Legalizing Marijuana Persuasive Speech

I. Attention Statement: Legalizing marijuana in Texas has been a long-standing debate since 2005. Recently, just last June, a major breakthrough has been made on this highly contentious issue. The legislature passed the bill into law on the legal use of marijuana for medicinal purposes. However, progress has yet to be made on legalizing marijuana for recreational purposes, which accounts for most of the criminal activities in our state.

One more affect of smoking marijuana that many people do not know about is its affect on a person?s hormones. In males, constant marijuana smoking can cause a lowered testosterone level and an increased estrogen level. It can also lead to a lower sperm count (Cannabinoids). In females, it can cause a higher testosterone level and a higher risk of infertility. Smoking marijuana is extremely dangerous for women who are pregnant; they are at a higher risk of having a miscarriage (Straight Facts).

In animal experiments THC has also been reported to lower levels of female hormones and disturb the menstrual cycle. When monkeys, rats, and mice are exposed during pregnancy to amounts of THC equivalent to a heavy human smoker’s dose, stillbirths and decreased birth weight are sometimes reported in their offspring. There are also reports of low birth weight, prematurity, and even a condition resembling the fetal alcohol syndrome in some children of women who smoke marijuana heavily during pregnancy. The significance of these reports is unclear because

Thesis: There is a significant amount of attention in today’s world on weather or not to legalize marijuana. The prohibition of marijuana is holding up the improvement of social and economic developments.

A. We need to petition to pass legislature that legalizes marijuana for patients that need it.

This is a summary of a research article. I definitely feel that this research article has importance to both the public and students of the field of psychology because there are a lot of men and women that believe marijuana use during pregnancy has no effect on the child. This type of ignorance and unawareness is what negatively affects children born into this world. Both the public and students are able to see that just because a child is born with no obvious illnesses or abnormalities, doesn’t mean that they will not be affected later on in life. Many people are unaware of the fact that prenatal marijuana exposure can lead to

Marijuana has also been linked to lower testosterone levels, sperm count and quality in men who are heavy users. Therefore, they may suffer from low libido and fertility. If a mother uses it while pregnant their baby may develop memory, concentration and problem-solving skills (Web MD).

Marijuana is the most popular illicit drug used among our teenagers in the United States. Research shows that 42% of high school seniors have smoked Cannabis, 18% within the past month and 5% smoked daily and 1 in 6 are addicts. More than 64% of teenagers reported that marijuana is very easily available (Gary). Unfortunately, some parents live in a world of denial and say “It’s not my kid. My child doesn’t smoke.” Unbeknown to us, there are unfavorable concerns for many young marijuana abusers such as the risk of addiction, poor school performances and a “gateway” to other lethal substances. Smoking marijuana increases respiratory diseases, impaired immune function, cognitive problems and motivational impairment. (National Institute on Drug Abuse). It is the leading cause of abnormal cognitive development which persists long after abstinence. Marijuana is the main drug used by children who seek emergency medical treatments and screened following an arrest or autopsies (Dennis et at).

Developmental problems along with behavioral health and learning problems are a few more of side effects the baby will have after they are born. All these things can happen to the baby from smoking marijuana.

Cannabis. Green. Kush. Ganja. Pot. Marijuana. It doesn't matter what people call it or what they think of it. It is considered illegal to cultivate, buy, sell, posses and use in Australia but people still manage to get their hands on it. However, laws can vary from state to state. From fines as low as fifty dollars [South Australia] to a diversion program/Cannabis intervention, aimed at informing and aiding offenders. Assuming that they're a non-violent offender. Cannabis is decriminalised in Australia, which means that punishments are less harsh, but it is still considered illegal, and like I said before, laws can vary from state to state.

The article describes how years of U.S. government-prevented marijuana research has resulted in a deficiency of information pertaining to the pros and cons of marijuana use. It also discusses the marijuana legalization movement in America. The article has an excerpt of Scientist Yasmin Hurd and her tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, experiments involving rats. Also the article highlights the effects that marijuana use might have on human genetics and, specifically, on adolescent development. Some of the therapeutic aspects of marijuana are also described within this article.

Thesis statement: I encourage you to enter a marijuana dispensary and inform yourself of how marijuana can be a better choice for pain relief than

It seems every decade marijuana studies show that it has no side effects on users, in turn it become more available like when some states in America had legalized it. Dr Kevin M. Gray believes that the only side effect of smoking weed is the physical addictions it causes, he believes that over 51% of all teens have used weed at least once and the biggest problem we are facing with this rapidly growing drug use is only addiction. Dr Marshall M. Gay believes that the health effects of weed isn’t that much as smoking cigarettes and doesn’t see it a threat to people’s health. “More than half (51%) of adolescents reported that marijuana is fairly or very easy to obtain.2 this ease of availability may have contributed to a recently reported "reverse gateway" from cigarettes use to marijuana”. The more ignored belief is that marijuana can lead to a variety of developmental, mental and physical side effects. The effects of smoking weed can extend to those of smoking cigarettes “studies show regular marijuana use can lead to many of the same

Every time you hear the words smoking marijuana what is the first thing that comes to your head? Maybe your first thought is that’s gross or what productive person does that? A lot of people have the notion that marijuana is just for the main purpose to make people “high” (a feeling of high attitudes and euphoria) that is why it is still considered an illegal drug in some states. Today I want to inform you that this natural drug is doing miracles for people with many serious health diseases. There are over 420 diseases that medical marijuana has improved these patients live for the better and many people have come to agree that this natural plant is actually a secret drug to happiness.

Close your eyes and imagine for a moment. You now have a child who suffers from extreme, almost constant, terrifying seizures. Unfortunately, none of the medicine prescribed in the past has worked. In fact, some medication even makes the seizures worse. Suddenly, doctors discover a medicine that has the potential to reduce seizures and sometimes stop them all together, therefore improving your child’s quality of life. They have turned that medicine into safe drops, vapor, and pills. Would you want to at least give the medicine a try? Would you want to give your child some relief? If you answered yes, then you have just proven that it is not the medicine that people feel uneasy about, it is the stigma of the name of plant the medicine comes from, marijuana.