To: Ms.

Diaz
From: Peter Wheeler
Date: March 21, 2015
Subject: MWA 2 Cover Letter
Rhetorical Situation
I created my document in a technical way that allowed for me to show formality in my writing. I
did this because I was working for an organization and I wanted to be able to allow my readers to
view my work as factual, appropriate, and objective. I also chose to incorporate opposing
viewpoints about marijuana in my work so that I could offer both sides of the issues without
offending either sides claims, while providing a complete picture of the issue. Also by doing
this, I left my writing open to interpretation. My writing was open to interpretation because the
reader could reflect on my opinion, while comparing it against the opinion of others, in order to
impact their personal stance on the issue. I chose the title The Legalization of Marijuana in New
Mexico because it refers to the topic of legalizing marijuana in New Mexico but does not
immediately identify my viewpoint on the issue. I did this intentionally to draw in a wider range
of readers. I felt like this title would entice readers who both support and oppose the legalization
of marijuana in New Mexico to read the document in order to determine my viewpoint and to
discover if our viewpoints were the same or differed. I also chose to incorporate some history on
marijuana in order for the readers to understand its historical content and how marijuana has
always been a part of our civilization, how it was used and why it was used. My audience also
caused me to write in a more serious and factual tone. When considering the purpose of this
assignment, I decided to study not only medicinal marijuana but its recreational uses as well.
Originally, I was only in support of legalizing marijuana for medicinal purposes, but after doing
further research, I discovered that recreational marijuana has more benefits then cons in my
opinion as well.
Areas of Interest
I would like for you to pay particular attention to my background information. I felt like I needed
to create a backstory for my stance before I could address my view in the paper. Yet, I am not
sure if this was necessary or if there is a better way to have introduced the topic. I also found it
extremely difficult to find articles and books that only pertained to legalizing marijuana in New
Mexico. I would like to know if I made use of appropriate sources because many of the sources
were not specific to New Mexico and spoke about the legalization of marijuana from a broad
spectrum. In addition, I would like you to pay special attention to my in text citations because I
was confused about how to cite the same author with multiple books. For a couple of my
citations I had an author named Ruschmann and he had two different books that I was using. I
did not know entirely if I should incorporate the authors name, date, and page number, just the
name and page, or the date of the publication and page number. I researched this issue on the
Purdue Online Writing Lab but I could not find exactly how this should be done. For example,
should it be: Yet, the danger associated with taking any drug depends on how it is used, not
whether it is legal (Ruschmann 44). Or, Yet, the danger associated with taking any drug
depends on how it is used, not whether it is legal (Ruschmann, 2010, 44).
SLO Progression
SLO D is writing in a more technical and formal fashion. I progressed in SLO D through the
LSA 2 by writing an annotated bibliography and by paraphrasing what that author said about
marijuana. I also learned how to do an annotated bibliography and became familiar with how this
should be done. Also, in MWA 2, I progressed towards SLO D through increasing my

Sunny Diaz 3/22/2015 7:54 PM

Comment [1]: In this case, you should
mention the name of the work in the
citation to distinguish. You can do this via
summary (In his book BLAH he claims) or in
the citation, (NAME BLAH page #)
MLA can be fast and loose sometimes, so no
worries.
Sunny Diaz 3/22/2015 7:55 PM
Comment [2]: Not the date usually, so the
first is preferred

knowledge of technical writing. I wrote more formally because I considered my audience. I did
this because I knew my audience would want to read research-based information that presented
my viewpoint and that of opposing viewpoints in an objective approach.
SLO H is providing others opinions into your work in a respectful fashion. In LSA 2, by creating
my annotated bibliography, I was able to provide sources with multiple opinions on marijuana.
These articles not only benefited and supported my opinion but differing opinions, as well. In
MWA 2, SLO H was further used very frequently in the opposing view section of my work. I
used SLO H in my writing because I did not want to offend someone or provide a biased
viewpoint on the legalization of marijuana in New Mexico.
SLO I is doing research and finding credible sources that have incorporated other credible
sources in their work in order to make for a better article or book. I used SLO I a lot throughout
MWA 2 and LSA 2. It was difficult for me to find many sources that pertained only to New
Mexico. However, the sources I did find were often extremely credible and were very factual.
These sources were reviewed by many people and often had multiple authors. While researching,
I initially wanted to only legalize medicinal marijuana but through my research I discovered that
I saw benefits of legalizing recreational marijuana as well.

Sunny Diaz 3/22/2015 7:56 PM

Comment [3]: You have a lot of great info,
but precise examples will be more helpful to
you during the portfolio.

