Question

Give me 8 questions to ask a chemistry teacher that will give knowledge to and perhaps help my claim. They must fit into my subject, yet also be something that he can answer factually with his knowledge.
My claim: Marijuana should be federally legalized
My reasons:
If alcohol is illegal, marijuana should be as well because marijuana is far safer and does not cause people to become aggressive and a threat
Marijuana can be used recreationally, of course too much of anything is bad. Yes chronic use of marijuana is negative, but chronic use of alcohol = alcoholic, and chronic use/consumption of mcdonalds = diabetes, but we still allow them to both be legal.
Marijuana is not as addictive as most other drugs, and should not be in the same category.
Marijuana is not a gateway drug, unless you also consider alcohol a gateway drug. If someone has an addictive personality or addiction to that substance running in their family, then yes they will become addicted much easier.

Answer 1

1) What are the main active chemical constituents of cannabis (e.g., Δ9‑THC, CBD) and how do their molecular structures relate to their effects on receptors in the brain?
Why ask: explains the biochemical basis of intoxication versus therapeutic/neutral effects, letting you compare specific drug actions rather than rely on generalizations.

2) From a chemical/pharmacokinetic perspective, how does THC’s dose–response and blood concentration/brain availability compare to ethanol (alcohol)?
Why ask: gives a quantitative basis for comparing impairment and safety between marijuana and alcohol.

3) What are the primary metabolic pathways and elimination half‑lives of THC and its metabolites, and how do those timelines compare to alcohol’s metabolism?
Why ask: helps distinguish impairment window (when someone is actually intoxicated) from detection window (how long metabolites remain), which matters for law and workplace rules.

4) Chemically, what mechanisms underlie dependence or addiction to cannabinoids versus alcohol and opioids (receptor systems, downstream signaling, tolerance development)?
Why ask: provides a factual basis for claims about addictive potential and whether cannabis belongs in the same category as other controlled substances.

5) What toxic compounds are generated by combusting cannabis (smoke) compared with vaporizing it, and how do those compounds compare to tobacco smoke and by‑products from alcohol metabolism (e.g., acetaldehyde)?
Why ask: informs harm comparisons and possible risk‑reduction policies (e.g., regulation favoring non‑combustion forms).

6) What known carcinogenic or mutagenic substances, if any, are associated with cannabis use from a chemical standpoint, and how do their levels and risks compare to known risks of alcohol consumption?
Why ask: addresses safety comparisons relevant to legalization debates.

7) Are there reliable chemical or biomarker tests that correlate quantitatively with current impairment from THC (analogous to blood alcohol concentration), and what are their limitations?
Why ask: helps evaluate enforcement and public‑safety concerns tied to legalization.

8) Chemically, how do synthetic cannabinoids differ from plant cannabinoids in potency and receptor activity, and could regulation/legalization reduce harms associated with supply of uncontrolled synthetic products?
Why ask: supports arguments about regulation reducing harms by allowing quality control and preventing dangerous adulterants.

If you want, I can rephrase any question to be shorter for an in‑class interview or add follow‑up prompts depending on the teacher’s answers.