Policy Memo: Recreational Drugs

Policy Memo Assignment Instructions
Note that policy memos:

  1. Have a “header” which consists of words like: To, From, In reference to, and a date
    Make sure you use a header on your policy memo!
  2. Are again, like the op-eds you have written, NOT written like a standard academic term paper. You should use SHORT SENTENCES, GRAPHICS and bullet points!
  3. Policy memos do not have FOOTNOTES, though you can use words like “According to the Heritage Foundation’s 2015 survey of this question . . . .. ” Sources can be included on a final page underneath the word sources.
  4. You should also use HEADERS within your paper to organize the various sections of your policy memo
  5. You need to have the following HEADERS AND SECTIONS in your policy memo —

TO: (Your Governor — Pretend that your governor is considering legalizing recreational drugs in your state)
FROM:
SUBJECT:
DATE:

INTRODUCTION: (This should be a summary of up to 150 words of the material covered in your policy memo)

BACKGROUND: (Here you should explain the genesis of the current issue and existing legislative attempts to solve this policy problem. This section can include a TIMELINE if you wish)

POLICY ISSUES: (Discuss who might be affected by the proposed legislation and what some costs and benefits of your proposal (either to make recreational drugs legal or illegal)
RECOMMENDATION:

SOURCES:
List the two articles from Taking Sides using APA format.
You may also use up to three outside sources. For a policy memo, you may use information from the sources listed on p. 170 of Taking Sides

References

William J. Miller. 2020. Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Political Issues, 21st edition. New York: McGraw Hill Education.

Sources from page 170 of Taking Sides:

  1. Citizens against Legalizing Marijuana: http://www.calmca.org/about/
  2. Marijuana Policy Project: http://www.mpp.org/
  3. National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws: http://norml.org/

Public Broadcasting Service
http://www.ps.org/wnet/need-to-know/ask-the-experts-/ask-the-experts-legalizing-marijuana/15474/