Peter Wheeler
English 120
Ms. Diaz
March 18, 2015
The Legalization of Marijuana in New Mexico
The mere thought of weeds brings to mind a plant considered undesirable, unattractive,
or troublesome, especially one growing where it is not wanted (The Free Dictionary). Weeds
have existed throughout civilization causing much grief to the people having to deal with their
existence. Even in New Mexico's society today, the matter of weeds holds true to its definition as
people debate how to control them, how to prevent them, and how to use them. Marijuana is one
such weed. Marijuana is a type of hemp plant known as cannabis. It is a widely diversified weed
plant that can grow all over the world because it easily adapts to various climates and soils. It is
one of the oldest known psychoactive, mood or behavior altering, plants. Because of these
characteristics, it has been used for medical purposes for thousands of years and throughout
history in different cultures. Yet, because of moral concerns and the increased awareness of its
possible addictive nature and harmful effects amongst its users, marijuana has been heavily taxed
and illegalized. Yet, the danger associated with taking any drug depends on how it is used, not
whether it is legal (Ruschmann 44). Therefore, legalizing marijuana in New Mexico is
beneficial towards society because it has positive medicinal value, it does not cause serious harm
to users, and its regulation is wiser than its prohibition.
According to The Complete History of Medical Marijuana, marijuana has proven to be a
powerful and useful resource for mankind. It was used in India and China thousands of years ago
for medicinal purposes and during religious ceremonies. It then spread from Asia and throughout

Sunny Diaz 3/22/2015 8:05 PM

Comment [4]: Citation for this info would be
helpful since its not wide known info.

Egypt and Greece, Africa, Europe and eventually made its way to America. It was not until the
1920s that its general use and effects became known adding to its popularity as a recreational
drug. By the 1960s, its popularity amongst the criminal element, addicts, lower social and
economic classes, jazz musicians, artists, and writers which resulted in its recreational and

Sunny Diaz 3/22/2015 8:05 PM

Comment [5]: Ah, the roaring twenties.
Sunny Diaz 3/22/2015 8:06 PM
Comment [6]: Odd word choice.

medical uses being called into question and scrutinized. Ruschmann (2004) noted that marijuana
is the most commonly used illegal drug in the United States. Its use as a recreational drug,
therefore, became associated with criminals, hippies, and immigrants. This association helped
pave the way for it becoming an illegal drug and overshadowing its use for medical purposes.
Marijuana and other illegal drugs were legal in America over a century ago and used as
medicine. However, as society became increasingly knowledgeable about marijuanas addictive

Sunny Diaz 3/22/2015 8:06 PM

Comment [7]: Huh. Didnt know that.

nature and harmful effects, possessing, selling, and using marijuana became a crime. According
to Ruschmann (2010), religious leaders and lawmakers encouraged the opposition to marijuanas
use as a recreational drug and encouraged its prohibition. He notes that in 1914, Congress passed
the Harrison Narcotics Tax Act to prohibit the use of illicit drugs such as opium, morphine, and
heroin. However, the language of the law was interpreted to prohibit the use of marijuana by
doctors, and its ultimate illegalization in many states. In addition, Harry Anslinger, the head of
the Bureau of Narcotics, waged a societal campaign based on fear that resulted in marijuana
being outlawed as a recreational drug in nearly every state. However, when drug use continued,
Congress along with many states passed tougher laws with the addition of harsh sentences for
drug offenses. The War on Drugs campaign officially began in the early 1980s during the
Reagan administration. The campaign specifically targeted the use of marijuana because it was
the most widely used drug among young people (Gottfried 23). These scare tactics and their
depiction of marijuana as a gateway drug has contributed to societal support for Federal laws

Sunny Diaz 3/22/2015 8:07 PM

Comment [8]: For which we will always
remember Nancy Reagan.

forbidding marijuana use despite differing views on its legal status.

