Hatch copy 2

Memorandum To: Dr. Kenneth Price From: Halle Hatch Date: 8 October 2014 Subject: Semester Project Proposal Introduction

The use of medical and recreational marijuana is a fast-‐growing component in the United States. The American Medical Association (AMA) periodically creates new information regarding the impact of marijuana on the human body. AMA-‐certified scientists have an expertise in collecting data correlating to the population. Part of their job includes researching past experiences of marijuana legalization to support their claims. Scientists are often the most important part in the information gathering process of drugs. The knowledge of these drugs will provide a better understanding of what the drug can do to a person’s body if used frequently. In a state where marijuana is legal, an incorrectly classified drug can prove detrimental to the drug consumers. Illegal drugs can wreak havoc on a body if used for prolonged periods of time. An AMA study showed that teens are consuming marijuana before their brains fully develop, without knowing of the full effects the drug can have on their bodies. Colorado, the only state in the United States that has legalized marijuana both medically and recreationally, allows anyone 21 years or older to purchase marijuana at a retail price. State officials cannot cite a citizen who fulfills the guidelines to legally purchase marijuana in Colorado. Marijuana remains illegal at the federal level. Other states have yet to discuss the topic of legalizing marijuana because officials know the harsh consequences a drug possesses, which classified it as illegal to begin with. To increase public health and awareness, all 50 states should defer from legalizing marijuana by keeping it an illegal substance. However, in states where marijuana remains illegal, drug consumers push persistently for the law to become passed to decriminalize marijuana. The AMA needs to provide treatment centers readily available to those who need to wean their bodies off of the addictive attributes that accompany prolonged use of marijuana. The average cost for drug addiction treatment centers for one full year, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIH) costs approximately $4,700 per person.

Dr. Kenneth Price 2 3 October 2014

On the other hand, imprisoning these drug abusers would cost approximately $24,000 per person. To make marijuana completely legal would produce increased healthcare costs as well as more health issues for drug consumers. The question of keeping marijuana an illegal substance comes into play when money becomes an issue. If all drug abusers were given treatment for their addition to marijuana, marijuana legalization would not be the controversial subject it has become today, because the abusers would receive treatment instead of drugs. AMA scientists admit that freeing one’s body of all toxins, including illicit drugs such as marijuana, will substantially increase a person’s health because that person would not consume the harmful toxins marijuana contains. My project will propose a mandatory path that all states will have to follow to ban marijuana legalization in the United States’ future. This project will include a summary of the problems, with the current outlook on recreational marijuana, and will propose a nationwide system to prevent marijuana use for all ages. I will edit my document using three editing strategies. First, I will meet with my instructor and discuss my progress and current draft on November 10. Then I will bring a revised draft of my report to class on November 17 for peer editing. After this, I will revise and edit my report for the last time before I submit my final document on November 19. My final draft will be 10-‐15 pages in length. I foresee no costs will be associated with this project, as I will be researching information using my university’s library, textbooks I already own, and state published information found on their websites.

Problems

In every state, except Colorado, anyone caught with the illicit drug of marijuana can become punishable by up to one year in jail and a minimum fine of $1000 for a first conviction alone. Every offense thereafter will result in more severe punishments. However, the general public has perceived marijuana use as an ordinary and safe activity, since Colorado made marijuana a legal substance. Colorado’s average age of first marijuana use has decreased significantly since marijuana has been legalized, giving youths an increased exposure to illicit drugs at a younger age, thus prolonging their use. Increased use creates increased medical and health problems. Not only does marijuana use decrease the number of brain cells with any user, it also prevents full growth of the prefrontal cortex in youth, which continues its growth during ages thirteen to twenty-‐five. Preventing full growth of the pre-‐frontal cortex, caused by recreational drug use, will cause youths to lack good decision-‐making, personality expression, and appropriate social behavior.


Although Colorado has legalized both medical and recreational use of marijuana, the state experienced significant changes in crime, as well as, academic and professional success. Academically, 32 percent of suspensions and expulsions were caused by marijuana use. Additionally, youth and college students are ranked higher than the national average, 39 percent higher and 42 percent higher respectively. Medically and professionally, marijuana has had serious impacts with arrestees and emergency room visits. In 2013, 48.4 percent of people arrested in Denver tested positive for marijuana use. Driving under the influence of illicit drugs causes public uproar because of the serious impacts that accompany it if something were to happen; marijuana should be thought of in the same way. Within a two-‐year span from 2011 to 2013, a 57 percent increase in hospital visits were due to marijuana. Hospitalizations caused by marijuana also increased 82 percent since it became legal. To ensure these consequences do not occur across the nation, causing serious harm to both users and bystanders, Wisconsin must defer from legalizing marijuana to protect its citizens and prevent injury. Marijuana remaining an illicit drug will cut down on police and medical attention that would not have been needed with a lower marijuana user population, ultimately saving time and resources better suited for a worthy cause.

