The Chronicles of Legalization

The Chronicles of Legalization is an argumentative, scientific paper written in April 2013 that supports the end of federal prohibition of marijuana in the United States. The Chronicles were written by a 24-year-old graduate student of global medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, who attended UC Berkeley for his undergraduate studies. The author will also be attending medical school at the Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine in California in the fall of 2013.
As a collection of distinct essays, The Chronicles addresses various aspects of the debates over marijuana legalization, but focuses particularly on medicine, inequality, ethics, and First Amendment rights. The author identifies himself as an Agnostic, and argues for the end of federal prohibition of marijuana via protection of science under the First Amendment: specifically, on behalf of his post-secondary studies in chemical biology, global poverty, and medicine, as well as his vague religious and spiritual beliefs.
According to the author, each of the five Chronicles stands by itself as a contributing argument for the end of prohibition. When read chronologically and in its entirety, however, The Chronicles of Legalization is a structured, personalized essay that explains the immorality of prohibition while briefly mentioning a relevant background story. Following each essay is a brief set of multiple-choice questions that clarifies many of the paper's main points, in a manner similar to the MCAT Verbal Reasoning section.
The Chronicles of Legalization were written with the primary intention of inciting debate within the United States over H.R.499, a bill proposed in the 113th United States Congress in February 2013 . The Chronicles also aim to encourage a greater interest in medicine and its relevant impact in the modern United States .
The First Chronicle of Legalization
The First Chronicle, also known as The Game Over Chronicle or Chronicle Infallible, is the foundation argument of The Chronicles of Legalization and is entitled The Agnostic Argument; Begin at the End. The author opens with a discussion of contemporary religion in the United States, ultimately positing that the federal prohibition of marijuana is an infringement of his lack of religious beliefs as an Agnostic. It is suggested by the author that Agnostics and Atheists may not share similar views on God, spirituality, and religion as the rest of American citizens, but that they are nevertheless equally protected by the First Amendment. The ensuing Chronicles draw parallels between the author's Agnostic beliefs and his scientific background, culminating into the Fifth Chronicle as an endorsement for physicians to freely study marijuana across the United States. The author has colloquially claimed to have been inspired to write Chronicle Infallible, which he calls his magnum opus , after "hearing voices of the Founding Fathers in head."
The Second Chronicle of Legalization
The Second Chronicle, also known as The Medical Chronicle, is formally named Death, Decay, and the Role of the Physician. The author prefaces the Chronicle with a paragraph from his personal statement to osteopathic medical schools. The Chronicle itself discusses the inevitability of Death, relating its concept to his scientific curiosity and thereafter asserting that marijuana should be as legal as tobacco and alcohol from a strictly medical perspective. The Medical Chronicle does not directly discuss the author's perception of , but it includes a quotation from The Matrix and suggests that Agent Smith and Decay serve as archenemies for Neo and the author, respectively.
The Third Chronicle of Legalization
The Third Chronicle, also known as The Loophole Chronicle or Chronic-Ethical, divulges the story of a fictional man named Jimbob the Underdog. Dubbed Jimbob the Underdog and the Status Quo, the essay claims that Jimbob, as an American citizen, should have the right to possess marijuana anywhere in the United States, particularly because of a suggested relationship between his "religious" beliefs and his alleviation of nausea and anxiety via marijuana smoke. The Third Chronicle is also called The Loophole Chronicle because of a detailed contemporary logical fallacy that relates to the Tenth Amendment: Jimbob is simultaneously protected by the state of Washington to possess marijuana and in violation of federal law, as long as he currently possesses any amount of the drug within the state. The author also includes lyrics from a Soilwork album and information regarding his rejections to allopathic medical schools in order to corroborate his representation of underdogs.
The Fourth Chronicle of Legalization
The Fourth Chronicle argues on behalf of epidemiology. In Smoking __ is dangerous, the author spotlights recent medical research that contrasts marijuana with tobacco, completing the discussion by noting a stigma that exists today in regards to the words, "smoking" and "smoke." Implied in the author's argument is the notion that tobacco poses a threat to epidemiology in a manner than is essentially incomparable to the effects of marijuana on the same branch of medicine, most importantly because of the lack of nicotine in the latter drug. The author also briefly mentions his knowledge of cannabinoids and their potential utilization in medicine and biology, suggesting an unclear connection between his understanding of chemical biology and his unspecified spiritual beliefs.
The Fifth Chronicle of Legalization
The Fifth Chronicle, better known as The Chronicle of Life and Existence, draws upon arguments and anecdotes from the prior four Chronicles to speak on behalf of the future of medicine in the United States. Entitled Why should you care? And all that we know, the author attempts to convince the reader that he has already proven himself to be worthy to argue on behalf of the federal prohibition of marijuana because of his demonstrated empathy, intelligence, and pursuit of medicine at the grassroots level. The author's final argumentative point in The Chronicles is what he calls the "Guardian's Trifecta," a trio of requirements for medical practice in the United States. Emphasizing the spirituality of his eventual patients, he implies that the Trifecta is necessary and sufficient for practicing medicine in the country, regardless of any particular doctor's or patient's religious, spiritual, or personal beliefs.
Addendum of Hope
In the brief addendum to The Chronicles of Legalization , the author explains the meaning of his name in the Persian language. The author also requests to be interviewed on The Daily Show and/or The Colbert Report.

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