Lapp 1

Casebook

My essay will attempt to predict the effects of nationally legalized marijuana on crime

rates and car accident rates. I want to know if marijuana will make communities more or less

secure. I will need to examine how these statistics have been affected in places where marijuana

is legal, a law enforcement’s perspective on the subject, analyses of areas before and after having

legalized marijuana, and regulations on marijuana where it is legal.

Fischer, Benedikt, et al. “Toking and Driving: Characteristics of Canadian University Students

Who Drive after Cannabis Use--An Exploratory Pilot Study.” Drugs: Education,

Prevention and Policy, vol. 13, no. 2, Apr. 2006, pp. 179–187. EBSCOhost,

sinclair.ohionet.org:80/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&d

b=eric&AN=EJ747559&site=eds-live.

In this source, the authors provide data and conclusions about a study conducted to

correlate cannabis use and driving patterns. The researchers studied the rates at which cannabis

was used before driving a car. They concluded that a majority of the respondents felt that

cannabis negatively impacted their driving and judgement-making ability, but the effects were

not as severe as alcohol use. The source also introduced ways in which to prevent cannabis use

and driving based on the results of the study.

The authors’ purpose in this article is inform readers of this enlightening study into the

popularity of cannabis, and how it can easily affect a motorist’s ability. The audience of this

piece is most likely the scientific and political community, as this research would be viewed by

other scientists to gain knowledge on the subject, and politicians would want this information to
 Lapp 2
 

strengthen their arguments. This piece was published in 2006, in Canada. Marijuana use is much

more socially acceptable and used more often in Canada than in the US. Also, marijuana was

illegal in 2006 in Canada, however it was recently legalized nation-wide. This will affect the

source because they want to fully understand an illicit drug’s impact, where people do not easily

talk about it, and strengthens the credibility of the source.

The first author listed is Benedikt Fischer, yet all authors have some affiliation with

either the University of Toronto and/or the Center for Addiction and Mental Health. This means

that the authors are credible writers who are regarded as professionals on the subject. Their study

was also approved by Research Ethics Boards, which ensure that a study is legitimate. This

source also cites several other professional documents with research and data to support the

argument of this piece.

I will use this source in my paper to strengthen my arguments against legalizing

marijuana because of its widespread effects on drivers. This evidence is also convincing because

those who have driven while under the influence of cannabis admit to the drug impairing driving

abilities. One of my focuses in my paper is the effects of this drug on driving, which is the topic

of this source.

Kerr, David C. R., et al. “Changes in Undergraduates’ Marijuana, Heavy Alcohol and Cigarette

Use Following Legalization of Recreational Marijuana Use in Oregon.” Addiction, vol.

112, no. 11, Nov. 2017, pp. 1992–2001. EBSCOhost,

sinclair.ohionet.org:80/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&d

b=s3h&AN=125541503&site=eds-live.
 Lapp 3
 

This source, written by David Kerr and other authors, is a report on a study on the effects

of legalized marijuana legislation on the drug’s use in states where it was legalized. The authors

first begin by outlining the recent history of cannabis in Oregon, and its path to legality. Then,

the study was introduced, and the method of data collection was presented. The study used three

variables including cigarette use, marijuana use, and heavy alcohol use. The authors conclude by

stating that marijuana use among Oregon college students increased after implementation of

recreational marijuana, but that the rates of increase were not outstanding when compared to

schools in states where recreational marijuana was illegal.

Kerr’s purpose in this source is to analyze the impact of legalized marijuana on cannabis

use. As he mentions, no extensive research has been conducted in Oregon. The audience of this

piece are the people in Oregon and other states with legalized marijuana, and the scientific

community, who is interested in knowing how much impact marijuana legislation has. This

article was written in 2017, which is two years after marijuana was legalized in Oregon. This

means that all retailers have had time to make a significant impact on marijuana use, if there will

be an impact.

The authors in this piece are associated with the University of Oregon and the University

of Michigan. This means that they are respected, professional researchers who are credible and

qualified to write on this subject. Also, all of their background information was cited, which

ensures correct information was used to write the article. I find this source credible and

trustworthy.

