Category Archives: RS 4

The YouTube video is a clip from The Dr’s the show. The topic they are talking about is whether or not marijuana should be legalized. In the video they ask people in California (where marijuana is currently legal), their view on the legalization of all marijuana in the country. The majority of the peopled interview were pro legalization due to it medicinal and economic benefits. There is mention of how obtaining a medicinal license for marijuana is easy, basically making recreational. One of the speakers (A) goes on to say that legalization would end the war on drugs, as well as voicing how she thinks marijuana laws are unjust and extreme. Speaker (B) is a pediatrician and worries that once marijuana is legalized it will increase the chances of kids getting it. Speaker (A) response with young people smoke cigarettes, yet it’s not being questioned on illegalization. Speaker (C) adds that cigarettes are going out of style and a lot of the health problems that you get with smoking a cigarette are the same as if you were to smoke marijuana. She also states that there are laws banning smoking tobacco in certain areas and speaker (A) agrees with in order to prevent public intoxication. However speaker (A) believes that adults in a free country should be allowed to smoke a “joint”. Her view is that all marijuana use should be legal as long as the person is of age. Speaker (B) in reply to her says that if the government were to do that that they might as well legalize “drunk driving”.  Another speaker (C) who is against the legalization, also states that if legalized it would harm kids (driving while intoxicated as well as harming brain development). The speaker (C) then goes as far to say that if marijuana is legalized, then so should cocaine and morphine. In response to the comparison of marijuana, cocaine and morphine, speaker (D) states they are not the same thing. Speaker (B) says she is only taking theoretically. However, speaker (A) response with if marijuana is illegal then the government should outlaw alcohol as well because it’s a drug too. Speaker (A) says that adults should have the freedom to smoke in the privacy of their own home. Speaker (C) says that in the states where marijuana is legalized, kids are getting more than before it was legal. She goes on to mention that there are studies that have proven deleterious effects that marijuana contains. While speaker (D) agrees that there are studies of deleterious affects, yet there is still the argument that THC can help reduce pain however to many people abuse the right of medicinal marijuana licenses. He does see where it can benefit some, however, the majority of people saying they need it when in reality they do not. The source teaches us that the speakers are not fully ready with all information due to the facts being repeated and them avoiding some of the questions. The audience that commented seem to see passed what they are saying they agree with speaker A who is not a doctor, then they do with those who actually are doctors (Speaker B C D). We learn that the situation of marijuana getting legalized is still a blurry topic, the see both the benefits and the harm.

This is a credible source because it allows the reader to view multiple views on the legalization of marijuana. Not only are you getting the views of doctors but you are getting the view of those who are not. Along with the speakers you have the audience who have left numerous comments on their view. The clip is originally from the show The Dr’s, a show that people watch because they trust the doctor’s views on things concerning one’s health. They do use facts in their arguments however they don’t directly state where they find them. The text does argue in what seems to be a responsible manner however at times they would cut the other off or talk over them.

A comment on the clip talks about teenagers and how they may be affected if it were to be legalized. He states that if it were to be legalized less teenagers will be able to access it. His thoughts are that when it is illegal people will have to get it from a dealer, one who does not care how old you are as long as he makes his money. However if it is legalized people will either have to show dispensaries there medicinal license or proof that they are 18 years of age. It is clear that the speaker is for the legalization of marijuana. The reader is able to see, that he does not see it as a problem for kids if it were to be legalized, through the way he says “when are these dumb people going to get this(it will not give kids easier access to marijuana by legalizing it).”

The Doctors. “Marijuana Legalization Debate .” YouTube. YouTube, 15 Aug. 2013. Web. 4 Aug. 2015.

Marijuana Legalization Debate

This is a picture in the article “City Life” by Jelani Cobb. (Press the image for a clearer view.)

Cobb, Jelani. “What Racism Has Done to Baltimore.” The New Yorker. The New Yorker, 11 May 2015. Web. 03 Aug. 2015.

This text is useful in relation to the Donald Trump tweet, because it helps others see what’s behind the Baltimore riots. It shows how the history of major issues, mainly aside from racism, could lead to this event happening. This article would be a good introduction and background information source in my paper and would highlight Trump’s flaws in credibility even more by showing how he lacks knowledge on the history leading up to the main issues of the Baltimore rioting. He only made racist remarks and failed to take into account the other issues within the city, tearing down his credibility.

