Legality of Cannabis

green cannabis plant close-up photography
Type: Vocabulary
Originally published on September 23, 2020 and last updated on February 4, 2023

Cannabis, also known as marijuana, is a very popular recreational drug despite the fact that it is illegal in many countries. Whether cannabis should be illegal or not is a topic that seems to be debated more frequently in recent years and some states in the US are changing the law to make it legal. Those in favour of legalising cannabis point to its beneficial uses and little side effects when compared to other illegal drugs such as cocaine or heroin. However, those who think it should remain illegal focus on the detrimental effects cannabis use can have on a person’s life especially when used excessively.

Instructions:
Go through the vocabulary below with your students and ask them to try and use this vocabaulry where possible when discussing the different conversation questions.

Useful Vocabulary

Try and use the following vocabulary when answering the question. Click to look up the definition in the dictionary

  • legal (adjective)
  • benefit (noun)
  • effect (noun)
  • illegal (adjective)
  • recreational (adjective)
  • legalise (verb)
  • detrimental (adjective)
  • in favour of (idiom)

Conversation Questions

  • Should cannabis be legal?
  • Is cannabis illegal where you live?
  • Do you think there are benefits of cannabis? If yes, what?
  • What do you think the negative effects of cannabis use are?
  • What would the benefits be of making cannabis legal?
  • Do you think cannabis should be legal?
Gregory
This conversation topic was prepared by Gregory

Gregory is a qualified TEFL teacher who has been teaching English as a Foreign Language (ESL) for over a decade. He has taught in-person classes in Spain and to English learners around the world online.