I will use this piece to prove my point that marijuana will be legal everywhere very soon.

The results of this study prove that people will use marijuana, despite its being illegal. This is
 Lapp 4
 

most likely due to increasing social acceptability of the drug. If marijuana is legal everywhere, it

would make sense to know its impact completely, and this is one aspect of its impact.

Migoya, David. “Exclusive: Traffic Fatalities Linked to Marijuana Are up Sharply in Colorado.

Is Legalization to Blame?” The Denver Post, The Denver Post, 28 Dec. 2018,

www.denverpost.com/2017/08/25/colorado-marijuana-traffic-fatalities/.

In this source, David Migoya analyzes the impact of legalized marijuana on fatal car

crash rates. The author begins by saying how legalized marijuana has become more prevalent in

car crashes since recreational marijuana’s legalization in Colorado. However, authorities cannot

definitely tie the reason for the crash to marijuana impairment. Migoya also compared marijuana

and alcohol, another drug associated with driving impairment. The author goes on to include

several stories about people who have died in car crashes while under the influence of marijuana,

usually stories about young adults and teenagers.

Migoya’s reason to write this article is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the car

accident rates involving marijuana. Being associated with the Denver Post ensures that his report

and his information is not biased. The audience of this article are people in Colorado, and

specifically those living in the city of Denver. These statistics and stories relate directly to their

lives.

The author, David Migoya, is a writer for the Denver Post, specifically in the

Investigation Team. He was a founding member of the team, which ensures his passion for this

kind of reporting, which in turn supports that his information is correct. His career spans 35 years

and several respectable news organizations. Additionally, the author cites the sources he used to
 Lapp 5
 

compile data, which add credibility to the report. This means Migoya’s report is credible and I

can trust that his information is accurate.

I will use this article to build my argument about the deadly effects of marijuana on

driving abilities. One of the main points of my paper is to address the effects of cannabis on

driving ability, which is the subject of this comprehensive report. Although the author doesn’t go

into deep detail about any one aspect, he offers adequate information in various forms to use to

form an argument against cannabis legalization.

NCIA Team. “State By State Policies | National Cannabis Industry Association.” State by State

Policies, The National Cannabis Industry Association, thecannabisindustry.org/ncia-

news-resources/state-by-state-policies. Accessed 1 February 2019.

This source is written and reviewed by the National Cannabis Industry Association, and it

outlines specific state rules and regulations on the drug. The website is not an article, but an

interactive map that quickly presents information on marijuana. This makes it easy to compare

states’ regulations to each other.

The reason for the NCIA to compose this database is to streamline access to information

about marijuana legalization. This industry represents people who would benefit from more

legalized recreational marijuana, and it would be interested in growing knowledge of the drug

among the general population, especially non-users. By providing this kind of information, they

can influence voting measures and attempts to legalize cannabis.

The author of this website, the NCIA, is an industry representing people who want

marijuana legalized. I recognize the bias in this fact however their information is thorough and is

presented in an unbiased manner. I find this source to be credible because it includes thorough
 Lapp 6
 

evidence with links to even more information for each state, indicating that those who put this

information together spent a lot of time compiling the database.

I will use this information to draw conclusions between accident rates, crime rates, and

marijuana regulations on a state-by-state basis. This information will allow me to draw a

conclusion between marijuana and certain statistics in states that will help to prove my point that

marijuana has negative impacts on crime and auto accidents.

Hartig, Hannah, and Abigail Geiger. “About Six-in-Ten Americans Support Marijuana

Legalization.” Pew Research Center, Pew Research Center, 8 Oct. 2018,

www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/10/08/americans-support-marijuana-legalization/.

This source is an evaluation of a survey conducted that asked Americans their opinions

on legalized marijuana. The source outlines general statistics, like how many Americans support

legalization, but then goes on to break down the survey’s results. This includes how much each

political party favors legalization and how each generations’ opinions compare. Finally, Hartig

and Geiger, the authors, draw conclusions to explain the growing support for the drug, and offer

several new advancements in the drug’s legality across the nation.

