Marijuana Unit in Health Class

[birdgirl73]

I've been sorta keeping up with this thread from a distance when I've been able to be here. As a former teacher--and as someone who enjoys debating with intelligent students, friends and arguers here and in other places--I encourage you to take the high road. Let the teacher present the information he's going to present. Then respond by saying that there are lots of very strong opposing viewpoints about the harmfulness and toxicity of cannabis and lots of solid evidence upon which those are built. Explain that there is lots of information about the benefits of cannabis and probably far more benefits that we haven't yet discovered since testing hasn't been allowed with it here. Present your argument in a way that makes it positive and credible, citing your sources. A variety of sources from books, Web sites, TV shows like the History Channel's "Illicit" series will be much more credible than just a single source. That way, although you may not ever change the teacher's viewpoint, you'll have left an impression in the back of his mind that you might have had some solid evidence upon which to base your argument. You'll also have planted the seeds of fair-and-balanced argumentative information in the minds of your fellow students, which may be what counts for more in the long run than anything else.

You can get very far in education by being respectful and having good sources. Let's hope he's a fairly secure teacher who can handle being questioned and/or debated. If he's not--and they're out there--this is why it'll come in handy to still be respectful and deferential: so that you don't doom yourself to a less-than-fair-treatment for the remainder of the time you have to endure him.

[Ganj]

Damn, this is more response then I'd ever hoped for haha

His unit on marijuana starts tomorrow. Wish him luck:thumbsup:

I can understand his desire to speak-up during class while someone openly bad-mouths the good herb. I would keep it as simple as possible, and just ask "why are states voting to decriminalize/legalize marijuana?" "Why are there doctors who condone the usage of marijuana?" and "Why do so many studies make the claim that marijuana usage leads to mental disorder?" The latter question is a set-up for the subsequent message that marijuana cannot 'make you crazy.' Granted, there will always be an individual who will blame marijuana for their discomfort, however those individuals learn two things: 1. Cannabis is not to blame for any mental discomfort, and 2. Cannabis is to be used responsibly. And because I am not bias to the idea that marijuana can and is used irresponsibly, by people who prefer to address their self-esteem through marijuana, I can firmly say that there are many users who practice bad-habits while they are stoned. Now, is that an inclining to suggest that marijuana is responsible for your son's laziness?

Just find a way to make the point that cannabis is not to blame...I thought American society would be passed the blame game by now but apparently it is easier to frame an innocent plant, then addressing a serious lack of guidance in today's youth.

[Ganj]

A problem is evident in our law system. Drugs are illegal because in all that is good an unspoken evil lurks. These drugs or miracles are regarded illegal for reasons more important to the people. Reasons like the idea that these drugs are often in high demand, and people stand to make quite a profit, and by "people" I am referring to gluttons who will stop at nothing for the mighty dollar. Also, these drugs attract organized crime.

The fact is that there is no fool-proof method for our government to control these substances for medicinal usage only. It is merely a policing matter. Ironic, no? However, we cannot expect our government to provide the budget for such a massive scale of policing. And who is to say the problem will cease even when the police investigate all leads to prove whether or not a suspect is using the herb for wickedness? The fact is that law has developed a fool-proof way of keeping the good herb illegal.