Composing papers 2 and 3

Differences between essay 2 and essay 3
1) The brain storming process was different in essay 2 because once I picked out my ads, the only thing I had to do was analyze their appearance and message. In essay three I had to choose a topic and based on that do research to support my argument.
2) Essay 2 was composed of 3 middle paragraphs analyzing each of my ads, where as essay 3 had two middle paragraphs making points to support my argument and one paragraph to acknowledge other points of view.
3) Essay 2 took less time for me to write because once I had my ads, I could easily analyze and compare them by looking at them. Essay three took much longer because I had to do a lot of research about the topic and then write about my main points supporting my argument, which took some time to think about. Also, I took some time to cite each of my sources.

Final Position Paper

Robyn Harvey

Paper #3

12/3/15

Recreational Marijuana

 For years marijuana has had a bad reputation as an illegal drug that should never be available for consumers to purchase. Americans may be afraid that letting this drug into our communities could have negative consequences such as increased marijuana related crimes. On the contrary, many benefits can be found from selling marijuana in dispensaries across the U.S. In his article for USA Today, Trevor Hughes mentions a quote from Governor John Hickenlooper in which he states that people who were smoking marijuana before it was legal still are, except now they can actually do good by paying taxes. By giving Americans access to legal dispensaries, their money will go towards important causes funded using tax money instead of creating more crime by paying a drug dealer. Marijuana should be legal in all 50 states in order to raise tax money and help law enforcement reduce drug related crimes.

Some people may argue that marijuana should stay illegal because, like any other drug, it gets you high and impairs judgment. However, alcohol has similar effects to marijuana and is still legal because it is something that many adults want to enjoy. Contrary to what most people believe, marijuana is a non-addictive drug for most users. According to the National institute on Drug Abuse, “It is estimated that 9 percent of people who use marijuana will become dependent on it.” Alcohol can be just as addictive, if not more. Also, people may be concerned that legalizing this kind of drug will increase the number of drug related deaths in the U.S. However, unlike alcohol, prescription painkillers, or any other illegal drug, it is not possible to overdose from marijuana. Studies from Leaf Science have found that “Because cannabinoid receptors, unlike opioid receptors, are not located in the brainstem areas controlling respiration, lethal overdoses from Cannabis and cannabinoids do not occur.” 

            If legalized, marijuana can be sold in dispensaries that put taxes on their products. These taxes would benefit the states because it would go towards paying for important causes; the state of Colorado has already begun to put these taxes to good use. According to Trevor Hughes of USA Today, "The school-construction money comes from a 15% tax levied on wholesale sales from growers to recreational marijuana retailers. Much of the rest of the tax money is being dedicated toward drug-abuse education, research and substance abuse treatment." Money is always needed for education, especially in this day and age where budget cuts are being made left and right. Also, funding for substance abuse treatment and drug education is necessary to help Americans get back on their feet again. However, not every state has to follow in Colorado’s footsteps. Other states can use their taxes to fund other things such as the disabled or people who cannot take care of themselves.  Either way, the taxes taken from marijuana dispensaries would go towards the greater good of each state.

            Legalizing marijuana will decrease crime rate across the United States. With recreational marijuana off the list of illegal activity that the police have to worry about, they can focus on more significant or harmful crimes. In an article from Drug Policy following Washington State’s status after 1 year of legalizing marijuana, "The state is now saving millions of dollars in law enforcement resources that were previously used to enforce marijuana laws." When marijuana is legal, there is one less factor contributing to the war on drugs, helping law enforcement crack down on more lethal substances. Tamar Todd, Director of Marijuana Law and Policy at the Drug Policy Alliance states that "By shifting away from unnecessary marijuana arrests and focusing instead on public health, Washington is better positioned to address the potential harms of marijuana use, while also diminishing many of the worst harms of the war on drugs." Citizens may be concerned that since marijuana is now legal to access for adults, the accessibility rate for youth will increase. However, according to Drug policy statistics "Youth marijuana use has not increased since the passage of I-502." If all states follow Washington's lead in making recreational marijuana legal, the costly battle against marijuana use will no longer be an issue.

            So far Washington, Oregon, Colorado, and Alaska are the only states to have legalized recreational marijuana. These states have received the benefits that come from marijuana dispensaries and put tax money towards substantial causes. Law enforcement in these states can now worry less about marijuana related crimes and focus more on public health, safety, and deadly drugs. If the other 46 states vote to make recreational marijuana use legal, they will see the same benefits that have already helped so many communities.

 

           

Works Cited

“Can You Overdose on Marijuana?” Leaf Science. 26 Aug. 2014. Web. 27 Nov. 2015

Hughes, Trevor."Colo. Pot Users Helping Build Schools With Tax Dollars" USA Today. USA Today. 17 Feb. 2015. Web. 11 Nov. 2015.