The Pew Research Center is focused on providing answers to questions Americans have.

The Center often researches opinions on presidential nominees and hotly debated topics, like

marijuana legalization. By conducting this research, the Pew Center is fulfilling its goal of

providing others with an idea of social acceptability of the drug. Their audience is all Americans

who would want to know how the general population feels about legalizing marijuana.

The Pew Research Center is highly regarded as one of the most accurate survey

institutions. Both authors are employees of the Center, and so I trust their insight and analysis on
 Lapp 7
 

this subject. Also, their sources are cited, and they have even included a digital copy of the

survey’s full answers.

I will use this information to show that marijuana is likely to be nationally legal very

soon. I will use the results of this survey to show that we need to know all the impacts of

marijuana before legalizing it, which is likely to happen soon.

Wozniak, Kevin H. Alcohol, Drugs, and Violent vs. Nonviolent Crime. Thugs and Thieves: The

Differential Etiology of Violence. Oxford University Press, 2016. Oxford Scholarship

Online. Web. Date Accessed 2 February 2019.

<http://www.oxfordscholarship.com.sinclair.ohionet.org/view/10.1093/acprof:oso/97801

95393583.001.0001/acprof-9780195393583-chapter-11>.

This book, written by Kevin Wozniak, explores the impact of marijuana on crime. In the

section of the book I will be using, the author focuses on studies that correlate marijuana to

crime. The author speaks first about the results of his study, which conclude a relationship

between marijuana use and violent and nonviolent crime. He then goes on to say that other

respected researchers have concluded that marijuana doesn’t cause crime, but that his findings

contradict this conclusion.

Wozniak’s purpose in writing this book is to analyze what causes crime. He analyzes

many factors that may influence crime, one such factor is marijuana. The author wants to see

how marijuana may or may not affect crime. The audience for this book is people who may be

voting on ballots to legalize marijuana and would want to know its impacts on crime rates.

Kevin Wozniak is a professor at the University of Massachusetts Boston. He also cites

various different sources throughout this section of the book. These two facts combined means
 Lapp 8
 

that this source is highly credible. His information does not appear biased, and he consolidates

results that contradict his own. I trust this source and its information for use in my paper.

I will use this information to prove that marijuana has a negative impact on crime rates. I

want people to know that marijuana is involved with crime and can create more crime. If it was

legalized, I think people would want to know how the drug would affect crime rates in their

communities.

Zebrowski, John. “NJ Marijuana Legalization: Police Chiefs Don't Want Legal Weed.” Asbury

Park Press, USA Today, 19 Sept. 2018, 2:48 p.m.,

www.app.com/story/opinion/columnists/2018/09/19/legalized-marijuana-police-chiefs-

dont-legalize-pot/1358522002/. Accessed 28 January 2019.

This source is a statement from a police chief on the legalization of marijuana. He begins

by stating his authority to speak on the issue. He then goes on to say how marijuana will likely

make the roads less safe, and rules harder to enforce. He talks about how hard it is to identify

amounts of marijuana in someone’s system, compared to the ease of determining alcohol

content. He also notes how, over his many years of police work, he has concluded that marijuana

has similar impacts on driving ability comparable to alcohol. He concludes by saying how the

legislature should wait to receive more information on the effects of marijuana and driving.

John Zebrowski is a police chief with an interest in public safety. His only reason for

writing this article is to inform the public of their risk if marijuana was legalized. The audience

for this piece is the people of New Jersey, the police community, and anyone who lives in a state

that is voting to legalize marijuana. Motorist safety is a high priority in today’s world, and a

concern for many people.

 Lapp 9
 

Zebrowski is a police chief with many years of experience. He is qualified to speak on

the subject because of his extensive experience. Also, he has dealt with motorists under the

influence of marijuana and knows how the drug affects their cognition first hand. I trust this

source and this information to use in my paper.

I will use this information to further prove my argument that marijuana makes roads less

safe and can lead to a higher rate of car accidents. I want people to know how legalizing this

drug will impact their daily commute to work or school.