As a New Yorker journalist, History Professor at The University of Connecticut, and author of “The Substance of Hope: Barack Obama and the Paradox of Progress.”, Jelani Cobb has successfully established himself as a reliable journalist in society. Regarding the Baltimore riots, he wrote the article “What Racism Has Done to Baltimore” in hopes of shedding light on the real issue at hand. “For a long time, our domestic affairs, or at least the portion of them most explicitly tied to race, have resembled a nightmare doomed to be repeated until the underlying conflict is resolved,” (Cobb 1). Background Information on Jelani Cobb can be found here. This article is credible, because the author has the knowledge and awards to write this article. He also illuminates Baltimore’s racist history and the real issues underlying the the riots in Baltimore.

Cobb starts off by mentioning a piece of Obama’s speech. He specifically calls out Obama’s statement, “This is not new,” because it shows how this crisis was always around and how we shouldn’t treat this as a new topic (Cobb 1). He also states that, aside from one, there are different instances in history in which riots against police tactics that have occurred within the African community. Cobb uses a statement from the police department to argue that the use of aggressive police tactics have become a main concern in Baltimore and society (Cobb 1). The author agreed with the mayor of Baltimore that the zero-tolerance policy has decreased the amount of crimes and homicides. That author has trouble with the amount of African American homicides occurring, because currently it is at a 189 out of 211 (Cobb 2). This highlights the real issue of “black-male-death” rates in that area, not “a homicide problem” (Cobb 2).

The author iterates that although race is an issue, regarding the Boston riots, that there are issues that extend beyond race. Sharing more historic information on Baltimore’s racism issue, Cobb uses the example of the first African American in 1910 to own his own property on a white block and how whites argued that would drive property values” down (Cobb 3). With this example, Cobb points out that the area of Baltimore started of majorly racist towards African Americans. As the city’s popularity decreases, the rate of African Americans grew within the city and shifted the area to being more crime-stricken and poor. Race isn’t a main issue, Cobb explains, but the area’s popularity worsening making the bad areas continue to stay that way and never progress.

The last thing Cobb points out is that there is a major issue with the securing of “poor, crime-prone communities” (Cobb 3). It’s not that African Americans don’t have an opportunity to impact their area through leadership positions in that area, it’s just that the cycle of bad communities in the city of Baltimore stays unchanged. He also compares Ferguson with Baltimore. Cobb brings up that Ferguson had more of a racist issue, not allowing blacks to progress in that area, whereas Baltimore has a cyclic issue of a poverty mentality.

This argument points out the history leading up to major issues associated with the Baltimore riots in early 2015 and hopes to get to the root of the problem beyond racism. The history of Baltimore explains how the city got to where it is now and in my paper would lead to the reason why Donald Trump would choose to tweet about the issues in Baltimore now.

Etolen, Nicole. “Do Public School Uniforms Prevent Bullying?” OurFamilyWorld.com. Our Family World, 05 May 2014. Web. 03 Aug. 2015.

Nicole Etolen, the Editor-In-Chief of OurFamilyWorld,shares her thoughts on the controversy of school uniforms preventing the situation of bullying. This source reflects my primary source as it continues to address the topic of school uniforms and their intended purpose. Etolen gives her personal experience in school and uses her son’s experience in school regarding uniforms.

Etolen notices that the supporters of public schools enforcing a strict dress code, are under the impression that by using school uniforms, children will prevent bullying. Instead of using statistics from another source, Etolen uses herself as a source in order to make this article credible. She had first hand experience with the school uniform vs. bullying situation and she also has her son as a credible source to make this article believable. She point out when she finished her last four years in high school wearing uniforms, she wore tights on a cold day to keep warn. When asked by peers where she purchased the tights, Etolen responded with “K-Mart.” Etolen goes on explaining that kids at her school teased her for purchasing “cheap clothing.” Etolen reminds her audience that although she was in uniform, that did not stop bullies from picking on her. Even if it was something as small as wearing discounted clothes, Etolen’s point remained that bullies will find any reason to put down someone regardless of a school uniform.

Etolen states, “A bully who wants to poke fun will find a way to do it. Unless every child is exactly the same right down to hair and eye color, there will be something to single out.” Although many may agree that wearing a uniform made them feel part of the group without having to focus on what outfit to wear the next day at school, Etolen agrees that school uniforms to prevent bullying sends a poor message to kids. “It sends a message to kids that being different is a bad thing.” Of course, Etolen shares her reason to go along with the idea public school uniform enforcement by saying that it saves money on clothes, but she is not eager that the uniforms are expensive on their own when you have to buy a certain shirt and pant; especially when certain schools require a certain brand of uniform, the cost is very pricey.

