My Topic Is Marijuana Locate The Topic You Chose In Week 1

My Topic Is Marijuanalocate The Topic You Chose In Week 1 Using The O

My topic is marijuana. Select two viewpoints from those listed on the "Opposing Viewpoints in Context" page about marijuana. Write a 200- to 300-word essay including an introduction to your topic and brief discussion of why people might think differently about it, an explanation of the two viewpoints, and an analysis of the intellectual standards applied to each viewpoint.

Explain the two different viewpoints you selected, aiming to clarify the reasoning behind each stance. For each viewpoint, identify one intellectual standard of thinking that is applied well and one that is lacking.

Paper For Above instruction

Marijuana remains one of the most debated substances in contemporary society, eliciting a wide range of opinions based on varying societal, medical, legal, and moral perspectives. Some individuals support legalization, citing potential economic benefits, medicinal applications, and individual rights. Conversely, opponents emphasize health risks, potential for abuse, and social consequences. These divergent views stem from differing priorities—public health versus personal freedom, regulation versus prohibition. The debate involves complex considerations of scientific research, moral values, and societal impact, which contribute to the contrasting viewpoints on marijuana use.

One prominent pro-legalization viewpoint asserts that marijuana has medical benefits and should be accessible for therapeutic purposes. Advocates argue that criminalizing marijuana damages individuals' lives and burdens the legal system. They often rely on empirical evidence showing medicinal efficacy and economic growth potential from regulated markets. Their reasoning demonstrates the intellectual standard of clarity—presenting straightforward benefits and evidence. However, this viewpoint may lack depth in evaluating long-term health outcomes, reflecting a deficiency in thoroughness.

Opposing this, critics emphasize the health risks associated with marijuana, including addiction and adverse mental health effects. They argue that legalization could increase usage among youth and exacerbate social problems. Supporters of this view utilize the standard of consistency, arguing that the health dangers are consistent with known effects of substance abuse. Yet, they sometimes overlook scientific ambiguity and the potential benefits, indicating a lapse in intellectual humility—failing to fully acknowledge opposing evidence.

References

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Hall, W., & Weier, M. (2015). Assessing the public health impacts of legalizing recreational cannabis use in the USA. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 97(6), 607–615.

NIDA. (2022). Is marijuana safe and effective? National Institute on Drug Abuse. https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/marijuana

Pacula, R. L., & Sevigny, E. L. (2014). Marijuana liberalization policies: Why we can’t learn much from policy evidence. Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, 33(1), 212-222.

Smart, R., & Pacula, R. L. (2019). Marijuana and youth: Policy implications. Pediatric Clinics, 66(1), 59-73.

Wilkinson, S. T., & Wapner, M. J. (2016). Medical marijuana: A healthcare perspective. Journal of the American Medical Association, 315(18), 1899–1900.

Newsome, R. (2020). Legalization and public health. Harvard Public Health Review, 27, 122-130.

Reuter, P., & Pollack, H. (2014). How should marijuana be regulated? The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com

Zimmerman, M., & Morgan, J. P. (2018). The social and legal dimensions of marijuana use. Social Science & Medicine, 206, 89-97.

Hall, W., & Carter, A. (2018). What has research told us about the adverse health effects of cannabis? Addiction, 113(10), 1838-1844.