I am giving a persuasive speech on the legalization of marijuana in the United States... (more inside)

[Frosty3799]

... If you would be kind enough to help me out in finding some solid, reputable links to some of the following things, or just in-general links that would be great.

First off, I would like to state that I was assigned this topic, and I don't want this to turn into a 'drugs are good/bad' fight. I have to give the speech on this, so please if you aren't posting something that is relevant, then please don't post.

I have decided to approach this from the stand point that if the US legalized marijuana, then they could in turn regulate, and even tax it, like cigarettes. Also, they would be able to control the contents (i.e. no other drugs mixed in) and potency of it. There could be similar laws (concerning driving) to those of alcohol, where they could test you and you could be jailed/fined/lose your license etc.

I am looking for links to the following :

- I have heard that there are no fatalities directly caused by marijuana, if anyone knows of a link/article that proves this wrong/right, please post

- I know that some states either have, or are working on legalizing marijuana for medical reasons, which would be a step in the right direction. If anyone knows of a site with that information pleace link.

- One of my friends told me that marijuana was originally made illegal because the US was losing money on tobacco sales because people were buying marijuana from the mexicans instead.. i dunno how true this is, but if someone has a confirmation link, or a link to a real original legalization reason, that would be nice

Ok, well thank you for your help, and i hope this thread doesn't get ugly.

Josh

 

[chiwawa626]

Apparently you havent seen all the cRaZY stuff weed as done to people, i think you need to watch those commercials

 

[Gunslinger08]

A group in my class did this exact speech. They talked about how usage rates dropped in Amsterdam after it was legalized, how Canada is getting ready to legalize it, quoted some statistics about how it takes like 1000 lbs. in 15 minutes to overdose, how no deaths have ever been credited to it, etc.

Josh

 

[Angrymarshmello]

Isn't this your project/speech? Why are we doing the work for you? Look it up on Google - there's probably thousands of pro-legalization of mary-jane sites

 

[Frosty3799]

Originally posted by: joshsquall
A group in my class did this exact speech. They talked about how usage rates dropped in Amsterdam after it was legalized, how Canada is getting ready to legalize it, quoted some statistics about how it takes like 1000 lbs. in 15 minutes to overdose, how no deaths have ever been credited to it, etc.

Josh

Wow... you think you could get some links to where they found this info?? That would be awesome

Apparently you havent seen all the cRaZY stuff weed as done to people, i think you need to watch those commercials

Hah, yea i have seen those rediculous commercials...

 

[Frosty3799]

Originally posted by: Angrymarshmello
Isn't this your project/speech? Why are we doing the work for you? Look it up on Google - there's probably thousands of pro-legalization of mary-jane sites

it's my job to present the information, no saying I can't be assisted in getting it

 

[RyanM]

Originally posted by: Frosty3799
... If you would be kind enough to help me out in finding some solid, reputable links to some of the following things, or just in-general links that would be great.

First off, I would like to state that I was assigned this topic, and I don't want this to turn into a 'drugs are good/bad' fight. I have to give the speech on this, so please if you aren't posting something that is relevant, then please don't post.

I have decided to approach this from the stand point that if the US legalized marijuana, then they could in turn regulate, and even tax it, like cigarettes. Also, they would be able to control the contents (i.e. no other drugs mixed in) and potency of it. There could be similar laws (concerning driving) to those of alcohol, where they could test you and you could be jailed/fined/lose your license etc.

I am looking for links to the following :

- I have heard that there are no fatalities directly caused by marijuana, if anyone knows of a link/article that proves this wrong/right, please post

- I know that some states either have, or are working on legalizing marijuana for medical reasons, which would be a step in the right direction. If anyone knows of a site with that information pleace link.

- One of my friends told me that marijuana was originally made illegal because the US was losing money on tobacco sales because people were buying marijuana from the mexicans instead.. i dunno how true this is, but if someone has a confirmation link, or a link to a real original legalization reason, that would be nice

Ok, well thank you for your help, and i hope this thread doesn't get ugly.

Josh

Actually, Marijuana laws in this country were created for the same reason as the other laws - They were made by racist white men in power in order to oppress whichever minority at the time was bothering them most.

Information on the Original US Drug Laws

 

[NuclearFusi0n]

www.norml.org

 

[FacelessNobody]

Public Speaking is a class I tutor here at my college. Personally, I support the legalization of marijuana, but I think you're walking on broken glass trying to make this argument in one speech. I'm not saying you can't pull it off, I probably could so I'm sure you could too, but I'd strongly suggest another topic unless this is for something other than school. You're doing the smart thing by asking for sources on this material. Whatever your logic is, it had better be air tight for this topic. When you debate about hot topics like legalizing pot, abortion, evolution, etc your ability to persuade weakens with the audience's increased emotional attachment, irrationality, religious beliefs, political alignment or whatever. The more you investigate this topic, the better. As a side note, I've heard that weed was prohibited because synthetic fiber companies' only natural competitor was our good friend cannabis (which I've never smoked but I endorse it's use by others). Remember, you will sound as ludicrous to some people as those anti-marijuana ads sound to you, but present some irrefutable facts in your favor and you'll have reached someone. Good luck.

 

[0roo0roo]

prohibition.

making relatively harmless things illegal creates underground trade funding terrorists and general evil.

 

[HappyPuppy]

Rent the movie "Mary Jane" at your local video store. You will become a believer in the evils of the weed. It's the debbil!

 

[WinkOsmosis]

You may want to look at the website I made for my final project in Information in Cyberspace TLC311...

