The argument on the legalization of marijuana is a very interesting topic throughout all of the United States and is now a debate when it comes to presidential candidates. This topic is in my interest because it will greatly effect the people of my generation the most. People around the country find marijuana to be harmful because they are blinded by the fact that it is considered a drug although there would be a great deal of positive impacts if marijuana was to be legalized for recreational use. They fail to realize that marijuana is not the same as other seriously harmful drugs like cocaine, heroin, and meth. I do not use marijuana for personal use but the fact that substances such as alcohol and tobacco are still legal but marijuana is not intrigues me. I am credible to write about the legalization of marijuana because of intensive research on the topic through other very credible authors that also wrote about the same idea.

"Colorado and Marijuana Legalization One Year Later: What has Changed?", an article from the Huffington Post by Art Way is my first source. The central idea of the article is that marijuana should be legalized based upon the huge positive impacts that Colorado has experienced after one year of legalizing the substance. Also, the article states that Colorado's unemployment rate is the lowest it has been because of the marijuana industry supplying jobs for people that were previously unemployed. The article points out that drug arrests have plunged an impressive 41% and Colorado has brought in more than $40 million in marijuana taxes in the past year. Colorado has also experienced a steep decline in youth usage of marijuana since its legalization (Way 1). The author, Art Way, is extremely credible to write about this topic because he is a Senior Director at DPA's (Drug Policy Alliance) National Criminal Justice Reform Strategy. With the fact that he works for a major drug society, it is clear that his statistics in his article are very precise.

"New Schools, Less Crime: Colorado Sees Benefits of Marijuana Legalization", an article from the MintPress News is my second source. The articles central idea is that marijuana should be legalized because of a great deal of positive impacts that have been experienced since the legalization of marijuana. The article points out that the crime rate has plummeted and new schools have been developed due to the amount of money that has been made from the taxes from the marijuana industry. The article states that Colorado has reached $50 million from recreational marijuana usage while also reaching $25 million in medical sales. Also in the article, it declares that Colorado schools have received $13.6 million in the first five months of 2015. A Colorado superintendent said that the county would be able to build two new elementary school with $40 million dollars. Also in the article, the rate of violent crimes have dropped 2.2% and drug crimes have dropped an excessive 84% (O'Connell 1). Kit O'Connell, the author of the article, is a journalist for MintPress News. His credibility may be slightly questioned considering he does not have personal experience in the marijuana field but based on his research, he is very credible.

"Marijuana Legalization and Regulation", an article from the Drug Policy Alliance is my third source. The main idea of the article is that marijuana should be regulated just like tobacco and alcohol is regulated right now. The points brought up in the article are the creation of jobs, saving money, and reducing harm. The article states that if marijuana was to be legalized then it would be "the nations largest cash crop" while simultaneously creating jobs for the unemployed. The article also says that it would save money in court for drug charges so that police can be out insuring people's safety instead of arresting people for marijuana related issues (Marijuana 1). The fact that this article is written by a major national drug agency, the credibility of this article is not in question as to if it is or is not a credible source. Overall, the article declares that marijuana should be legalized nationally and regulated similar to alcohol and tobacco. 

This research question is arguable because of the two sides on the issue that spreads all over the United States. All of my sources agree with and argue the point that marijuana needs to be legalized while also having very similar reasons as to why they believe it should be legalized. The importance of having sources that have the same main focus is that you get stronger evidence for your main argument and can provide a stronger backbone to the argument. If you had a source that contradicted everything that you talk about then you might lose your ethos, if the opposing argument is strong enough to do so. The perspectives of the sources are very similar to my perspective on the topic. The way that I plan on revising my research question is by adding the people that I believe marijuana should be legalized for and also by making the question a bit more narrow.