“Is Marijuana Addictive?” National Institute on Drug Abuse. National Institutes of Health. Sept. 2015. Web. 27 Nov. 2015.

 “Marijuana Legalization in Washington State: One-Year Status Report”  Drug Policy. Drug Policy Alliance. 6 July 2015. Web. 27 Nov. 2015.

Analyzing an argument part 2

1) What is the claim?
A) The main point the author is trying to make is that marijuana should be legal for recreational use in order to reduce crime and raise tax money.
B) There is a clearly stated thesis but it is at the beginning of the first paragraph when it should be at the end
2) What support does the author offer for the claim.
A) The author gives two main reasons the support the claim. First, that selling marijuana in dispensaries will raise taxes to be spent on important causes. Second, that with recreational marijuana off the list of drugs for law enforcement too look out for, they can focus of bigger issues.
B) Facts and statistics from various websites back up these claims
C) The reasons are plausible and sufficient
3) How evenhandedly does the writer present the issue?
A) Yes, a few counter arguments are acknowledged
B) The writer deals with these by presenting facts from credible sources that counter the opposite position.
C) She treats the other arguments respectfully.
D) Her arguments are appropriately qualified without sweeping judgments.
4) What authorities or sources of outside information does the writer use.
A) Each source is used with quotes from articles featured in the websites.
B) Each source is credible with sufficient facts and statistics included in each.
C) Each website is from the either 2015 or 2014
5) How does the writer address you as the reader?
A) The writer assumes that most people know what marijuana is and that it is a drug that has been illegal in most states
B) The language doesn't include the reader very much

Analyzing an argument

1) What is the claim?
A) The main point the writer is trying to make is that gun laws are not enforced enough today, and that there are too many loop holes allowing unfit owners to buy guns.
B) The clearly stated thesis is "Building on existing laws and making them stricter will allow for only those Americans who deserve it to be able to obtain a gun."
2) What support does the writer offer for the claim?
A) One reason she uses is that laws prohibiting certain people to own guns is weak and easily evaded.
A second reason is that there are too many loopholes for private sellers to sell to people without a background check. Another reason is that it is not required for gun owners to store their guns in a safety device.
B) She uses evidence such as facts and statistics from various web sources to support these reasons
C) These reasons are plausible and sufficient
3) How evenhandedly does the writer present the issues?
A) The writer mentions a counter argument when she states "Many believe that enforcing more gun control laws would take away their constitutional right which they then believe is unmoral and unfair"
B) She then addresses this by stating why it is untrue using facts from a credible source.
C) Counter arguments are addressed respectfully
D) Her arguments are appropriately qualified without sweeping generalizations
4) What authorities or sources of outside information does the writer use?
A) Each source is used mainly with no quotations, just paraphrasing.
B) The sources used are credible unbiased websites with facts and statistics.
C) Each source is from 2015 with the exception of one from 2009
5) How does the writer address you as the reader?
A) The writer assumes that the writer somewhat knows what is being discussed because the majority of Americans know that guns exist and than it is illegal for certain people to be buying them.
B) The reader is included in the beginning paragraph when the writer asks you to imagine 30,000 people standing in front of you and that these people are all someone's child, best friend, or maybe even soul mate.
C) I sense that we share some of the same beliefs because I too think that gun laws should be enforced to make our communities safer.

postition paper draft

Robyn Harvey

Paper #3

11/30/15

Draft

Recreational Marijuana

            Marijuana should be legal for recreational use in all 50 states. Many benefits may come from selling marijuana in dispensaries across the U.S. Like any other drug, people are going to use it regardless of if it is legal or not, this way they will at least be paying taxes to fund other important issues instead of creating more criminal activity by paying a dealer. On the contrary, some people may argue that marijuana should stay illegal because, like any other drug, it gets you high and impairs judgment. However, alcohol has similar effects to marijuana and is still legal because it is something that many adults want to enjoy. Contrary to what most people believe, marijuana is a non-addictive drug for most users. According to the National institute on Drug Abuse, “It is estimated that 9 percent of people who use marijuana will become dependent on it.” Alcohol can be just as addictive, if not more. Also, people may be concerned that legalizing this kind of drug will increase the number of drug related deaths in the U.S. However, unlike alcohol, prescription painkillers, or any other illegal drug, it is not possible to overdose from marijuana. Studies from Leaf Science have found that “Because cannabinoid receptors, unlike opioid receptors, are not located in the brainstem areas controlling respiration, lethal overdoses from Cannabis and cannabinoids do not occur.”  