The author ends the article by reasoning with advocates of school dress codes by saying that some people like to wear uniforms for different reasons and others do not like to wear uniforms for other reasons. She then gives an open mind that perhaps “in your area, school uniforms really do help prevent bullying.”

Hutchinson, Earl. “Obama Took Big Steps Toward Ending Grotesque Drug Sentencing Laws.” La Prensa San Diego 17 July 2015. Ethnic NewsWatch. Web. 3 August 2016.

In the Barack Obama interview with VICE news on March 2015, Barack Obama confronts the controversial topic of criminalization. Obama addresses the injustice in criminalization  saying that people shouldn’t be punished for the rest of their lives for possessing marijuana, and stating that the criminal justice system is skewed to crack down the people of color and, nonviolent drug offenders such as the people of color. In newspaper published on July17, 2015 by La Prensa San Diego, Earl Hutchinson the author describes Obama’s actions to help those who have been incarcerated for pot and to end drug sentencing laws. This article clearly relates to President Obamas issues addressed on VICE News, president Obama wants to decriminalize. From La Prensa San Diego newspaper found on the database we can learn that the speaker is bias towards decriminalizing, and he is addressing this issue to all U.S residents, more specifically to African Americans. This source addresses the discrimination in arresting for marijuana that Obama describes in his speech, “They continue to wreak dire havoc in mostly poor black communities…”

Earl Hutchinson is the author of the source “Obama Took Big Steps toward Ending Grotesque Drug Sentencing Laws”. He is an author and political analyst, he also contributes to the news on MSNBC. Hutchinson is an editor of New America Media and weekly co-host at the Al Sharpton Show on American Urban Radio Network, he is host at other radio stations as well. The publisher is La Prensa San Diego, a bilingual newspaper in San Diego California and the largest Mexican American newspaper of general circulation in San Diego. It has been publishing continuously for 33 years, and it displays a Hispanic perspective view. The text in this case is written in English, and it is biased on decriminalizing, the text is clear and written in a respectful professional way. The speaker uses historical facts to help emphasize his point of view, Hutchinson begins the newspaper with flashbacking to Christmas 2013, the day in which president Obama granted clemency to eight low level drug offenders. Then he addresses the recent action Obama took to grant clemency to 46 offenders. We can conclude that the author has knowledge on President Obamas actions to decriminalize, he is most likely is well educated on issues regarding marijuana. The newspaper seems very knowledgeable of the community, considering the racial disparity in the communities and showing sympathy to those who are incarcerated and to poor black communities.

This electronic newspaper focuses decriminalization and the reasons why decriminalizing would be the best solution to end racial disparity. Hutchinson begins the source by describing President Obamas actions to help those who have been arrested for pot, he describes the Presidents clemency to eight individuals back in 2013, and then he describes his recent clemency to now forty-six offenders in which he states “Their prospects of getting out without the President’s intervention would have been slim to none.” (Hutchinson,1)The speaker then describes the corruption of the criminal justice system as mentioned by President Obama, describing that more than half of crack users are white but yet blacks make up the majority of those sentenced. The speaker is clearly arguing against the criminalization of pot, “Obama’s actions are heart lifting news for the offenders and their families and its great news for a nation that has acquiesced far too long in the thoroughly debunked notion that the nation can incarcerate its way out of the drug morass. Yet as Obama certainly knows there’s still much to be done to dig out of it.” (Hutchinson,1)

Shayla Myers

Belville, Russ. “Marijuana Legalization In Oregon.” Eugene Weekly 30 Apr. 2009. Alt-Press Watch. Web. 3 Aug. 2015

When it comes to the controversial topic of marijuana, the positive impacts of marijuana generally gets shot down. It comes to no surprise that negative thoughts of marijuana tend to rule out the positive for marijuana has a poor reputation. On the other hand, there are those who can see the positive in marijuana. For Russ Belville, marijuana is just “… a wonderful change in Oregon, but only a beginning.”

Russ Belville is the National Outreach Coordinator for the Reform and an Executive Director and Producer for National Cannabis located in Portland, Oregon. Standing as the voice of “cannabis nation”, Russ hopes to have his cannabis nation heard by hosting his own radio show. To convince activists and leaders in his community, he has inserted credible information from higher authorities and thoughtfully critiqued his audience for Ross believes they should start seeing the good use in marijuana.

Right away, Russ beings his article on a positive note. “As we celebrate the 10 years of the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program, let’s reflect on a decade of compassion and success.” By starting this, it shows how he wants his audience perceive marijuana; as positive as he began. Russ then goes on to explain how marijuana has protected many sick and disabled followed by a quote from Francis Young. “…Safest therapeutically active substance known to man.” Francis Young is a DEA Administrative Law Judge, which for Russ, shows its significance coming from such high authority.

