Differing Methods of Approaching the Marijuana Debate

There are many different uses for marijuana and reasons it should be legalized, or remain illegal. The main argument that always comes about is the possibility of the economic gains that could be brought forth through legalization. The article “Drug Markets: A Classroom Experiment” by Gwendolyn Alexander Tedeschi, Published in The American Economist, takes a look at the economics of illegal drug markets. In the work Tedeschi presents the findings of a classroom experiment on said markets, and gives the necessary information for other economic educators to replicate the experiment. However, Tedeschi takes no specific stance on marijuana; she simply aims to prove you can apply economic logic to controversial issues such as drug markets. Conversely, in “The Patriots Guide to Legalization” by Kevin Drum, Published in Mother Jones magazine, Drum takes a definitive stance on the legalization of marijuana. Drum makes an effort to sway his reader’s opinion on marijuana prohibition by using outside quotes and sources, but fails to cite any of them. Drum also employs a catchy title and an illustration to draw his readers in, and keep their attention. To quite the contrary, Tedeschi uses none of these tactics in her writing, therefore leading me to believe “Drug Markets: A Classroom Experiment” is academic while Drum’s “A Patriots Guide to Legalization” on the other hand is clearly non-academic.

The first comparison contrasts the use of opinion and strong stance Drum chose to take with that of Tedeschi’s piece, which remained neutral on the subject. For instance In “A Patriots Guide to Legalization” Drum takes a definitive pro-marijuana stance on the topic. Drum’s opinion on the matter shines through in various spots throughout the piece...

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... through the use of titles and illustrations, or with an abstract. Drum’s piece took a specific stance on marijuana, used sources he did not cite, and employed a catchy title and illustration. All of which prove it was a non-academic article. Contrary to Drum’s methods, Tedeschi did not take an opinionated stance on marijuana, she cited every source she used, and employed the use of an abstract as opposed to a catchy headline and illustration. Hence proving the fact that “A Patriots Guide to Legalization” by Drum is non-academic and “Drug Markets: A Classroom Experiment” by Tedeschi is academic.

Works Cited

Drum, Kevin. “The Patriots Guide to Legalization.” Mother Jones 34.4 (2009): 49-52. Wilson select plus. Web. 12 May 2010.

Tedeschi, Gwendolyn Alexander. “Drug Markets: A Classroom Experiment.” Am Econ 51.1 (2007): 75-84. Wilson select plus. Web. 12 May 2010