the National Institute on Drug Use, “Marijuana refers to the dried leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds from the hemp plant Cannabis sativa, which contains the psychoactive (mind-altering) chemical delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), as well as other related compounds” (NIDA, 2014).  The use of Marijuana has taken the United States by storm. I request you to stand with me in my fight against the legalization of marijuana. By protesting with me in my fight, it will keep the citizens of the United States  safe, decrease crime costs, and keep parents worry-free.

BODY:

1. To start with, your stand against the legalization of marijuana will keep the citizens of the United States safe.

1. “In federal prisons, the median amount of marijuana for those convicted of possession is 115 pounds or 156,000 marijuana cigarettes” (Drug Legalization, 2010).
2. Legalization of marijuana would increase demand for the drug which could cause unintended but predictable consequences.
3. Legalizing marijuana will increase the number of underage users.

1. Other than safety, supporting to be against legalizing marijuana will help the United States decrease in crime costs.

1. Legalizing marijuana will increase number of drug impaired driving in the United States.
2. In a study of seriously injured drivers admitted to a Level-1 shock trauma center, more than a quarter of all drivers (26.9 percent) tested positive for marijuana (CNBC, 2010).
3. For example, “Los Angeles, police report that areas surrounding cannabis clubs have experienced a 200 percent increase in robberies, a 52.2 percent increase in burglaries, a 57.1 percent increase in aggravated assault, and a 130.8 percent increase in burglaries from automobiles” (Stimson, 2010)

1. Lastly, standing against legalizing marijuana will help to keep the parents of the United States worry-free.

1. As stated previously, legalizing will increase the use of underage users.
2. Marijuana is easily accessible to youths with 38% of 8th graders, 68% of 10th graders and 82% of 12th graders reporting that it is fairly easy or very easy to get marijuana. (Friese, B. & Grube, J., 2013)
3. Parents will have to worry more about their children’s whereabouts, and who they are hanging around because of the legalization of marijuana.

CONCLUSION:

        As a result, legalizing the use of marijuana has a number affects that the citizens of the United States regarding safety, crime costs, and parental control. Marijuana is one of the commonly abused drugs in the United States today. It is the reason behind some of our criminals in the federal prisons, what our children are trying to consume, and the reason for some of the car accidents across the United States. Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug among US teens with 13% of 8th graders, 29% of 10th graders and 36% of 12th graders having used it in the past year. (Friese, B. & Grube, J., 2013). It can be addicting and is sweeping across our nation one ounce at a time. Think of the younger generation to come, and what this drug can do to them before their future begins. Support the fight against the legalization of marijuana.