Opponents of marijuana claim that it is medically harmful towards its users. Some health
problems associated with the use of marijuana are breathing problems such as coughing and
wheezing. Chronic marijuana smoking is associated with the same problems as cigarette
smoking: increased frequency of bronchitis, emphysema, and asthma (Ruschmann 26-27).
Other harmful health problems result in damage to the immune system, hearts, lungs, and
reproductive organs. Marijuana also tends to impair vision in some users, which can be a serious
problem when driving. Smoking marijuana can damage cells, which is very dangerous to people
that have weak immune systems ("The Medical Dangers of Marijuana Use" 1). It has also been
shown to affect brain function and memory. Smoking marijuana once a day for an extended
period of time can also lead to respiratory cancer. In addition, short-term marijuana users have
had some symptoms of panic attacks, flashbacks, depersonalization, and hallucinations.
Opponents claim that marijuana is harmful towards users, as it is known to lead to paranoia,
depression, and uncontrollable aggressiveness.
Although opponents of marijuana claim it can be harmful, proponents for the legalization
of marijuana claim that it is not harmful towards users. Pacula et al. note that New Mexico is one
state among six that received federal approval for therapeutic research programs, which is
currently operational, narrowly protecting physicians, pharmacies, and patients involved in the
program (421). Early marijuana laws unjustly gained support by using propaganda scare tactics
and accusations that were unsupported by scientific evidence. In truth, however, few people that
use marijuana ever suffer from serious harm. One of the most terrifying dangers of using illegal
drugs is the possibility of dying from an overdose (Ruschmann 37). Yet, it is virtually
impossible to die from an overdose of smoking too much marijuana. In addition, marijuana does

Sunny Diaz 3/22/2015 8:08 PM

Comment [9]: This quote could be better
framedits just kinda dropped in here.
Sunny Diaz 3/22/2015 8:08 PM
Comment [10]: You have to smoke like, 500
pounds at the same time or something? Its
an amount that not even Snoop Dogg or
Willie can match.

not create addicts or criminals. On the contrary, most users experience with the drug includes
periods of ups and downs in consumption with most people giving it up in the end
(Ruschmann 39). This refutes the idea that marijuana is highly addictive and supports the notion
that few users experience any harm as a result of intermittent use. Moreover, Ruschmann asserts
that the notion of marijuana leading to other drug use is also false as tobacco and alcohol, which
are both legal substances, are the substances identified to lead to increased additional drug use
more than that of marijuana (42).
Opponents also claim that most Americans want to keep marijuana illegal. The majority
of society believes that marijuana is related to a decrease in lack of motivation, decreased
morals, and school dropouts. This way of life offends most Americans who still subscribe to a
work ethic in other words, a belief that work is good in its own right and that each of us has
an obligation to make the most of our talents (Ruschmann 54). Some experts believe that ending
the marijuana prohibition could cause widespread irresponsible use of marijuana. It is also

Sunny Diaz 3/22/2015 8:09 PM

Comment [11]: Same for this quoteneeds
to be framed.

believed that marijuana use impairs driving ability, which means that it is more dangerous for
both people using it and those that might be indirectly affected by its use through increased
automobile accidents or death related accidents. In addition, opponents claim marijuana use
helps fund organized criminals (Ruschmann 57). For example, there are illegal firearms markets
usually linked to drug sales, which is a major culprit in homicides. Moreover, some people
believe that when there are no rules against drugs, it reduces the responsibility of their use.
Opposing these views, proponents believe that marijuana use needs to be regulated not
prohibited. A 2013 state poll conducted by Research and Polling found a majority of New
Mexicos registered voters (52 percent) say they support legalizing marijuana for adults (New
Mexicos Marijuana Legalization 1). Marijuana laws are too harsh and are often

Sunny Diaz 3/22/2015 8:10 PM

Comment [12]: What do YOU think? You
have so much great research to back you up,
but your voice kinda disappears.

disproportionate with serious consequences. Laws have little effect on marijuana use and arrests
for marijuana use are higher than that of other illegal drugs. The state of New Mexico also
enacted the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act to allow the beneficial use of medical
cannabis in a regulated system for alleviating symptoms caused by debilitating medical
conditions and their medical treatments (1). This Act protects qualified New Mexican patients
and their caregivers from arrest and prosecution for possession of marijuana for medical
purposes with specified limits and having being purchased from a licensed producer (Lynn and
Erin Compassionate 1-3). This supports the notion that its regulation would decrease criminal
activity, drug trafficking, and civil liberty violations by law enforcement trying to enforce these
laws. Through regulation, marijuana products would be safer to use than other drugs.
Legalization could curb the use of harder drugs (Ruschmann 98). Marijuana prohibition forces
people to buy from black market sources that are more dangerous because of their connections to
crime. If marijuana was legalized and regulated, it would be safer with an increased chance of
crime reduction and drug trafficking. Legalization would also bring in more revenue to New
Mexico. Decriminalizing marijuana would save taxpayers money, although the savings would
be more modest because the police would still be arresting users (Ruschmann 100). If marijuana
were legalized, the government would also be able to tax it. Regulation would lead to increased
jobs and revenue in sales and income taxes. It would reduce violent crimes and lower the number
of black-market suppliers. Through regulation, people with medical conditions would have
access to prescribed marijuana and receive relief associated with certain medical symptoms.
Therefore, marijuana should be legalized in New Mexico, as it is a naturally occurring
substance that has been used throughout civilization for medicinal purposes with proven positive
medical effects. Also proven throughout history is the fact that marijuana has been given a

