Running head: EVALUATING THE ORGANIZATION NORML

Evaluating the Organization NORML Joshua Baeza UTEP

Running head: EVALUATING THE ORGANIZATION NORML

The question was presented in a students class one day asking, Do you guys believe marijuana should be legalized? One student responded, Yes, without a doubt it should. When asked why he believes so, his response was simply, So I can smoke any time I want and not worry about getting in trouble. This ignorant response is only one of many that are stated by unknowledgeable people. What then is a valid argument to the legalization of marijuana? Here we will look at and evaluate a couple of arguments made by the Board of Directors of NORML, a group whose mission is to influence public opinion for the legalization of marijuana. We will do so by first looking at the audiences they intend to target. Then we will look at how they effectively and ineffectively argue through ethos (appealing through use of credibility), pathos (appealing through use of emotion), and logos (appealing through use of logic) respectively. Finally, well look at the strong and weak connections they make between their arguments and images their website NORML.org provides. NORML is a voice for the public so they intend to speak to and for American citizens supporting the opposition of marijuana prohibition to legal authorities in order to stop arrests of responsible marijuana users, form an opinion for those without one (on marijuana legalization), and influence those against marijuana legalization. The goal of these texts and lectures is to get these supporters to become more involved with the issue whether it be by using their public voice, voting, etc. NORML informs these citizens by explaining in simplified texts and images the beginnings of marijuana, its benefits, reasons it should be recreationally legalized, and criticizes the government of their laws against marijuana compared to other laws. The main point of the organization is to motivate supporters not only to use this evidence to become more knowledgeable of the subject, but also to use this information in making a valid

Running head: EVALUATING THE ORGANIZATION NORML

argument themselves to win legalization of marijuana. So what are these arguments they are presenting and are they able to be labeled valid? Argument through the appeal of ethos is appealing to an audience with credibility of the speaker. A couple arguments through the appeal of ethos are presented in this text that are fairly valid. The first is offered in their introduction tab. When talking about a persons breath being detectable the state they have investigators from the National institute of Health in Baltimore and Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm, Sweden. This is presenting themselves as people who know what theyre talking about. This shows that their expertise and study expands worldwide. The organization continues good credibility when they state During the 1970s, NORML led the successful efforts to decriminalize minor marijuana offenses in 11 states and significantly lower marijuana penalties in all others (Unknown Author, Introduction tab). Along with knowledgeable supporters they already have had success giving them even more reason to support them. Another appeal to ethos is their advisory board. These members are composed of people who lend their names to the organization to promote the safety of marijuana through media. (Unknown Author, Advisory tab) A few of these members include Willie Nelson, Tommie Chong, and Woody Harrelson. The advisory board is mainly advertising to the public trying to gain support by showing these famous persons are also in support of this organization. However, there is fault here because these supporters may be famous but are unable to have credibility on this issue seeing as they are actors and not politicians, scientists, etc. These are a couple of ways NORML used ethos to support their argument, but what other ways do they use rhetoric to convince their audience to take action in the support of marijuana legalization?

Running head: EVALUATING THE ORGANIZATION NORML

Using rhetoric through the appeal of pathos is persuading the audience with the use of emotions, values, and beliefs. Influencing someone who is against marijuana legalization would need facts to support legalization and good results instead of using emotionally heavy terms. This organization seems to reflect that ideal since no examples of pathos are demonstrated. A few examples of pathos use may be to say it is against Americans rights and freedom is being stripped from responsible marijuana users; however, no specific examples of this are presented. Therefore, NORML proves to be ineffective in the use of pathos. NORML does however use logic consistently throughout their website. The appeal of logos is the use of logic to persuade an audience. This organization actually uses a couple of invalid appeals to logos. The first is stated: Marijuana is the third most popular recreational drug in America (behind only alcohol and tobacco), and has been used by nearly 100 million Americans. According to government surveys, some 25 million Americans have smoked marijuana in the past year, and more than 14 million do so regularly despite harsh laws against its use. Our public policies should reflect this reality, not deny it. (http://norml.org/marijuana) A valid argument would be A=B, C=A, therefore C=B. However, this form of argument doesnt even have a form. Their premise says major amounts of Americans are using the drug and major amounts are doing so without penalty, therefore our policies should accept this. There are no connections in this argument and must be deemed invalid. Nevertheless, NORML does present good evidence for positive effects of marijuana legalization with its medical use. They state under its medical use tab that physicians have found marijuana to be a very effective

Running head: EVALUATING THE ORGANIZATION NORML

medical component contrary to others beliefs that it is useless as a medicine. It is effective in pain relief, the fight against AIDS, and claimed to be effective against malignant tumors. This is good support in seeing the benefits of the drug. Throughout the text the organization has presented three arguments through ethos, pathos, and logos. The next and probably most effective form of argument is through the use of an image. There are many images presented by the organization that demonstrate universally understood arguments. For instance, the organization has a picture of a man blowing out smoke on the home page (http://norml.org/news/2013/10/31/study-thc-detectable-in-breathfor-limited-periods-of-time). This picture is connected to the argument saying THC is detectable in a persons breath for a certain period of time. The image isnt specified for certain cultures or persons. Rather, it is an image understood by all about what it is trying to communicate. Another idea that is universally demonstrated is that marijuana is a peaceful, blissful drug that doesnt harm anyone. This is also seen in the two images on the home page of a palm tree planted on the bay, a seagull perched calmly on a deck, and marijuana buds organized in containers in a brightly lit room (http://norml.org/). This represents marijuana isnt a harmful drug and this is represented for all audiences to interpret. The cartoon presented of Uncle Sam saying a good plant is a polluting factory and a bad plant is marijuana is more of a master narrative targeted for Americans without the ability to legally smoke marijuana (http://norml.org/aboutmarijuana/item/good-plant). This is directly criticizing the law making marijuana seem a very harmless, minor issue compared to the major, harmful effects other lawful acts present to the environment. This representation must be deemed invalid because it is a false appeal to ethos since it attacks the person rather than the argument.

Running head: EVALUATING THE ORGANIZATION NORML

After looking at the use of ethos, pathos, logos, and the use of image representation, is one able to say their arguments are valid? They had effective credibility, no emotion involvement, false yet also good logic, and peaceful/criticizing images. The main focus of the organization and its website seems to be on the credibility it has. In every link someone is stated to have supported the statement and there is more information about the person rather than the results he/she has presented. One must note that the pictures displayed are showing just a fantasy of the use of marijuana. No representations show how or if the legalization will overpower the negative effects marijuana may have (if it were recreationally used) on a person. Along with these criticisms and false logic, it is almost comical who composes the advisory board with actors like Tommy Chong who played the role of a pothead in his two popular hits Cheech and Chong and That 70s Show. This organization is progressing steadily and is a good support in the fight for legalization, but one must agree that NORML should look into more valuable arguments.

Running head: EVALUATING THE ORGANIZATION NORML

References
NORML: Working to Reform Marijuana Laws. Retrieved from http://norml.org/ NORML: Working to Reform Marijuana Laws. Retrieved from http://norml.org/marijuana