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Thomas Glucksman
Dr. Guenzel
ENC 1102
3 June 2014
Rhetorical Analysis
The article Cannabis: Potent Anti-depressant In Low Doses, Worsens Depression At
High Doses is based off a study done by Dr. Gobbi of McGill University that was published in
the Journal of Neuroscience on October 24, 2007. The article summarizes and relays the findings
of the research done by Dr. Gobbi to sciencedaily.com and its readers. These findings offer a
new perspective to the evolving methods of treatment for depression suffering patients. The
essay focuses on how an artificial cannabinoid drug containing THC (the most active ingredient
in marijuana) can cause diminishing effects of depression by increasing serotonin levels in the
brain. However, when the dosage level became too high an adverse reaction occurred worsening
depression. The goal of the article is to present the findings of Dr. Gobbis study in a more
understandable way to the audience of sciencedaily.com. This piece was effective in presenting
its argument to readers by having credible sources yet the article is constrained by its short
explanation of the topic and being an older study it loses some relevance.
The article begins by presenting Dr. Gobbis neurological study on a synthetic form of
THC they call a cannabinoid. The findings are revealed in the first paragraph stating that in low-
doses this cannabinoid is an effective antidepressant. However, at a certain point when the
dosage becomes too increased a reverse effect occurs worsening depression. Following this the
author provides background information on how current antidepressants like Prozac and Celexa
function by increasing available serotonin in the brain because when serotonin levels are
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insufficient depression occurs. Dr. Gobbis study was the first to provide evidence that THC can
affect serotonin levels. The author continues by explaining the research process of injecting lab
rats with the cannibinoid and then assessing depression levels through the Forced Swim test. It
was concluded that THC acted as an antidepressant when increased activity in neurons producing
serotonin were noticed. The author presents a quote by Dr. Gobbi summing up the research and
its findings, "low doses had a potent anti-depressant effect, but when we increased the dose, the
serotonin in the rats' brains actually dropped below the level of those in the control group. So we
actually demonstrated a double effect: At low doses it increases serotonin, but at higher doses
the effect is devastating, completely reversed. Furthermore, the author gives details on Dr.
Gobbis explanation of why cannabis causes an intoxicating effect. This is so because the
chemical make-up of marijuana is very similar to a natural substance in the brain called endo-
cannibinoids, which are released during times of stress. The article begins to conclude with Dr.
Gobbi stating that there was no prior research or studies as to why smoking cannabis affected
peoples mood only the knowledge that patients with AIDS had major mood improvements when
treated with cannabis. The author presents a major problem with the findings, which is that there
is not way to control dosage levels when cannabis is smoked limiting its effectiveness as an
antidepressant. Dr. Gobbi also stated how patients who were high users of cannabis suffering
depression put them at risk for psychosis creating another problem. Finally, the argument is
wrapped up by proposing research of a new class of drugs that could stimulate endo-
cannabinoids to be produced to ease pain and depression.
The article was written to educate and inform the audience of the conclusion of Dr.
Gobbis study on a synthetic THC that could act as an antidepressant. The piece was written as a
journal entry to present the findings of Dr. Gobbis study. The rhetors exigent is to offer an
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alternative treatment to depression. It offers the idea of a low dosage synthetic THC to act as an
antidepressant. However, a fallacy exists because there is no current drug that offers a controlled
amount of this cannibinoid. Yet, the argument proposes further research into this class of drugs
that could lead to future discovery. In addition, the article was published in 2007 making it seven
years old, which affects some of the validity. There is a large gap between 2007 and now and this
field of research could have completely changed and not be represented to the audience looking
at the article today. The publication affects the arguments making them more credible because it
presents solid evidence from a study done by a doctor and psychiatrist of McGill University.
Throughout the piece contextual clues aid to the purpose and understanding of the entire article
because it generalizes the terms used making them understandable to an uneducated audience.
The essay was structured in a way that flowed and made sense to the reader. Even though
the author presents the conclusion of the study in the first paragraph, this was a good move
because it allowed the readers to have this prior knowledge to relate to the overall findings when
reading about the study and other background information. Like previously mentioned the article
opened with the conclusion of the research. Then the author addresses the study in the middle of
the article. Finally the article is concluded with a proposal of what this new knowledge can affect
in the future providing possible solutions to depression treatment. The article began by the
argument focusing on whether or not THC is an effective antidepressant yet shifted towards what
the findings could be used to solve in the future. That being a new synthetic drug modeled after
the chemical structure of cannabis to be used as an antidepressant. The structure is appealing to
the audience and presented the argument successfully. The initial claim of the argument was to
evaluate the relation between THC and serotonin levels, yet was redefined when the research
conclusion was identified. The main argument would follow a proposal to incite further research
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of a cannabinoind for human consumption as an antidepressant. Every claim presented is
supported by hard evidence from Dr. Gobbis study. However, a weak area exists when the
author presents Dr. Gobbis observation of patients with AIDS or sclerosis responding well to
cannabis treatment. There was no evidence or factual data to support this claim because it was
only observed that their general mood became happier. Yet, the ample support and evidence
throughout the rest of the argument makes up for the lack of backings in this section of the
article. An audience will still support the claims made even those lacking sufficient evidence
because the author presented the information in a very convincing way. Most of the authors
evidence came directly from Dr. Gobbis study commonly quoting her explanation and
background information of the topic. Yet, there is a lack of appealing experiences or anecdotes
included that might strengthen the appeal to the audience causing a better response.
The author appeals to the audience throughout the article. The direct audience would be
readers of sciencedaily.com yet the article would appeal especially to those suffering depression.
Since the article is geared towards finding an alternative treatment for depression, any audience
members afflicted with this can instantly relate to the study and be more interested in its
findings. Hope for a more holistic approach to treating depression appeals to the audiences
emotions as well. By Dr. Gobbi stating people treated with cannabis for multiple sclerosis or
AIDS showed a big improvement in mood disorders is a prime example appealing to those
audience members showing possibility for improvement through cannabis treatment. By using
this statement the author shows the potential for understanding this drug even more to make it
beneficial for patients. Since the article was more so presenting factual information and findings
of the study it is difficult to see that many deliberate appeals to the audience. However, the
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audience will respond well to the article because it appeals in an unbiased way just representing
the data concluded.
This article was successful in presenting the findings of Dr. Gobbis research. This is a
subject that should be very concerning of the audience because it can possibly change the future
treatment of depression. The strengths prevail in the authors explanation of each aspect of the
argument. For readers unaware of topics, an explanation described them all to an uneducated
audience. For example, when discussing the Forced Swim test the author includes a test to
measure depression in animals as a brief way of shinning light on something most readers
would have no idea what it was. Yet, the author could have caused more emotion in the general
audience that the issue doesnt directly apply to. The author still addressed the topic successfully
intriguing the audience to these new findings and possibilities for future depression management.
The most important aspect of this article would be its presentation of Dr. Gobbis study calling
for further exploration a new class of drugs. The goal of the author was to show what a research
study concluded and persuade others to pursue research of this filed in the future.









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Work Cited
Cannabis: Potent Anti-depressant In Low Doses, Worsens Depression At High Doses. (n.d.).
Retrieved from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071023183937.htm