I think that Katie’s argument against marijuana serves as an argument against alcohol as well, and if we accept her argument that marijuana should be kept illegal then we should similarly accept the argument that alcohol should be made ILLEGAL. Both are mind altering drugs, both cause “disorientation” which CAN be dangerous, especially when operating a motor vehicle. Sure, there are possibly long term health effects related to marijuana use (as under-reported and undocumented as they might be, I’ll grant her that point out of charity). However, there are also serious health effects related to drinking alcohol (liver damage, stomach cancer?) So what is the real difference? Does Katie really believe that alcohol should also be illegal, as it poses the same “danger” as marijuana (actually more dangerous, as you cannot OD on marijuana, but you certainly can on alcohol)? Or is there some other reason she has failed to cite that differentiates the two drugs? After all, if there IS no difference (aside from one being legal and the other illegal, which is not even a relevant difference), then we must conclude that alcohol use/consumption must ALSO be made illegal. If you can bite that bullet, fine. If not, perhaps the argument needs some rethinking.

Also, I want to point out that marijuana doesn’t cause hallucinations. That is factually incorrect.

Second, I want to point out a serious flaw in her argument. Katie seems to assume that if we legalize marijuana, that it would become MORE dangerous than keeping it illegal (I pull this from her assumption that if marijuana use becomes legal, that she might run into stoned drivers). Well, the fact is, she might run into high drivers as it is, while marijuana is still illegal. If legalized, there is no reason to assume that there would not be laws similar to those that make it illegal to drink and drive, especially if the effects and risks are the same. In all actuality, the risk of running into a stoned driver would remain exactly the same as it is now.

If anyone cares to debate this issue further, I will check back in.

Okay, so there are issues with the article. But the point is that legalization condones behavior. There is a reason drinking and driving is illegal. And sure, there may be don’t smoke and drive laws, but legalizing the substance will come first. I’m not going to debate. I just think it’s dangerous and harmful.

cate,

I don’t think that legalizing something necessarily means condoning it. For instance, abortion is legal, but many people do not condone abortion. There is no law against lying, but that doesn’t mean that anyone thinks it is the right thing to do, let alone support it. To say something is legal or illegal is to say that it is either permitted or not permitted, not to say that it is necessarily morally acceptable or unacceptable. To vote in favor of a law that would legalize marijuana is to say that you believe people should be allowed to make their own decisions, and determine for themselves if marijuana is something they want to use or not.

I feel that neither article was written very well. The first one, Morgans, completely lacks grammatically and it appears that she/he is very new to how to properly put together an argument and moreso, how to clearly state her/his thoughts so that they are not coming out in a confusing manner. I couldn’t even finish reading it due to the skill level.

As for the second argument, I feel that it is also lacking but where it really needs help is how it becomes too “personal”. A healthy debate shouldn’t feel so venomous and self involved.

All in all, I find it hard to enjoy reading either of these but I’d take the second posters style ANY day over the first one. To the first poster…I say this in all honesty…if your hoped field of study involves anything regarding writing, choose a different path. It’s not workin’ for ya.