Maggie Whitman On Marijuana Analysis

Is Nebraska actually hindering possible benefits to its citizen by barring marijuana use? Maggie Whitman, a student at the University of Nebraska Omaha, wrote her argument in favor of marijuana legalization for an English Composition II class. Intending to persuade readers that the legalization of marijuana in Nebraska could benefit the state by adding funds to much needed government-run programs such as schools and infrastructure. Whitman’s tone implies that marijuana legalization would only benefit, not curse. Although Whitman herself is not an expert on the topic of marijuana legalization, she familiarized herself with the topic and was in the age range of her intended audience, college students. By first depicting a so-called utopian
world, Whitman immediately entraps the readers and causes the wheels of the brain to start spinning. Her thesis, or main focus of the paper, is tiered, giving marijuana legalization a new light in the sense of such harsh debate. Whitman uses the examples of Oregon and Colorado as precedent for Nebraska, by explicitly stating: “The regulated sale of marijuana will raise tens of millions of dollars of vitally needed funding…” (1). After some more explanation of the benefits of tax revenue from the legalization, Whitman begins an early rebuttal, squashing opponents qualms about possible health issues that result because of marijuana use.