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Legalization of Marijuana

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Legalization of Marijuana
Thesis Statement:

My persuasive speech is on the topic of Marijuana Legalization. When some people hear this their mind immediately refers backs to the "Reefer Madness" phobia. Back in the 1930’s the government came out with movies and advertisements that would show people going nuts from smoking pot. They would show the smokers having recreational and unsafe sex with everyone and people trying to kills themselves and others. The movie is a cautionary tale called "Reefer Madness" and is the source of many myths surrounding marijuana. Some people hear I’m for the legalization and they automatically think I just want everyone to run around getting high. I support a legal age limit law, a DWI law, and public intoxication laws, I’m for the legalization of pot with appointed limitations, legalization is just another word for regulation. Despite what we’ve been told by government officials, marijuana prohibition does not make this world safer and that’s why I’m speaking on this subject. I want to get the truth out instead of the world believing myths and lies that were told over 70 years ago in the attempt to scare people.

Body:

1. Legalizing marijuana would separate the society of pot smokers from the market of harder drugs. In doing so this will also eliminate the so called "gateway effect". The difference between marijuana and harder drugs such as cocaine and heroin.

2. The scientific studies disproving the myths of the "gateway effect" and how this myth came about. I will also give statistics on people who smoke only pot and people who have moved onto harder drugs.

3. The comparison of alcohol, tobacco and OTC drugs versus marijuana. I will include in my comparison the safety issues of each drug, the deaths, and the accidents caused by alcohol and cigarettes.

4. Number of people that are in jail for any kind of marijuana charge. The tax dollars and government funding that support these people in jail by feeding them, housing them, bathing them

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