The Dangers of Marijuana

Writer of the, “How Does Marijuana Affect the Brain?” blog, Akudo Ejelonu, states the common reaction to marijuana that most people are cognizant of: “marijuana has harmful affects on the functions of the central nervous system and hinders the memory and movement of the user's brain.” Just as many Americans think that marijuana is bad for you, so does Purdue University’s wellness center. In their public announcement, they try to persuade the viewer take marijuana use more seriously through the use of ethos, pathos, and logos.

First, the creators of this ad are trying to establish their credibility as an accredited, intelligent University. Although they do prove their wealth of knowledge by using a statistic about marijuana, this could also be a biased fact. The, “Coalition for a Safe and Drug-Free Tippacanoe County,” is trying to keep all of its students away from drugs and alcohol. So of course they are going to skew marijuana facts to keep students from touching the substance. The text says that the, “most common illegal drug in fatally-injured drivers,” is marijuana; but they do not mention alcohol as being the number one cause of fatality in drivers because it is legal. This evidence is skewed to prove their point.

The image used in the ad evokes sympathy from the viewer by depicting a tragic accident. The viewer all of a sudden feels for the innocent person in the crash and the police men who have to clean it all up. They feel for anyone affected by the accident in which marijuana was used by a driver. It hits home for college students who actually do drive and smoke. The picture’s consistent gray tonality also adds to the grim and sorrowful tone of the image.

The argument appeals to logos as well: if you don’t want this to happen to you, then don’t smoke weed. It is only logical that this is a horrific accident associated with an illegal drug that slows brain activity. The red in the background of the text is an obvious warning sign. It is cautioning its viewers to think about the affects of tampering with any illegal substance.

“1-Stop Health Shop.” Student Wellness Office. Purdue University. Web. 1 Sep. 2010.

Exelon, Akudo. “How Does Marijuana Affect the Brain?” Biology 202. Serendip. 10 Jan. 2008. Web. 1 Sep. 2010. <http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/exchange/node/1808>