Philosophy paper second assignment (how to start the discussion, 4 paragraphs)

THIS SECOND ASSIGNMENT TAKES CARE OF 4 PARAGRAPHS

Please, do not submit anything underlined in color. I do it just to make a point. 

The first two paragraphs are the most important in your paper.  These are the thesis paragraphs. 

These two paragraphs are YOUR PROGRAM. Thesis and a counter-thesis: Each thesis and counter-thesis contains two points. You present the point and explain it. When you explain, you give reasons for holding the point. One paragraph each. 

ORDER OF PARAGRAPHS:

FIRST PARAGRAPH: EXPOSITION OF THESIS AND COUNTERTHESIS

SECOND PARAGRAPH: THESIS FIRST ARGUMENT.

THIRD PARAGRAPH: COUNTER'S FIRST ARGUMENT.

FOURTH PARAGRAPH: THESIS SECOND ARGUMENT.

FIFTH PARAGRAPH: COUNTER'S SECOND ARGUMENT.

SIXTH PARAGRAPH: THESIS REBUTTAL OF COUNTER'S REBUTTAL.

LAST PARAGRAPH: A SHORT CONCLUSION 

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FIRST PARAGRAPH (THESIS PARAGRAPH)

In this paper, I argue against the prohibition of marijuana. 

First, our present marijuana prohibition must be weighed against the loss of personal freedom. Our laws should reflect citizens' right to self-determination. 

Second, the War on Drugs has only served the immediate interests of politicians. By taking a moral stand against recreational drugs or fighting the evils caused by the illegal drug trade, they have only increased their popularity among constituents. 

(You should add relevant data supporting each point and properly cite it as END NOTE).

SECOND PARAGRAPH (COUNTER'S PARAGRAPH)

Prohibitionists disagree. They believe that marijuana is an addictive drug, which increases consumption and dependency. According to Dr. John Dickens, citing a 10-year study from Stanford University, "addiction is a result of marijuana's power to induce dependency" (New York Times, 2004).  

In addition, marijuana is a gateway to other illicit and more harmful substances, thus increasing the possibility of committing crimes. It is a fact that addiction is generally sustained within a social network linked to organized crime (Center for Drug Studies, Catalog A, 2010). 

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DISCUSSION 

In paragraph 3, return to your thesis. You flesh out the first point, bringing in outside experts and relevant data. In paragraph 4, you take the counterthesis and do the same thing you did in paragraph 3. 

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THIRD PARAGRAPH (THESIS PARAGRAPH, FIRST POINT) 

Abolitionists believe that prohibition must be weighed against our loss of personal freedoms. They argue that citizens should be able to choose what they want with their bodies, including the recreational use of drugs, as long as they do not harm others. Such arguments often cite British philosopher John Stuart Mill's harm principle, which states that "the state had no right to intervene to prevent individuals from doing something that harmed them if no harm was thereby done to the rest of society" (Mill, Liberty, 75). Mill's harm principle limits the scope of government restrictions on personal liberty. Legal theorist Ronald Dworkin states that social disapproval or dislike of a person's actions isn't enough to justify government intervention unless they actually harm someone (New York Times, 2013).

FOURTH PARAGRAPH (COUNTER'S REBUTTAL OF YOUR FIRST POINT) 

Prohibitionists reject this idea. They bring relevant statistics: According to recent data, marijuana remains addictive, with 25% of recurrence among people ages 16 to 25 (Buck-Norris, 17). Marijuana remains intractable not because it's more addictive than other drugs but because addicts are more reluctant to let it go (Casas & Weimer, 33). Marijuana happens to be affordable and available in our inner cities. Dr. John Samaras, a professor of psychology at Penn State University, argues that parental substance dependence and abuse can have profound effects on children, including child abuse and neglect. (Samaras, Drug Addiction in America, 44).