Speech on Legalizing Marijuana

For my public speaking class in college, I have to give a 6-8 minute persuasive speech, and I have decided to do mine on legalizing marijuana. I need to have three main topics in the speech. So far I'm thinking on using 1. The cost of the war on drugs (I've heard $12 billion) 2. A few of the common myths about marijuana. 3. ?

Any ideas on other main topics? Maybe I shouldn't even use the ones I have. Also, what order do you think I should do these in? I'm also looking for some good research. Most of the stuff I have found on the web does not list their sources very well.

So basically I have an idea about what I want to do, but would love some input from you guys...what do you think?

The benefits of it? Like medically.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/hottopi...is/index.shtml

http://www.everyonedoesit.com/cannab...alth/index.cfm

http://www.everyonedoesit.com/cannab...info/index.cfm

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Originally Posted by Whos Carl

The benefits of it? Like medically.

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So True. and Have a Marijuana-vs-alcohol Topic

No need to thank me, actually there is bow down to King Carl nowwwwwwwww lol.

how about the economic benefits of hemp production and the myriad of other uses for it apart from getting high.

This is the format that my speech needs to follow. I'll give you my ideas so far. I also need to use a PowerPoint presentation.

INTRODUCTION

Attention Getter: Thinking of using this chart on a PP slide

.................................Annual Deaths in U.S.
Tobacco........................435,000
Alcohol............................85,000
All Illicit Drugs...................17,000
Anti-Inflammatory OTC.........7,600
Marijuana.................................0

Purpose/Topic: To encourage people to support marijuana legalization.
Motivation (Why audience should listen to me): ???

BODY

First Main Point: War on Drugs
1. War on Drugs is not effective
2. $12 billion annually spent
3. MJ use has remained stable even with much more spent on prohibition.
4. Drug use INCREASED 7 fold among 12-17 year olds after the modern War on Drugs started. The economics of prohibition favors the targeting of youths. Drug dealers don't ask for ID.


Second Main Point: ???? Maybe Amsterdam, MJ use lower among underage users than in U.S?

Third Main Point: Myths

1. "There are lots of people in rehab for marijuana use, it must be addictive"''''

I will note that It is true that marijuana is psychologically addictive, just like any other activity that is enjoyable. "If I enjoyed it, I'll do it again"

refute: Most, if not all marijuana users in rehab are there because it was a choice between that and jail-time/criminal record.

Unlike tobacco, marijuana is not physically addictive, which is said to be harder to quit that cocaine, and alcohol, whose withdrawal can be deadly if not treated.


2. "Marijuana is a gateway drug"

This is just my opinion, but I think there are 2 reasons marijuana could be considered a gateway drug, and how they could be fixed.

a. People are told all throughout shcool (DARE programs, etc.) how terrible marijuana is. They try it, and say "hey, I didn't get addicted, I didn't kill anybody, I didn't die myself, they've been lying to me about marijuana. I bet they've been lying about other drugs as well." So people try them out.

b. Because marijuana is illegal, this forces people to turn to the black market to get their pot. This opens up a whole new world where there is access to all types of harder drugs.

3. Unsure of what to use for third myth.

Restate Purpose: Encourage support of MJ legalization

Summary: "I've shown you some key points about why marijuana should be legalized, as well as exposed some of the myths you may have heard about marijuana."

Closure: ?? What would be a good closing statement to really leave an impact on the audience?

Thank you guys so much for your help.

How about tackling the issues of responsibility and freedom? It might not be as easy a topic as the medicinal uses, but I think if done properly it can be the strongest arguments for legalization.

What right does the government have to tell me what I should be doing with my body and my life, what substances I should be putting into my own body? Don't I have the freedom and the right to control the contents of my brain, to control the way I think and how I perceive the world? Shouldn't I be the one accountable for what happens to myself? Why does the law dictate that only certain states of consciousness are allowable and not others?

I am doing my junior paper on the war on drugs and our country spends way more than $12 billion a year. Most of this is spent in stopping the supply and spread to our country. These methods only stop a small percent of these drugs and are ineffective compared to rehabillitation and education on drugs. The government is wasting tons of money in futile efforts. Definately talk about their waste of money.

-peace

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Originally Posted by Lightitup44

I am doing my junior paper on the war on drugs and our country spends way more than $12 billion a year. Most of this is spent in stopping the supply and spread to our country. These methods only stop a small percent of these drugs and are ineffective compared to rehabillitation and education on drugs. The government is wasting tons of money in futile efforts. Definately talk about their waste of money.

-peace

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Would you happen to have the research where you got the information about the country spending way more than $12 billion?

One of my mates did a talk at school on that subject, forget the year tho. Just remember not to get too wraped up in the subject and forget about putting in what you realy need to get marks.

Thank you guys all so much for your help...I'm just about done with my outline and preparing My speech. The only thing I'm still looking for is my final closing statement. What do you guys think would be a good sentence or two or three that would really leave an impact on the audience?

Thanks Again. You guys Rock :thumbsup:

if you have the time to read reefer madness

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Originally Posted by Brittoker

if you have the time to read reefer madness

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Just went and picked it up from the library.

:clap: :clap:

how about how does anyone has the right to say what you can or cannot do with your own body
with a weed/plant that nature intended to give to all

use this article in it http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread21254.shtml
talk about how people have legalized posession and how they'll prove that it's fine.

just in case you need any more research check out http://www.drugtext.org/sub/marmyt1.html

theyve busted tons of myths, and its all sourced.