Marijuana Should Not Be Legal

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Should marijuana be legal? This issue has been argued by people throughout the past few years. Marijuana has been illegal since the early 1900’s, but scientists have recently figured out that there are some uses of marijuana that could benefit people in need, people who are suffering, and people who have diseases such as arthritis. Many people in our society try to persuade the government to legalize the use of marijuana. In the article “Should Marijuana be Legal?” ‘Soon We Will Know…’ by Dr. James L. Goddard, written in Time magazine in 1969 argues the point that marijuana can not be legalized yet, because there is not enough scientific information behind it. The argument is believable because it appeals to logic, credibility, and emotion.

Dr. Goddard appeals to logic. He uses a form of logic where he states there is no scientific knowledge to legalize marijuana. Since this article was written in 1969, there is not that much information to represent. Goddard points this out when he says, “There is little scientific information of its dangers.” However, he asks many questions that are logically decisive. Goddard states, “Does the long term usage of marijuana have harmful effects?” At the time, scientific researchers did not know the long term effects, but the author points out “the principal danger is that one may become psychologically dependent on marijuana.” Marijuana is known as a drug to be not very safe. Throughout the article the author has explained many usages of logic and reason.

Goddard effectively persuades the reader to support his views with steps and phases to marijuana testing. There are three phases, scientists need to prove their theory if the drug is safe or not. Phase I is “assuring adequate supplies of the drug for testing,” Phase II is “the study of the effects on various animals,” and Phase III “hasn’t been started on yet.” Two of the three phases have been completed. No one knows what could happen in the next couple of years. The man is a doctor, but he fully doesn’t know the answers. The phases are being taken, haven’t found an answer; yet. Still there is one test to prove. Goddard believes that marijuana should not be legal for these reasons.

The credibility in the article comes from the author.

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