Next, on a more serious tone, Ross then discusses problems within the community. “Marijuana’s illegality to the non-medical user means businesses will still urine-test their employees, with no exception for the medical users.” As earlier addressed, Ross doesn’t believe that the actions taken by businesses align with the good that’s come from marijuana. His stance for the nation of cannabis not stands recreational users, but also the medical users. “…Medical marijuana patients will continue to face these hurdles and never truly receive the treatment they deserve” He is bringing light the issues he feels needs to be resolved.

Russ then inserts statistics within the article. “Medical users of marijuana only represent… one in 20 of all marijuana users in Oregon. Prohibition of marijuana to those 19 nonmedical users is costing taxpayer dollars in a proven futile attempt to stop their use while Oregon looks to cut school days and programs in order to save money in this economic downturn.” Subtlety, his sarcasm leads his overall big picture of writing this article for activist and leaders. “Meanwhile that one medical user faces high medicine prices… job loss…because we deem it illegal for the other 19 adult users.”

Towards the end of his article, Ross discusses the irony behind marijuana’s’ Schedule I status. Apparently, the government ranks drugs in schedules that classifies from I to V. “… the ‘dangerous’ Schedule II drugs to the relatively safe Schedule V drugs.” Being said, marijuana is a Schedule I drug. Ross then reasons why. “There is a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision.” This insert has brought attention to an obvious issue, but then he goes on adding his own commentary. “Despite the fact that only 9 percent of marijuana users develop dependence, compared to 15 percent for alcohol and 32 percent for tobacco.” For Ross, marijuana is “mis-scheduled” and needs to be re-evaluated. To him marijuana is a wonderful change, but “only a beginning.”

National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre. “Effects of cannabis on the teenage brain NCPIC + Turning Point.” YouTube. YouTube, 18 Aug. 2014. Web. 3 Aug. 2015

The controversy of whether marijuana effects the human brain has been argued for years.  More specifically how it effects younger adults and whether or not it will eventually effect them as adults.  The video, Effects of cannabis on the teenage brain NCPIC + Turning Point by the National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre explain how the brain of a developing teenager works and how marijuana could effect their development as they mature.  It makes a connection with the first article, in that they both explain how during the teenage years is when people are the most sensitive to marijuana and how they are more capable to result in drastic side effects as they grow older.  First  off, the video begins by explaining how the brain of a teenager begins to develop with time and how there are different circuits in the brain that help develop certain traits.  It demonstrates how there are three main circuits that are developing throughout these teenage years, it includes, learning and memory, motivation, and mood.  The intended audience for this video would be for those who believe that marijuana causes no danger to the growing brains of children, this video is for those who think marijuana should be legalized because they don’t see how it effects users.  The real audience would be anybody that would be interested in learning about marijuana or anybody who came across the video on YouTube, whether they agree or not.

I found this video credible because of the organization that made the video, the National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre, showed deep knowledge in this specific topic.  The organization is from Australia and based on comments that I saw, many people log onto their websites and watch their videos online.  The organization demonstrates that they are knowledgeable on the topic because of the many different videos they make related to marijuana.  After looking up more of their videos and saw how informed they were and how they talked about how the brain is effected by marijuana which then literally effects everything you do throughout the day, it showed me that they are a credible source.   Not only do they talk about the effects in the brain specifically however, also on many other marijuana related topics.  Their argument is very informative and one can tell that the organization is against the legalization of marijuana because of the research done on how t effects the brain.

As I mentioned before, the video focuses on 3 main circuits of the brain, the learning and memory circuit, motivation and mood.  “Ensuring that our brain is wired in the right way during our teenage years with strong and healthy brain circuits is critical to our future and how we get the most in life,” the video explains, followed by a brief description of how each of those 3 circuits work and how the endocannabinoid system helps keep everything in order.  It continues with showing how the usage of marijuana can effect the flow of how the circuits work and can cause damage to the brain.  Next stating examples of how marijuana effects each circuit individually, mentioning,  “Short term memory is loss is a common characteristic of long term heavy cannabis use,” “Cannabis use can also lead to loss of motivation, heavy uses can feel detached and disinterested in things you used to like,” “It can also lead to low self confidence that in turn effects your mood,” which then follows by stating that marijuana effects teenage users much more because of the stage that their brain is in, which is still developing.  The National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre based on not only this video but many others and their website, believe that marijuana destroys brain cells and causes many dangers to the developing brain.