Monroe Speech

Colin Holman
COMM-R110: 37185
December 12, 2022
Steven Overbey

Title of Speech: It’s Time for a Cannabis Amnesty

Thesis Statement: Federal laws in regard to cannabis are racially discriminatory in practice, in
addition to being a largely inefficient use of taxpayer resources. It’s time to take the right steps
forward, which means a federal decriminalization of marijuana and abatement and
expungement for all non-violent cannabis convictions.

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INTRODUCTION
Attention I. What do heroin, LSD, ecstacy and cannabis all have in common? If

you’re familiar with the Controlled Substance Act that was passed into

law under the Nixon Administration in 1970, then you would know that

these are all substances classified as a schedule 1 drug, meaning they are

considered the most dangerous, posing a very high risk for addiction

with little evidence for medical benefits.

TIA II. Between this legislation being passed in 1970, which has grown to

become known as the catalyst of a policy effort labeled, “the war on

drugs”, and today, our understanding of potential medical benefits of

cannabis has evolved as more research has gone into its effects. Some

widely recognized health effects of cannabis include its ability to reduce

Copyright © 2021-2020 Department of Communication Studies @ IUPUI University | Monroe Speech

 or eliminate seizures, as well as its aiding in the treatment of various

medical conditions, such as cancer, anxiety, chronic pain and glaucoma

(“Is ‘Marijuana’). With medical cannabis now legal in 31 states across

the nation, then surely a federal classification of this substance should be

more reflective of the modern understanding of its potential medical

benefits, and not a contradiction of them and of what it means to be a

“schedule 1 drug.”

III. If you’re like me, and you’re someone who wants laws in our nation to

be fair and just in practice, then you may be disappointed that there are

still many people in the United States who are still suffering from the
Credibility
legacy effects of the war on drug policies surrounding cannabis, despite

its recognized medical benefits.

IV. Federal laws in regard to cannabis are racially discriminatory in

practice, in addition to being a largely inefficient use of taxpayer

resources. It’s time to take the right steps forward, which means a federal

Thesis decriminalization of marijuana and abatement and expungement of all

non-violent cannabis convictions.

Copyright © 2021-2020 Department of Communication Studies @ IUPUI University | Monroe Speech

 (*Fill in any
BODY actions)
Main Point I. Given our modern understanding of medical cannabis benefits, it is time

for a pardon for all non-violent cannabis related offenders, many of

which are still suffering as a result of policies that have been

discriminatory in practice, in addition to being an inefficient allocation of

taxpayer money.

A. According to a report from the ACLU, marijuana related arrests over

Sub-Point
the last decade are still very high and are still racially discriminatory

in practice, despite many states having legalized cannabis for both

medicinal and recreational use within the same timeframe.

1. While marijuana arrests have decreased by 18% since 2010, that

Sub-Sub-Point trend has slowed down more recently, with more marijuana

arrests having been made in 2018 than in 2015, according to a

report from the ACLU (“A Tale”). Additionally, an

overwhelming majority of arrests, 89.6%, are for possession only

(“A Tale”).

2. The war on drug policies surrounding cannabis have also been

Sub-Sub-Point historically racially discriminatory in practice, and this is still

true as of recent. According to the ACLU report, black people are

3.64 times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession

than white people are, despite similar usage rates, and in some

states this number was actually six, eight or almost 10 times

more likely (“A Tale”).

B. In addition to laws in many states being outdated in regard to

Sub-Point cannabis, and the practice of these laws being racially discriminatory,

the resources required to enforce these laws have become a largely

Copyright © 2021-2020 Department of Communication Studies @ IUPUI University | Monroe Speech

 inefficient use of taxpayer money

1. One assessment from Jeffrey Miron of Harvard University,

which has been publicly endorsed by over five hundred

American economists, indicates that annual government

Sub-Sub-Point expenditures related to marijuana in law enforcement, court

proceedings and incarceration total to be around 7.7 billion

dollars a year (COHA)

It has now been made clear, that the legacy effects of the twentieth century
war on drugs discriminatory policies surrounding cannabis continue to have
Transition very negative effects on the trajectory of many people’s lives and are an
inefficient allocation of taxpayer resources. So what could a solution look
like to help the many affected American citizens?
Main Point II. In order to correct the effects of previously unjust and unfair cannabis

laws, two steps should be taken; federal decriminalization of marijuana

followed by abatement or expungement for non-violent marijuana

offenders.

Sub-Point A. Congress is now currently in debate on the issue of marijuana and

whether or not it should be federally decriminalized.

