Debate about Legalization of Marijuana - Essay Example

?Marijuana Marijuana, also known as cannabis, is a product of a naturally occurring plant that was traditionally used for medicinal and religious purposes before turning into an abused drug. Its consumption is a contemporary issue, with opposing opinions on whether the drug’s mechanization and consumption should be legalized. This is because some parties identify benefits of the drug’s consumption while others point to its associated disadvantages. At the same time, some opinions that identify adverse effects of the drug argue that the basis for which the drug is illegalized and approaches to implementing the laws do not achieve the illegalization’s motive. The latter group has, therefore, joined efforts to advocate for legalization of the drug. This paper seeks to present a rhetoric analysis of two articles on the debate about legalization of Marijuana. While one article advocates for legalization, the other adopts a balanced approach that highlights reasons for and against legalization of the drug. The first article, ‘The top ten Reasons Marijuana Should be Legal’ is authored under a corporate organization known as AlterNet. The author, in a bid to advocate for legalization of the drug, highlights a number of reasons for the opinion. According to Alertnet, even though the drug is currently illegal, its production, trade, and consumption is still high, an indicator that the legislations are ineffective. This presents the opinion that making the drug illegal has not achieved intended objectives of controlling Marijuana’s adverse effects. Alternet, therefore, aims at informing policy-makers and the public about the current policy’s irrelevance. Contrary to the perceived disadvantages and adverse side effects of the drug, the author identifies potential legal, economic, and social benefits that are associated with legalizing the drug. Marijuana for instance can be used as medicine and is less toxic as compared to some of the legalized drugs. The author argues that it “is not a lethal drug and is safer than alcohol” (Alternet, 2). Legalizing the drug, according to the author, would also promote the growth of its parent plant as an “agricultural crop” and further social value as a source of “bio-fuel to reduce carbon emissions” and help offset national balance of trade deficit by controlling outflow of money through the drug’s importation (Alternet, 1). In this approach, Alternet appeals to the society to change its perception of the drug and to exploit, with an open mind, the potential benefits of the drug in terms of agricultural harvests, income generation, medicinal value and economic benefit of enlarged gross domestic product (Alternet, p. 1, 2). The author begins the article by illustrating the current policy’s inability to meet statutory laws’ objectives that aim at prohibiting production and use of Marijuana, and instead identify the fact that a large proportion of the American population is still locked up in abusing the drug. The author follows this argument with an outlined set of reasons that approve legalization of the commodity, and this identifies his application of logos to persuade the audience that Marijuana should be legalized. This is because the article refutes effectiveness of the current laws that have illegalized the drug and succeeds in pointing out the fact that the legalization will lead to a number of benefits that include solutions to side effects associated with the drug. The writer’s approach informs the audience that legal restriction of the drug does not achieve legislation’s intentions and is inconsiderate of economic and social concerns that would benefit the society. As a result, the article gives rise to a reconsideration of the current legal position on the drug towards a more realistic set of laws that respect people’s freedom and promote economic benefits of investment in the drug that is not as harmful as other legalized drugs (Alternet, p. 1, 2). The next article, ‘Should marijuana be legalized under any circumstance?’ written by Messerli was published by Balanced Politics. The author also evokes readers’ thoughts over marijuana legalization dilemma by presenting arguments both for and against legalization of the drug. He presents social, legal, and economic grounds that support legalization. Apart from reiterating the fact that marijuana is less harmful than some of the legalized drugs, the author identifies economic benefits through “lower prices” should the drug be legalized (Messerli, 1). Illegalization also infringes people’s freedom. The author, on the contrary, argues that legalizing the drug would promote abuse of even more dangerous drugs such as “heroin, cocaine, or other hard drugs” besides undermining morality (Messerli, 1). Legalizing the drug also presents health risks through expected increased frequency of the drug related side effects as legalization is bound to increase consumption. The audience, based on the author’s presentation of both views, has the option of evaluating both the benefits of legalizing the drug and the potential disadvantages before forming a personal opinion (Messerli, 1). Messerli also adopts a logos approach in the article that kindles the audience’s critical analysis of facts pertaining to this controversial issue. The author is not biased to either side of the argument; the article informs the audience that based on the personal analysis of the benefits and adverse impacts of the drugs, a decision should be made on whether or not to legalize Marijuana. By presenting the opposing views on legalization of the drug, reasons for and reasons against, the author passes a responsibility to the audience to evaluate the issue and form an opinion. Conclusion Even though Marijuana is a naturally occurring plant, its cultivation, trade and consumption is considered illegal. This has led to mixed opinions, with some groups calling for its legalization, some supporting the current laws that have illegalized the drug, and some opinions reviewing the subject from a balanced point of view. The two articles logically inform about the drug, but Messerli is more comprehensive by presenting both sides of the argument to offer the audience the autonomy in ‘decision-making’. I have, however, learnt from both articles that Marijuana has both benefits and dangers and the current laws seem to be partial in controlling drugs. Works Cited Alternet. “The top ten reasons Marijuana should be legal.” AlterNet. N.d. Web. 22 July 2012. Messerli, Joe. “Should Marijuana be legalized under current circumstances?” Balanced Politics. 06 August 2011. Web. 22 July 2012. Read More