Spencer Ramirez

Mr. Buescher
Period 3
October 23, 2013
Debate Preparation
The Motion Mari!uana shou"d be "e#a"ized at the $edera" %a"i$ornia.
Our Position Pro
Schedu"e &"ternation
Openin# Statement
Si#n Postin# Throu#h demonstrati'e, p"ausib"e, and con'incin# reasons, (e (i""
attempt to either persuade or so"idi$) )our be"ie$ that mari!uana shou"d be "e#a" at
the $edera" "e'e". *e (i"" demonstrate that there is a copious amount o$ e+uit) to
be $ound in #o'ernment ta,ation o$ mari!uana, that man) ob!ecti'e and credib"e
studies su##est mari!uana can ha'e bene$icia" e$$ects on both the mind and bod),
that crime (ou"d and actua"") has #one do(n considerab") in re#ards to mari!uana
use in "ocations (here it has been "e#a"ized, and that compared to man) other
substances that are "e#a", T-%, DB%, the primar) acti'e components in cannabis,
are considerab") "ess harm$u" i$ not at a"" compared to other substances that are
per$ect") "e#a".
.nocu"ation *e (ou"d "i/e to be#in b) statin# that (e are not in an) (a) $orcin#
this decision upon an) state #o'ernment, and that an) state #o'ernment has $u""
and understood ri#ht to disre#ard this $edera" "a(, and an) decision that state
#o'ernments ma/e in re#ard to this decision are their o(n business, and irre"e'ant
to this debate. Our opponents (i"" "i/e") a"so tr) to ma/e this a debate centered
around mora"it), ho(e'er, (e must ma/e note that an) #o'ernment "a( or
re#u"ation concernin# a substance is in re#ards to the common (e"$are and not
an) possib"e issues o$ mora"it) concernin# the substance0s use, and seein# as ho(
(e are discussin# a potentia" piece o$ "e#is"ation, mora"it) is a"so irre"e'ant in the
conte,t o$ this debate.
Ma!or Premise 1 Reasonab"e and (ide") accepted estimates su##est that the
#o'ernment (ou"d $ind much re'enue throu#h the "e#a"ization o$ mari!uana.
Minor Premise %annabis bein# re#u"ated b) the #o'ernment ine'itab") "eads to
its ta,ation. 1stimates $rom credib"e a#encies su##est that the ta, re'enue $rom
indi'idua" states (ou"d be in the bi""ions o$ do""ars.
Minor Premise Po"ice and "a( en$orcement a#encies (i"" sa'e mone) not
needin# to de'ote near") as much time and resources to the (ar on mari!uana.
Minor Premise
2urther e'idence
1
st
Rebutta"
2urther inocu"ation3succession *e must ma/e note that an) ph)sica" e$$ects o$
mari!uana use that (e re$er to in this debate on") pertains to moderate use, and
that (e do not condone abuse o$ an) substance, and neither does the #o'ernment,
e'en (hen "e#a"izin# it $or recreationa" use.
Ma!or Premise 2 4arious studies $rom reno(ned institutions imp") that not on")
are the detrimenta" e$$ects o$ mari!uana on the producti'it) o$ societ) easi")
a'oidab"e, but that it ma) ha'e some si#ni$icant bene$icia" e$$ects to the ci'i"ian
popu"ace. 5ot on") that, but statistics seem to sho( that (here mari!uana is "e#a",
crimes pertainin# to it are considerab") "esser in +uantit), and de#ree.
Minor Premise The ma!orit) o$ mari!uana users are moderate users and sti""
$unction as producti'e members o$ societ) and are misrepresented b) the 6stoner7
stereot)pe (hich on") pertains to a se"ect $e(.
Minor Premise .n p"aces (here cannabis has been "e#a"ized, crimes pertainin# to
it ha'e #one do(n, as (e"" as the number o$ users.
Minor Premise *ith po"ice not needin# to spend time on crac/in# do(n on (eed
possession and use, the) ha'e more time to dedicate to more serious o$$enders
such as thie'es, rapist, and murders.
2urther e'idence
2nd Rebutta"
2urther inocu"ation3succession Dependin#
Ma!or Premise 3 The hard sciences o$ biochemistr) and anatom) ha'e sho(n
that T-% and DB-, and in certain cases, e'en ca$$eine, do much "ess harm to the
human bod) and mind.
Minor Premise Moderate mari!uana use presents no attac/ on an an) particu"ar
or#an (hi"e ci#arettes attac/ the "un#s, and a"coho" attac/s the "i'er
Minor Premise 8sin# cannabis e'en once a month can noticeab") impro'e ones
mood and out"oo/ on "i$e, and e'en he"p brin# about creati'e artistic and scienti$ic
insi#hts.
Minor Premise Based on man) $irst hand accounts, peop"e (ith issues such as
&D-D and schizophrenia c"aim that usin# cannabis he"ps (ith their disorders and
proper strains o$ (eed e'en pro'e more e$$ecti'e at batt"in# cancer at times than
chemo or radiation therap).
2urther e'idence
Open 2orum Dependin#
%"osin# Statement
Succession to (ea/er ar#uments
Rea$$irm our stron#est points
.nocu"ate a#ainst stron#est ar#uments