Facts About the Marijuana Debate

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Facts About the Marijuana Debate

Project type: Introductory Activity

Related topic:
Pot and Politics: Canada and the Marijuana Debate

Subjects

Social Studies
Political Science

Summary

In this introductory activity, students will find facts about marijuana and its legalization.

Duration

1 lesson

Purpose

To gather information about an issue

Before Exploring

Write the word “marijuana” on the board. Have students discuss as a class what they know about marijuana and why it has been in the news lately. Record their ideas and responses in a word web.

Outline the Opportunity

Have students browse the topic Pot and Politics: Canada and the Marijuana Debate on the CBC Radio and Television Archives Web site in groups of two or three. As they view, they should list 10 facts they found about marijuana or about its legalization.

Revisit and Reflect

Have students share their lists with the rest of the class. Make a class chart that lists all of the information they found. Ask:

Why was marijuana made illegal?

What medical uses are there for marijuana?

Who has campaigned to legalize marijuana? Why?

What are the pros and cons of legalizing marijuana?

Extension

Encourage students to find articles about the marijuana debate. They can bring them to class and begin a class scrapbook on the issue.