Outline

THESIS: Should marijuana be legal? What is the difference in alcohol and cigarettes being sold for tax dollars, but marijuana can’t be? Tobacco and Marijuana are both made from dried plants. Tobacco is injected with known chemicals and is linked to many deaths. Marijuana, unlike tobacco where the leaves are smoked, the flower of the plant is smoked, and has never been a direct link to a death. (.....alcohol vs. marijuana)

I.Introduction

II. What are the harms/benefits of smoking marijuana and how do they differ from cigarretts and alcohol? a)marijuana

1)harms: impaired thinking and memory; diminished balance and coordination; increased chance of heart attack; increased risk of respiratory infection; increased risk of lung cancer, mouth cancer, and cancer of the respiratory tract; and possible hallucinations. benefits:treatment of nausea often associated with cancer chemotherapy treatment; reduction of pressure in the eyes benefiting individuals with glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness in the U.S.; relief of pain often associated with cancer; and possible protection of nerves from the damage caused by multiple sclerosis;marijuana may stimulate the growth of brain cells

b)cigarretts

c)alcohol benefits:The strongest medical evidence exists for the link between moderate drinking and a reduced risk of heart disease. This might be related to alcohol's effect on the good cholesterol, A lower risk of diabetes has been seen in women and men. harms:Alcohol affects the brain and the nervous system by slowing down the drinker's reactions and making him feel tranquilized and relaxed. The liver is one of the primary targets of chronic alcohol abuse. The blood vessels found in the skin surface usually widen. Long-term alcohol use creates damage and weakens the heart's muscular tissue resulting in heart failure. Anemia and bleeding disorders.