Sub-Sub-Point 1. As of April of 2022, The House of Representatives passed a bill

with bipartisan support to federally decriminalize marijuana, with

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi stating that the legislation is

Show Slide
“consistent with what is happening in many states across the

country” (Wilson). It is unclear what will come of this bill once it

is introduced in the Senate, but it is a good indication of the right

steps that should be taken in order for federal cannabis laws to be

in alignment with our understanding of its medical benefits,

B. Federal decriminalization of marijuana would not be enough of a step

Sub-Point taken on its own in order to bring fairness to those whose lives have

been wrongfully affected by non-violent convictions of cannabis

Copyright © 2021-2020 Department of Communication Studies @ IUPUI University | Monroe Speech

 offenses, particularly for people of color who are disproportionately

affected.

1. Further ramifications should come in the form of abatement and

expungement, depending on the situation of the affected person. All

persons who have been charged but not convicted of a non-violent

Sub-Sub-Point cannabis offense should have their cases dismissed, and all persons

who are currently convicted who are serving prison time or probation

sentences should have their sentences curtailed. These situations are

what would be considered abatement, and expungement would mean

that all persons who have already carried out non-violent cannabis

convictions should have these convictions removed from their record

entirely.

In addition to being the right steps that should be taken to correct the legacy
effects of unjust and discriminatory war on drugs cannabis policies, a federal
Transition
decriminalization of marijuana could also yield immense benefits for the
national economy.
Main Point III. Federal decriminalization of marijuana would enable states to have the

opportunity to benefit economically and to have a better allocation of

resources for drug policy.

Sub-Point A. The Miron report estimates that legalizing marijuana could generate

an additional 6.2 billion dollars in tax revenue if it were taxed like

alcohol and cigarettes (COHA). This would combine for a total of

10.1 to 13.9 billion in tax revenue when also considering the money

that would be saved in government expenditures.

B. Furthermore, the funds that were used to enforce marijuana could be

Sub-Point allocated towards drug treatment programs and to help lower overall

drug consumption, particularly for more harmful narcotic drugs. This

could also free up revenue, if you consider that, in 2002 for example,

Copyright © 2021-2020 Department of Communication Studies @ IUPUI University | Monroe Speech

 all drug abuse health costs totaled 16 billion USD (COHA)

Main Point CONCLUSION

I. Now that the issue surrounding cannabis laws has been

established, and the pathway for a solution has been proposed,

it is time for us all to take action.

Sub-Point A) I would strongly suggest that we should all be applying pressure and

writing letters to our state Senators advocating that they pass the bill

to federally decriminalize marijuana.

Sub-Point
B) Furthermore, we should also push to include within this bill

abatement and expungement for all non-violent marijuana

convictions.
Review of Main
Points II. These actions are necessary to take because federal cannabis laws are

not backed by a modern understanding of its benefits, and they are also

racially discriminatory in practice and an inefficient use of taxpayer

resources.
Clincher/tag/
exit line or Final III. It’s really important that laws in America are just and fair in practice,
Appeal
and the opportunity to federally decriminalize marijuana and pardon all

non-violent convictions related to cannabis is the only way forward to

move on from what has been a disastrous fifty years of racially

discriminatory and expensive policies surrounding federal cannabis laws.

Copyright © 2021-2020 Department of Communication Studies @ IUPUI University | Monroe Speech

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from IUPUI.

Works Cited

“A Tale of Two Countries: Racially Targeted Arrests in the Era of Marijuana Reform.” ACLU,
American Civil Liberties Union, 20 Apr. 2020, https://www.aclu.org/report/tale-two-countries-
racially-targeted-arrests-era-marijuana-reform. 
 
COHA. “Legalizing Marijuana: An Exit Strategy from the War on Drugs.” COHA, Council on
Hemispheric Affairs, 28 Dec. 2019, https://www.coha.org/legalizing-pot-an-exit-strategy-from-
the-war-on-drugs/. 

Craven, James. “Forgiveness Remedies for Marijuana Crimes.” Reason.org, Reason Foundation, June
2018,
https://reason.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/forgiveness_remedies_marijuana_crimes.pdf. 

“Is ‘Marijuana’ A Controlled Substance? The Facts and the Law.” Cannabis.org, Cannabis.org, 31
Aug. 2021, https://cannabis.org/is-marijuana-a-controlled-substance-the-facts-and-the-law/. 

Wilson, Kristin. “House Passes Bill to Federally Decriminalize Marijuana.” CNN, Cable News
Network, 1 Apr. 2022, https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/01/politics/house-vote-marijuana-
decriminalization/index.html.

Copyright © 2021-2020 Department of Communication Studies @ IUPUI University | Monroe Speech