The essay, “Why I Changed My Mind on Weed,” explores Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s eye-opening research about the benefits of medical marijuana. Gupta explains why he believes marijuana is useful and the research that brought him to this conclusion. Gupta effectively convinces his audience that medical marijuana is beneficial. Persuading his audience using a combination of his credibility as both a doctor and television personality, specific evidence that makes marijuana use seem like the logical choice, and an emotional appeal through stories of marijuana helping young children and the elderly, Gupta effectively convinces readers that his claims are valid. Throughout the entire essay, Gupta builds his credibility, which makes it easier for the audience
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Using various cases that show the positive effects of marijuana makes readers question why it isn’t more accepted and widely used. For example, Gupta uses a story about a young girl named Charlotte Figi that suffered from around 300 seizures a week. After trying medical marijuana, however, her seizures decreased to only two to three per month. Gupta claims that “it is irresponsible not to provide the best care we can as a medical community, care that could involve marijuana” (Gupta 38). Gupta shows the audience that if marijuana can help people, it doesn’t make sense to continue to treat it like a dangerous drug. Also, Gupta points out the issues regarding marijuana research. Most people who are against medical marijuana argue that there is not enough research. Gupta points out that the issue lies in the fact that in order to do studies on …show more content…
Not only could the audience make a logical connection to the story of Charlotte Figi, but also an emotional one. No clear minded person would argue that medical marijuana was not the beneficial to this little girl. Using stories like this evoke a sense of empathy in the audience and make medical marijuana use seem more important. Also, Gupta explains that currently, neuropathic pain is treated by morphine, oxycodone, and dilaudid, although marijuana has been shown to be more effective. In addition to the fact that most of these medications don’t work that well, prescription drug overdose is a major problem in the United States. While someone dies from prescription drug overdose, whether accidental or on purpose, every 19 minutes, there is not one documented case of death from a marijuana overdose. Gupta questions why anyone would want people to continue to be in pain and risk accidental prescription drug overdose when the simple answer is marijuana. Using moving stories about both the positive effects of medical marijuana use and the negative effects without it, Gupta effectively appeals to his audience’s sense of emotion in order to prove his
Using various cases that show the positive effects of marijuana makes readers question why it isn’t more accepted and widely used. For example, Gupta uses a story about a young girl named Charlotte Figi that suffered from around 300 seizures a week. After trying medical marijuana, however, her seizures decreased to only two to three per month. Gupta claims that “it is irresponsible not to provide the best care we can as a medical community, care that could involve marijuana” (Gupta 38). Gupta shows the audience that if marijuana can help people, it doesn’t make sense to continue to treat it like a dangerous drug. Also, Gupta points out the issues regarding marijuana research. Most people who are against medical marijuana argue that there is not enough research. Gupta points out that the issue lies in the fact that in order to do studies on …show more content…
Not only could the audience make a logical connection to the story of Charlotte Figi, but also an emotional one. No clear minded person would argue that medical marijuana was not the beneficial to this little girl. Using stories like this evoke a sense of empathy in the audience and make medical marijuana use seem more important. Also, Gupta explains that currently, neuropathic pain is treated by morphine, oxycodone, and dilaudid, although marijuana has been shown to be more effective. In addition to the fact that most of these medications don’t work that well, prescription drug overdose is a major problem in the United States. While someone dies from prescription drug overdose, whether accidental or on purpose, every 19 minutes, there is not one documented case of death from a marijuana overdose. Gupta questions why anyone would want people to continue to be in pain and risk accidental prescription drug overdose when the simple answer is marijuana. Using moving stories about both the positive effects of medical marijuana use and the negative effects without it, Gupta effectively appeals to his audience’s sense of emotion in order to prove his