Persuasive Essay: Marijuana Vs. Tobacco

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Nyles Austin English 101 Persuasive Essay May 3, 2015 Marijuana vs. Alcohol/Tobacco Did you know that “9 out of 10 smokers start before the age of 18, and 99% start smoking by age 26” (Tobacco Facts and Figures, 2015)? More than 20 million Americans have passed away due to smoking since 1964 and that amount doesn’t include just smokers but second hand smokers as well (Tobacco Facts and Figures, 2015). On top of that 1 in 6 Americans binge drink within a month, about 4 times the what? (Alcohol and Public Health, 2014). The harms of drinking and smoking vary in numerous ways. With that said, why hasn’t marijuana been legalized all over the country? Marijuana is a safer recreational substance that should be legalized in a similar way.…show more content…
More or less it’s been good and bad. I ask why hasn’t marijuana been legalized across the country only because America has accepted much worse. There are substances sold daily that are far more damaging to the people of United States and its communities. Alcohol and tobacco is a substance that can cause long-term and short-term damage to the body. Alcohol alone can cause “high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, liver disease, digestive problems” as well as depression, anxiety, and more (Alcohol and Public Health, 2014). Tobacco isn’t any better. It can cause Cancer, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, and more. Tobacco use can also affect people who aren’t smoking. Second hand smoking is what it’s called. This affects a lot more people than many would expect. Second hand smoking can cause an increase of developing heart disease by 25 to 30%. It can also increase the risk for stroke by 20 to 30% (Smoking and Tobacco Use, 2014). The list of affects doesn’t stop there either. Second hand smoking can cause lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (Smoking and Tobacco Use, 2014). Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is “the sudden, unexplained, unexpected death of an infant in the first year of life” (Smoking and Tobacco Use, 2014). As a reminder, these are things that you can encounter just from being exposed to tobacco smoke. As much harm these substances can
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