Objectives

My technical report has three main objectives that would benefit the state of Wisconsin if they implement my recommendations:

Ø Introduce risks and harms of marijuana use at a younger age – This statewide education program will inform students of the real impacts of marijuana use at a young age. The idea behind this is to provide the real information of the harmful effects of marijuana, rather than youth experiencing outside influences from media and drug users, who give marijuana use an unrealistic “cool factor.”

Ø Mandate marijuana testing in schools and colleges – If an educator ever suspects a student carrying or using marijuana, that student will be subject to impromptu drug searches and drug testing. This will prevent drug use, not only in schools but also outside of school because marijuana can stay in one’s system for 1-‐6 days for a one-‐time user, to 45-‐90 days for heavy pot smokers. Random drug testing will keep students more accountable for what they do outside of school as much as what they bring to the school.

Ø Propose treatment centers for all ages at a reasonable cost – Treatment centers have not only been proven to significantly decrease drug use among all types of drug users, it also proves more cost effective than prison treatments. Annually, treatment for one patient costs approximately $4,700


per patient, whereas imprisonment costs around $24,000 per person. Treatment centers have not only proven more cost effective but they also promote a healthier lifestyle without the burden of imprisonment and criminal activity.

Editing

I will go through a three-‐step editing process to make my document as professional and credible as possible. During my instructor conference, I will ask questions about my formatting, diction, and information to receive feedback about ways to better my report. After my instructor meeting, peer editing will offer suggestions and constructive criticism for my report. Finally, I will carefully edit my final draft before submitting it on November 19.

Plan of Action

After receiving approval to proceed, I will continue researching the effects of marijuana and why it should not become legal in the state of Wisconsin. My research will focus on identifying the harmful side effects of marijuana and how it will affect the general public if it became legal. In addition, the state needs to implement both preventative and treatment options for those who need additional help. I will gather this evidence and present my recommendations within my report. I have been exposed to drug facts since I was young, as my mother is a Drug and Health Prevention Specialist in Goodhue County in Minnesota, also working at the federal level. My mother has given me more knowledge and information that the states and federal level uses to prevent drugs and alcohol, which has given me access to the real stories and experiences of drug abusers. My technical report is due November 19. Between now and then, I will continue to draft my report. My peer-‐editing group will evaluate and provide feedback the week before the report is due; then I will proofread my report and convert it into a pdf file. Figure 1 depicts a tentative schedule for my project:

1-‐Oct 9-‐Oct 17-‐Oct 25-‐Oct 2-‐Nov 10-‐Nov 18-‐Nov 26-‐Nov

Proposal Draft Research

Report Draft Conference Peer Edit Final Edit

Submission

Start Date

Duration

Figure 1. Tentative Time Schedule


My report will be between 10-‐15 pages in length. Headings and titles will be in a sans-‐serif format, and body text will be formatted with a serif font. I will use appropriate figures and tables to supplement my research. My final report will be divided into eight sections: I. Executive Summary II. Introduction

a. Need b. Objectives

III. Discussion a. What effects does marijuana have on youth and prolonged users? b. How will legalized marijuana impact the public?

IV. Research and Results a. What programs are necessary to prevent marijuana legalization? b. How should the state change the public’s warped opinion on legal

marijuana? V. Conclusions and Recommendations VI. Appendix A: Core Objectives for the Deferment of Legal Marijuana VII. Glossary VIII. Index

Cost Analysis

This report should not incur any costs. I will use the university’s library, online journals, and state published documents as my resources. I will produce this document using word processing and graphic software I already own.

Qualifications

I have researched marijuana and the legal impacts of it in many of my college and high school classes. My mother has given me information to use at my disposal of the harmful effects of marijuana and how the state and federal levels are working to prevent the use of marijuana, especially in teens. I have also completed courses at the University of Wisconsin-‐ River Falls that have provided me to research topics of persuasion, using marijuana legalization for my subject many times. I earned 22 credit hours in my classes:

• Controversies in Politics • English 200 • Fundamentals of Oral Communication • Advanced Composition • American Political Thought


• Comparative Politics • American Government and Politics

These additional classes only reinforced the importance of marijuana and other illicit drug information, because many college students do not understand the impact drugs, especially marijuana, has on their bodies.

Conclusion An increased awareness of marijuana effects should decrease use among Wisconsin’s citizens while explaining the harmful impact it would make on society if it were to become legal. Please direct any questions or concerns about this project to my phone at 898-‐123-‐4567 or to my email address at [email protected].

Hatch copy 2

Documents

Transcript of Hatch copy 2