Debate Contribution and Response

First of all, I would like to begin by saying...

My group split up into teams, and each group or person had a certain job. I was a part of the rebuttal team, so our job was to respond to Team A's main points with our own data to support our thesis. Right off the bat, I started getting antsy and angry. I don't know what it is about debates, but they bring out a new catty side of me. No matter what, nothing the other team says is correct, and I have information to prove it! The main points were spoken, and we denied them, it was definitely an adrenaline rush to prove them wrong, and I feel that we did in some cases. Overall, I feel that Team A had some strong arguments, but they went off a lot on emotions. Yes, it is important to be invested into your thesis, but it is also important to have solid facts about what is being argued. My team, Team B, also had some emotional tactics used, but it was also supported by factual evidence that supported the thesis. I honestly had no idea who would have won the debate without Rob judging. It seemed very back and forth, and I could definitely sense some anger on both sides of the argument. I used to participate in Round Table Discussions back in middle school. It is a very unique experience to compete in a debate, and I am glad that we were able to actually go through the motions of a professional debate! Thumbs up for this unit.

Below I am going to have the facts and information that I researched, and the rebuttal team used for our debate.

SUBSTANCE DEPENDENCE 

- Marijuana is currently the leading cause of substance dependence other than alcohol in the U.S. In 2008, marijuana use accounted for 4.2 million of the 7 million people aged 12 or older classified with dependence on or abuse of an illicit drug. This means that about two thirds of Americans suffering from any substance use disorder are suffering from marijuana abuse or marijuana dependence. 

http://www.cnbc.com/id/36267223

ECONOMIC DEBT

-Alcohol-related costs total over $185 billion while federal and states collected an estimated $14.5 billion in tax revenue; similarly, tobacco use costs over $200 billion but only $25 billion is collected in taxes. These figures show that the costs of legal alcohol are more than 12 times the total tax revenue collected, and that the costs of legal tobacco are about 8 times the tax revenue collected. This is an economically disastrous tradeoff.

http://www.cnbc.com/id/36267223

UNSAFE DRIVING INCREASES

-Drug-impaired driving will also increase if marijuana is legalized. Marijuana is already a significant causal factor in highway crashes, injuries and deaths. In a recent national roadside survey of weekend nighttime drivers, 8.6 percent tested positive for marijuana or its metabolites, nearly four times the percentage of drivers with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 g/dL (2.2 percent).

http://www.cnbc.com/id/36267223

DRIVING

-In another study of seriously injured drivers admitted to a Level-1 shock trauma center, more than a quarter of all drivers (26.9 percent) tested positive for marijuana. In a study of fatally injured drivers in Washington State, 12.7 percent tested positive for marijuana. These studies demonstrate the high prevalence of drugged driving as a result of marijuana use.

http://www.cnbc.com/id/36267223

Work Cited

"Why We Should Not Legalize Marijuana." CNBC.com. N.p., 20 Apr. 2012. Web. 7 Nov. 2013.