CBC Archives

Discuss as a class the status of medical marijuana use in Canada and students’ opinions on the topic. Find out what students already know about the legality of prescribing marijuana medically and explain to them that they will be examining the issue further.

Divide students into groups of four or five. Direct students to the topic Pot and Politics: Canada and the Marijuana Debate on the CBC Radio and Television Archives Web site. Assign each group one of the following: Clip #3; Clip #5; Clips #7, 8, and 9; under Links, “CBC News Online Indepth: The Need for Weed: Medical Marijuana” (including other stories and the External Links); and under Additional Clips, “What is marijuana?”

Each group will examine its clip or clips in depth and take detailed notes about the issues raised. Groups will then prepare a presentation to share their findings with the class.

Have groups share their presentations. Students should be prepared to ask and answer questions.

Ask:

What was the most interesting thing you learned?

What was the most surprising thing you learned?

Was there anything you learned that changed your opinion on medical marijuana use and if so, what was it and why?

Which issue do you think is the most important? Why?

Which issue would make you agree to legalizing marijuana?

Which issue would make you oppose legalizing marijuana?
Students should be prepared to explain their answers.

Create a class list of the major issues surrounding the marijuana debate.

Students can write a one–page opinion paper explaining their position on the legalization of marijuana. They should support their opinion with details from the class presentations.