Sunny Diaz 3/22/2015 8:12 PM

Comment [13]: This paragraph is fairly
massive and could be cut into smaller
paragraphs

negative reputation throughout American and New Mexican culture as society has fallen victim
to scare tactics and negative propaganda. According to Hoffmann and Weber (2010), patients
would benefit from the medical use of marijuana for many debilitating medical conditions such
as HIV-AIDS, cachexia, cancer, glaucoma, epilepsy and other seizure disorders, severe nausea,
chronic pain, muscle spasms from multiple sclerosis or Crohns disease, and other conditions,
but are not able to have access to it because the law prohibits its use. This infringes on the rights
of the patients suffering with these debilitating diseases. Randy Barnett, a constitutional lawyer,
stated, previous decisions have established that there is a fundamental right to preserve ones
life and avoid needless pain and suffering in favor of legalizing medicinal marijuana (Okie
651). Medicinal marijuana also helps relieve discomfort of arthritis, nausea, and bodily pains in
these patients. And because of its low withdrawal symptoms and addictive qualities, marijuana is
a safe and non-toxic substance that greatly improves the quality of life for terminally ill patients.
Marijuana should also be legalized in New Mexico because it does not cause serious
harm to users. In strict medical terms marijuana is far safer than most foods we commonly
consume in its natural form (Gottfried 30). It is, therefore, safer than most over the counter
medicines. In fact, it is the safest therapeutically active substance known to man. It is an herb
that is grown from the earth, whereas, legal medications cause thousands of deaths annually.
Proponents for the legalization of marijuana also claim that it is impossible to die from a
marijuana overdose. Ruschmann (2010) claimed that a federal administrative law judge stated
there is no record in the extensive medical literature describing a proven, documented cannabisinduced fatality" (44). In contrast, some legal medications have toxic and often lethal effects,
whereas, marijuana does not. Moreover, according to Ruschmann, the Shafer Commission, a
commission created by Congress to study marijuana policy, found little danger of physical or

Sunny Diaz 3/22/2015 8:12 PM

Comment [14]: The end of this paragraph is
great, but the beginning is just a
restatement of other points. Consider
cutting it down.

psychological harm from natural marijuana (40).

With the passage of the Marijuana Tax Act in 1937, cannabis was made federally illegal
in the United States. However, illegalizing marijuana has failed to control its use even with the
harsh penalties associated with its sentences for possession, supply, and use. Kaltenbach, New
Mexicos sate director with the Drug Policy Alliance, notes that the prohibition of marijuana in
New Mexico has failed. She further purports that prohibition does not reduce marijuana use and
only leads to New Mexico citizens being criminalized causing racial disparities and increased
fiscal waste in the state (New Mexicos Marijuana Legalization 1). Therefore, it is clear that
laws have not succeeded in discouraging people from growing, selling, and using marijuana. In
addition, more government money is spent on the enforcement of marijuana when this money
could instead be spent on more serious and demanding crimes. The regulation of marijuana,
instead of its prohibition, would also make its use safer by reducing black-market sales with the
creation of legal controls (Ruschmann 97). This would also result in a safer substance with the
addition of consumer-protection laws monitoring its supply and safety regulations. In addition,
regulating marijuana would save taxpayers and government money, as the government could
regulate taxes on marijuana while increasing job creation throughout the state of New Mexico.
Moreover, decades of marijuana prohibition have bred violence and corruption" (Ruschmann
108). Regulating marijuana would result in less violent crimes, decreased drug trafficking,
decreased arrests, and improved product safety for its users.
Overall, marijuana should be legalized in New Mexico because of its medicinal value, its
minimal to no harm to users, and simply because its regulation is wiser than its prohibition.
Marijuana has been proven beneficial for society throughout the ages. It has been proven safe to
use and effective in the treatment of various medical conditions. The regulation of marijuana in

Sunny Diaz 3/22/2015 8:13 PM

Comment [15]: Some of these points youve
covered alreadyconsolidate.