            If legalized, marijuana can be sold in dispensaries that put taxes on their products. These taxes can be good for the states because it would go towards paying for important causes. The state of Colorado has already begun to put these taxes to good use. According to Trevor Hughes of USA Today, "The school-construction money comes from a 15% tax levied on wholesale sales from growers to recreational marijuana retailers. Much of the rest of the tax money is being dedicated toward drug-abuse education, research and substance abuse treatment." Money is always needed for education, especially in this day and age where budget cuts are being made left and right. Also, funding for rehabilitation and drug education is necessary to help Americans get back on their feet again. However, not every state has to follow in Colorado’s footsteps. Other states can use their taxes to fund other things such as the disabled or people who can’t take care of themselves.  Either way, the taxes taken from marijuana dispensaries would go towards the greater good of each state.

            Legalizing marijuana will decrease crime rate across the states. With recreational marijuana off the list of illegal activity that the police have to worry about, they can focus on more significant or harmful crimes. In an article from Drug Policy following Washington State’s status after 1 year of legalizing marijuana, "The state is now saving millions of dollars in law enforcement resources that were previously used to enforce marijuana laws." When marijuana is legal, there is one less factor contributing to the war on drugs, helping law enforcement crack down on more lethal substances. Tamar Todd, Director of Marijuana Law and Policy at the Drug Policy Alliance states that "By shifting away from unnecessary marijuana arrests and focusing instead on public health, Washington is better positioned to address the potential harms of marijuana use, while also diminishing many of the worst harms of the war on drugs." Citizens may be concerned that since marijuana is now legal to access for adults, that the accessibility and rate for youth will increase. However, according to Drug policy statistics "Youth marijuana use has not increased since the passage of I-502." If all states follow Washington's lead in making recreational marijuana legal, the costly battle against marijuana use will no longer be an issue.

            So far Washington, Oregon, Colorado, and Alaska are the only states to have legalized recreational marijuana. These states have received the benefits that come from marijuana dispensaries and put tax money towards substantial causes. Law enforcement in these states can now worry less about marijuana related crimes and focus more on public health, safety, and deadly drugs. If the other 46 states vote to make recreational marijuana use legal, they will the see the same benefits that have already helped so many communities.

           

Hughes, Trevor."Colo. Pot Users Helping Build Schools With Tax Dollars" USA Today. USA Today. 17 Feb. 2015. Web. 11 Nov. 2015.

“Is Marijuana Addictive?” National Institute on Drug Abuse. National Institutes of Health. Sept. 2015. Web. 27 Nov. 2015.

“Can You Overdose on Marijuana?” Leaf Science. 26 Aug. 2014. Web. 27 Nov. 2015

“Marijuana Legalization in Washington State: One-Year Status Report”  Drug Policy. Drug Policy Alliance. 6 July 2015. Web. 27 Nov. 2015.

 

           

Incorporating sources effectively

1. In an article by Sam Becker on the Cheatsheet website, he provides insight about how legalizing marijuana is helpful to the states when saying "While the federal government is still holding fast to all-out illegalization, states around the country are chipping away at marijuana laws to the benefit of local economies and even law enforcement professionals."

2.  In his article for USA Today, Trevor Hughes mentions a quote from Govenor John Hickenlooper in which he states that people who were smoking marijuana before it was legal still are, except now they can actually do good by paying taxes.

3. According to Trevor Hughes of USA Today, "The school-construction money comes from a 15% tax levied on wholesale sales from growers to recreational marijuana retailers. Much of the rest of the tax money is being dedicated toward drug-abuse education, research and substance abuse treatment."

Works Cited

Becker, Sam. "A Look Inside Marijuana Dispensaries and How They Work." The CheatSheet. 14 Dec. 2015. Web. 19 Nov. 2015.

 

Hughes, Trevor."Colo. Pot Users Helping Build Schools With Tax Dollars" USA Today. USA Today. 17 Feb. 2015. Web. 11 Nov. 2015.

 

Smith, S.E. "Why we need to finally legalize marijuana" The Daily Dot. 6 Nov. 2014. Web. 19 Nov. 2015.

collaborative: spriggs article vs. our articles

We all agreed that Spriggs made a convincing argument, and proved her point in evidentiary support.  Specifically, she showed how local farming strengthens local economies, and reduces financial and environmental costs of shipping foods (produce, dairy, etc…) around the world.

2.       She addressed the counter-argument by giving it credibility, but said it is important to buy food that grows naturally in the environment around you, as much as you can.  She also stated that small farms are more efficient, despite the common misconception that larger farms produce more food.

3.       We said that using pathos, Spriggs can effectively persuade the reader that there is a need for people to buy locally.  By pointing out that almost all glaciers will be gone in National Parks by 2050, and talking about the treatment of animals she is able to establish her argument’s credibility.  It gives the reader a sense of responsibility in the issue.

4.       The picture of the semi – trucks, give you a visual of the environmental issues she is talking about.  They allow the reader to see just how big they are, and likely how much gas they use.  They also break up the text and give a visual aid.