Marijuana

Look at the links section. Nothing else on the site is too useful, unless you want to hear my opinions.

 

[Frosty3799]

Thanks Machfive and NuclearFusi0n, great links.

and FacelessNobody ... I was assigned the topic by the teacher =-o it was a drawing out of a hat thing... not the greatest idea probably but oh well I will work with it.

as far as the terms of the speech, it has to be 7-8 minutes long (he is solid on this point.. and if it is out of this range your grade is automatically dropped to a C+, even if everything else is done perfectly) in extemporaneous form, and I can use statistical visual aids where needed .. such as slides in powerpoint.

FacelessNobody.. would you be willing to further assist me as I write my speech? since you help critique with other people?

thanks for the help so far guys and gals

 

[Frosty3799]

Originally posted by: HappyPuppy
Rent the movie "Mary Jane" at your local video store. You will become a believer in the evils of the weed. It's the debbil!

Would this movie realy assist me in my speech, or is it not really that factual? I would be open to renting it if it would help. Please LMK HappyPuppy

and thanks for the links, wink.

 

[RyanM]

Originally posted by: FacelessNobody
Public Speaking is a class I tutor here at my college. Personally, I support the legalization of marijuana, but I think you're walking on broken glass trying to make this argument in one speech. I'm not saying you can't pull it off, I probably could so I'm sure you could too, but I'd strongly suggest another topic unless this is for something other than school. You're doing the smart thing by asking for sources on this material. Whatever your logic is, it had better be air tight for this topic. When you debate about hot topics like legalizing pot, abortion, evolution, etc your ability to persuade weakens with the audience's increased emotional attachment, irrationality, religious beliefs, political alignment or whatever. The more you investigate this topic, the better. As a side note, I've heard that weed was prohibited because synthetic fiber companies' only natural competitor was our good friend cannabis (which I've never smoked but I endorse it's use by others). Remember, you will sound as ludicrous to some people as those anti-marijuana ads sound to you, but present some irrefutable facts in your favor and you'll have reached someone. Good luck.

Goddamn. They still haven't legalized that yet? How the hell are we supposed to overcome our genetic frailties if our government continues to crimilize Darwinism? Bastards! ;D

 

[Frosty3799]

Originally posted by: MachFive

Originally posted by: FacelessNobody
Public Speaking is a class I tutor here at my college. Personally, I support the legalization of marijuana, but I think you're walking on broken glass trying to make this argument in one speech. I'm not saying you can't pull it off, I probably could so I'm sure you could too, but I'd strongly suggest another topic unless this is for something other than school. You're doing the smart thing by asking for sources on this material. Whatever your logic is, it had better be air tight for this topic. When you debate about hot topics like legalizing pot, abortion, evolution, etc your ability to persuade weakens with the audience's increased emotional attachment, irrationality, religious beliefs, political alignment or whatever. The more you investigate this topic, the better. As a side note, I've heard that weed was prohibited because synthetic fiber companies' only natural competitor was our good friend cannabis (which I've never smoked but I endorse it's use by others). Remember, you will sound as ludicrous to some people as those anti-marijuana ads sound to you, but present some irrefutable facts in your favor and you'll have reached someone. Good luck.

Goddamn. They still haven't legalized that yet? How the hell are we supposed to overcome our genetic frailties if our government continues to crimilize Darwinism? Bastards! ;D

LoL good job taking that out of context...

anyone else have some input??

 

[SagaLore]

You can't persuade me. I know people who smoke pot, and if it became legal and more people smoked it like them, then we'd be in trouble.

 

[clamum]

Originally posted by: SagaLore
You can't persuade me. I know people who smoke pot, and if it became legal and more people smoked it like them, then we'd be in trouble.

you're assuming the general public who starts smoking it when it becomes legal will smoke it like the few people you know who smoke it.

drug prohibition is ridiculous. legalize all drugs.

 

[Anubis]

check out norml's site http://www.norml.org/
shoudl have lots of info for you there

 

[FacelessNobody]

Hehehe, here's the deal, Frosty. It's tough to help with any communications class over the net, but if you run into any roadblocks feel free to PM me. I will not critique your speech because I am not equipped to do so properly. I would need to have been through your class and have the exact description of the assignment before I could give a useful critique, which is something I never do anyway. When I tutor English, people will often hand me a paper, say "look this over" and then leave to go do something else. I usually just let their paper sit on the desk and continue socializing or whatever I was doing until they return. They come back pissed off but I tell them if they want my help they've got to want it because I won't do their work for them. I know you're not asking me to go that far, I'm just making my disclaimer up front. It's also harder to make changes once you're "done." You'll find people are more helpful along the path than they are at the destination. If you have specific questions regarding public address, you have my ear. One quick tip though, I'd suggest using sources and information from opponents of marijuana legalization and picking some helpful ideas out of there. Sources are made up primarily of places like norml.org show an obvious bias and lower your credibility. You can't persuade with lies unless you're a government.

 

[Frosty3799]

Thanks for the repies, and that sounds good FacelessNobody, I will send you a PM if i run into any problems.

 

[Frosty3799]

Thanks for the repies, and that sounds good FacelessNobody, I will send you a PM if i run into any problems.

 

[Frosty3799]

do be do... anyone else ?

 

[everman]

Has it been noted yet that the Canadian gov grows it in an underground lab for "research" purposes? It was on a tv show a while ago, maybe disc channel.

 

[Frosty3799]

Originally posted by: everman
Has it been noted yet that the Canadian gov grows it in an underground lab for "research" purposes? It was on a tv show a while ago, maybe disc channel.

And they are in the process of legalization, AFAIK