In today's culture the legalization of recreational marijuana use is a main topic of discussion and could heavily impact every day lives of our citizens. This topic has much criticism, as well as support behind it due to the vast variety of individuals and their political and moral views that live within the United States. Upon researching for the ILP's, my stand point on the legalization is uniquely the same as it was prior to my research. Personally, I still believe that the potential benefits that can come with the legalization of recreational marijuana will outweigh the drawbacks. Although some of the sources I used were not scholarly, they provided a good insight to the issue of legalization. 

This research question is a rather popular topic. Due to the many potential benefits and drawbacks of legalizing recreational marijuana, I believe there to be approximately an even number of supporters, as well as those who oppose the idea. I also suppose this is due to our bipartisan democracy and their views on the issue. 

There are very many stakeholders within this topic, as anyone who pays attention to our economy and the political processes within the United States can be considered a stakeholder. The citizens voting for their next president of these United States all have an opinion on legalization and it will heavily impact their lives; therefore, would be considered stakeholders. I, in this issue, would consider myself a stakeholder as I have a vested interest in the potential benefits that the legalization of recreational marijuana will bring to our country. This issue would also directly affect me as I see no negatives associated with marijuana usage and this could possibly bring our country out of its hefty national debt. 

This research question relates to my personal values in that I do not believe that the drawbacks will outweigh the benefits legalization could potentially bring to the United States. I came into this project with a strong point of view that the positives will certainly outweigh the negative outcomes if the legalization of recreational marijuana use were to be a law of the land, rather than only in three states. Although, I previously had an opinion on this research topic I have found articles that display both ends of the spectrum to legalization; positive outcomes versus negative outcomes, supporters versus those who oppose. In my paper I plan to articulate the readers' minds to get them thinking which side they stand on when it comes to legalization. In order to do this, I will use the potential benefits and drawbacks of legalization hand-in-hand, almost to accompany one another, so that in my attempt to get the reader to chose a position on the issue, he or she will be informed and may also learn new things they were previously unaware of.  

Concerning this topic, I am unaware of the problems the three states who legalized recreational marijuana usage have come across. I am hoping to find specific difficulties California, Colorado, and Washington have all experienced following the legalization of recreational marijuana within their states. In finding these specific difficulties and also utilizing them, I would be strengthening my arguments. Hopefully this information will help me to inform, while also allowing readers to chose a side in which they support. 

Within my paper I hope to grab the readers' attention and get them thinking about which end of the spectrum of legalization they are on; in support of recreational marijuana usage becoming legal, or opposed to the idea of legalization. I hope to possibly persuade readers to have an optimistic mindset when thinking about their stand point on the issue. I believe that I will be able to effectively address and answer my research question in an 8-10 page paper. I think I will be able to accomplish this due to the many facts, as well as potential benefits and drawbacks that are associated with marijuana and the idea of legalization. Due to an unpredictable future there are an infinite amount of possible benefits and drawbacks, but through my research I was able to focus on the larger more prevalent potential benefits and drawbacks legalization may bring. 

Some agreements on this topic in the sources I have found so far seem to follow a theme; marijuana usage will increase voiding many potential public-health benefits. Some officials believe benefit to come from legalizing the recreational use of marijuana as it could possibly lead to reduced alcohol consumption causing violent crimes, thought to be associated with alcohol intoxicated individuals, will start to fall. Some disagreements on this topic in the sources I found seem to follow a generalized theme as well; marijuana usage will increase voiding many public-health drawbacks. Through research and finding some of the negative side effects of legalizing recreational marijuana usage in the state of Colorado, many officials seem to agree that similarly to Colorado there will be an increase in emergency room visits, hospitalizations, as well as traffic deaths. This poses as two sources disagreeing as some think that through legalization there may be possibilities in reducing traffic injuries and fatalities due to the fact that there is evidence of THC causing drivers to drive slower and to take fewer risks than someone whom is under the influence of alcohol. 

I have already revised my research question since I have begun this project; "what are the potential benefits and drawbacks of legalizing recreational marijuana?" to "how do the potential benefits and drawbacks affect the possibility of recreational marijuana being legalized?" Through the revision of my research question, it now allots for a better argumentative paper. This research question will not have a straightforward answer as anyone reading could formulate their own opinion and view on this issue through reading an informative and factual essay. This question falls on the spectrums of scope, complexity, and controversy as a very generalized topic that definitely impacts the citizens of the United States. This issue can be discussed in many different manners and is a relevant subject in the politics, as well as economics. This research question positions itself to have a complex answer if all things. Due to the fact that officials cannot predict the future causes for a more complex array of potential benefits and drawbacks that would come with the legalization of recreational marijuana. This topic is extremely controversial as many can see opposing views through the political parties we have in the United States. Although there will be many ideas entering the reader's brain, they will be able to formulate their own opinion and position on this issue of legalizing recreational marijuana. 
