And usage demonstrates thoughtful reflection consistently includes insights

Nathan Daleo
Sophia Learning
English Composition II
23 January 2023
Decriminalizing Marijuana: High-Risk or High-Reward?

The legalization of marijuana in the United States has long been debated for both medicinal and recreational use. Since being banned at the Federal level by the U.S. Controlled Substances Act of 1970 (Gieringer, 1999, as cited in Kavousi et al., 2021, p. 145), public opinion on the legalization of marijuana has shifted back and forth. Kavousi et al. (2021) overview U.S. cannabis regulation and discuss the opportunities and challenges associated with decriminalizing marijuana before offering recommendations for dealing with related concerns in their article “What do we know about opportunities and challenges for localities from Cannabis
legalization?” published in the Review of Policy Research journal. The article “Legalization, Decriminalization & Medicinal Use of Cannabis: A Scientific and Public Health Perspective,” written by Svrakic et al. (2012) and published in the Missouri Medicine journal, discusses the popular perception of cannabis but ultimately argues that smoking cannabis has adverse effects on physical and mental health and can interfere with social and occupational functioning. Svrakic et al. deduce that advocacy groups are ultimately calling for the legalization of smoking cannabis, as other methods of administration have largely been ignored. With the
decriminalization of marijuana for medicinal and recreational use becoming more imminent, common ground can be reached by limiting the availability of smokable marijuana to
recreational use while medicinal use utilizes less adverse forms of administration.

average, even though the state decriminalized marijuana in 1976. The public health concerns raised by Svrakic et al. do not suggest that marijuana should remain illegal, as the effects are not much more toxic than cigarettes. Instead, their concerns seem rooted in the advocate's motivation

for legalizing marijuana. With this in mind, the recommendations presented by both sets of authors can be used to formulate a solution that satisfies both sides of the argument.

Gieringer, D. (1999). The forgotten origins of cannabis prohibition in California. Contemporary Drug Problems, 26(2), 237–288. https://doi.org/10.1177/009145099902600204

Kavousi, P., Giamo, T., Arnold, G., Alliende, M., Huynh, E., Lea, J., Lucine, R., Tillett Miller, A., Webre, A., Yee, A., Champagne‐Zamora, A., & Taylor, K. (2021). What do we know about opportunities and challenges for localities from cannabis legalization? Review of Policy Research, 39(2), 143–169. https://doi.org/10.1111/ropr.12460

The Rogerian model of argument helps me better understand both sides of the argument. By identifying the concerns driving each side of the argument, the Rogerian model allows for a common ground to be sought. Acknowledging both sides of the argument allows for a more informed point of view.

02.How might the Rogerian approach help you gain insight into your own argumentative essay? (2-3 sentences)