Russell Motley

Informative Speech

Sept. 25, 2023

The Rise of Legalized of Marijuana in the United States

Introduction

I. Attention-Grabbing Introduction: More than 98 million Americans over the age of

12 have tried marijuana at least once in their lifetime, according to the National

Institute on Drug Abuse.

II. Preview of 3 main points: Today I am going to inform you about marijuana

legalization. There are three main points to touch on. First, what is marijuana and

how does it affect humans? Second, when and why did marijuana become illegal?

Third and finally, I will speak about the trend of states legalizing marijuana for

medical purposes.

Thesis/specific purpose Statement: Using these three points, I am going to inform you about

marijuana and the movement to legalize it.

Body

I. Point One: Marijuana is an illegal plant that may have an adverse effect on humans.

A. According to WebMD, Marijuana, or cannabis sativa, is a naturally occurring

plant that contains several psychoactive ingredients, including delta-9

tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

B. When THC reaches the brain, it induces relaxation and a feeling of euphoria. It

also typically heightens the senses and relieves pain.

Transition: Now that we know what marijuana is, let’s take a look and when and why it became

illegal in the United States.

II. Point Two: Marijuana has been illegal in the United States for more than a century.

A. According to an article published in Fortune magazine, marijuana has been

utilized by human civilizations for thousands of years.

B. Starting in the early 1900’s, states began outlawing cannabis because it had

become associated with violence and psychosis.

C. In 1937, through the Marijuana Tax Act, the federal government effectively

outlawed marijuana, in spite of objections by the American Medical Association.

Transition: So, I’ve informed you about marijuana and its side effects, as well as when it became

illegal in the U.S. Let’s now take a look at the current trend of states to legalize marijuana for

medicinal purposes.

III. Point Three: Medicinal marijuana is currently legalized in 31 states.

A. Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina are states that

have legalized medicinal marijuana.

B. Florida is the only state in the south that has not legalized marijuana.

C. Nine of the 31 states have legalized marijuana for the recreational use.

Transition: In conclusion, marijuana appears to be on trend to be legalized in all 50 states,

according to Time magazine.

IV. Conclusion: To advocate for legalized marijuana in Florida, contact the state

representative in your district.

A. Summarize your speech

B. End with a quote

C. Make a dramatic statement

References

Barry, Rachel Ann, and Stanton Glantz. “A Public Health Framework for Legalized Retail

Marijuana Based on the US Experience: Avoiding a New Tobacco Industry.” PLoS medicine

13.9 (2016): e1002131–e1002131. Web.

Merino, Noël, ed. The Legalization of Marijuana. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press,

2016. Print.

Turner, Win. A Practitioner’s Guide to Cannabis. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons,

Inc., 2023. Print.

Vitale, Steven A. “Dope” Dilemmas in a Budding Future Industry: An Examination of the

Current Status of Marijuana Legalization in the United States. University of Miami School of

Law Institutional Repository. Print.