New Mexico would decrease criminal activity, improve civil liberties, and provide safe regulated
access for medical patients. According to Hoffmann and Weber, New Mexico is one of the
fourteen states that have passed laws eliminating criminal penalties for using marijuana for
medical purposes (1453). Nearly all medicines have toxic, potentially lethal effects. But
marijuana is not such a substance (Ruschmann 38). Should society then not be able to choose
and decide for themselves what type of medicines are best for them; legal toxic medicines or
illegal natural substances? Or, should these decisions be made by individuals based on their
perceptions of how to deal with weed control, prevention, and use? As Ruschmann previously
noted, the true danger of marijuana does not reside in whether it is legal but instead in how
people decide to use it (44). Decisions are what defines society and how lives are lived. Society,
therefore, should have the right to make informed life choices and decisions about how to use
marijuana. Legalizing marijuana in New Mexico makes sense, but people must also use sense
when using marijuana. Just as society continues to deal with the troublesome reoccurring
existence of weeds, so must society continue to deal with the persistent reoccurrence of the
movement towards legalizing marijuana that, just like weeds, will continue to keep resurfacing
until society accepts its regulation in New Mexico.

Sunny Diaz 3/22/2015 8:14 PM

Comment [16]: Your conclusion is super
long and could definitely be trimmed down.
What you take out thats not a wrap up of
your argument could be reworked
elsewhere or cut entirely since your paper
has length to spare.

Works Cited
Gottfried, Ted. The Facts about Marijuana. New York: Benchmark, 2005. Print.
Hoffmann, Diane E., and Ellen Weber. "The New England Journal of Medicine." Medical
Marijuana and the Law (2010). Print.
"New Mexico's Marijuana Legalization Resolution Passes Out of Senate Rules Committee on a
Historic Vote." New Mexico's Marijuana Legalization Resolution Passes Out of Senate
Rules Committee on a Historic Vote. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2015.
Okie, Susan. "Medical Marijuana and the Supreme Court." New England Journal of
Medicine 353.7 (2005): 648-51. Print.
Pacula, Rosalie Liccardo, Jamie F. Chriqui, Deborah A. Reichmann, and Yvonne M. TerryMcelrath. "State Medical Marijuana Laws: Understanding the Laws and Their
Limitations." Journal of Public Health Policy 23.4 (2002): 413. Web.
Ruschmann, Paul. Legalizing Marijuana. New York: Infobase Pub., 2010. Print.
"SB 523 The Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act." Americans for Safe Access. N.p., n.d.
Web. 19 Mar. 2015.
"The Complete History of Medical Marijuana." - Medical Marijuana Debate Forum. N.p., n.d.
Web. 18 Mar. 2015.
"The Free Automatic Bibliography and Citation Maker." EasyBib. Web. 19 Mar. 2015.
<http://easybib.com/>.
"The medical dangers of marijuana use." the medical dangers of marijuana use. N.p., n.d.
Web. 18 Mar. 2015.
"Weed." The Free Dictionary. Farlex. Web. 18 Mar. 2015.
<http://www.thefreedictionary.com/weed>.

Sunny Diaz 3/22/2015 8:14 PM

Comment [17]: Nicely formatted works
cited!

Content
Area

Description of An Exemplary Position Paper

Points

Argument

The introduction presents an overview of different stances on the issue, __35/35

demonstrating an understanding of these views and contains a main
claim statement. The writers main claim is clearly defined and the
writer refers back to this claim throughout the paper. The writer
presents an opposing viewpoint (acknowledges a counter argument)
and successfully argues against that view. The writer uses at least two
scholarly articles or book chapters with opposing viewpoints to situate
his or her own argument. The writer has a clear understanding of these
articles and uses the research to enhance the writers own argument.

Analysis

The writer uses secondary sources (articles or book chapters) in their

_23_/25
paper to create an effective dialogue with the opinions of other writers.
The writers critical thinking skills enhance their analysis helping the
writer to present his or her own stance on the issue as an extension of
another writers argument or as a synthesis of two opposing arguments.

Organization

The paper is organized in a logical manner that enhances the flow of the 13__/15
writers argument. The writer has included an introduction and forward
thinking conclusion. Body paragraphs have topic/point sentences that
show the reader the paragraphs relationship to the argument and
concluding sentences. The writer has used transitions between ideas
and paragraphs to add to his/her ideas clarity.

Presentation
& Format

The report is free of

distracting errors of grammar, punctuation, and spelling. The report
meets the page length requirement. The writer has used Times/Times
New Roman 12 point font; the document in double spaced, and uses 1
inch margins.

Style

The writer uses an economic style meaning that the language is concise, _5_/5
not repetitive or overly wordy. Sentence structure and meaning is clear.

Cover Letter

The writer has supplied a cover letter that discusses the rhetorical
situation for their document (3 points), overview of
strengths/weaknesses (2 points), a request for specific feedback (1
point), and a reflection on the required SLOs (4 points).

Total:95 /100

_10_/10

_9_/10