This was a debate assignment for Health Policy class during my MHA. I thought it was very fun and interesting.

1. The CHRONIC
Debate
“Federal Laws Prohibiting the Distribution and Use
of Medical Marijuana”
Adam Mattox, Amber Khalil,
Meghan Hatfield, and Lee Putney

2. Intro

3. Resolution
Federal legislation should be
passed allowing the distribution
and use of medical marijuana

5. Affirmative Argument

6. Video

7. Affirmative Argument
Affirmative Argument

8. Negative argument

9. Affirmative Rebuttal
Pauls rebuttal video here

10. Negative Rebuttal
Steve’s rebuttal video here

11. Summary
Affirmative
• Evidence marijuana relieves
pain, nausea, vomiting and
other symptoms
• Clinical benefits outweigh
risks
• State laws: supremacy
clause
• Regulate and tax
Negative
• Health issues
• Illegal trafficking
• Better treatments
• Pathway drug
• Lack of data

12. References
Adali, Leyla. MedSci Discoveries: Medical Marijuana Uncovered!
February 22, 2013. http://www.nature.com/scitable/blog/medsci-
discoveries/medical_marijuana_uncovered (accessed October 10,
2013).
Gupta, Dr. Sanjay. CNN Health: Why I changed my mind on weed.
August 8, 2013. http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/08/health/gupta-
changed-mind-marijuana/index.html?hpt=hp_t5 (accessed October
10, 2013).
Lane, Charles. The Washington Post: Medical Marijuana is an insult
to our intelligence. October 9, 2009.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postpartisan/2009/10/medical_
marijuana_is_an_insult.html (accessed October 10, 2013).
ProCon.org. Medical Marijuana: Top 10 Pros and Cons: Should
Marijuana be a medical option? May 6, 2009.
http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID
=000141 (accessed September 30, 2013).

13. References
• Colorado Medical Marijuana Sales Data. (2012). Retrieved October
19, 2013, from Colorado Department of Revenue:
http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/Revenue-
Main/XRM/1251633259746
• Povich, E. S. (2013, May 14). Huffington Post. Retrieved October 19,
2013, from Not So Fast: Marijuana Payoff May Not Materialize:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tag/marijuana-tax-revenue
• The University of Utah. Cannabis in the Clinic?: The Medical Marijuana
Debate. 2013.
http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/addiction/issues/marijuana.html
(accessed October 10, 2013).