California Marijuana

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Published: 1.04.2018
Level 5   |   Time: 1:18
Accent: British
BBC Global News Podcast (1.01.2017)

A report on the progress of marijuana legalization in California.

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You can download the file [ HERE ].

    

triangle Directions


  1. REVIEW the vocabulary.
  2. LISTEN to the audio.
  3. ANSWER the questions.
  4. CHECK your answers (Show Answers)

triangle Vocabulary


  • recreational use [n] - using something for fun
  • cannabis [n] - marijuana
  • drug driving [n] - driving a car after consuming drugs
  • red tape [n] - too much bureaucracy or following rules too strictly.
  • a patchwork [n] - a thing composed of many different parts in an unorganized way
  • regulations [n] - rules
  • critics [n] - people who are against something
  • vast [adj] - big
  • the black market [n] - illegal selling or trade
  • an outlet [n] - a shop or store
  • a sanction [n] - a penalty for disobeying a law or rule
  • the Federal Government [n] - government at the national level
  • a prescribed substance [n] - a drug whose use is controlled by the government

[n] - noun,  [adj] - adjective


triangle Questions


  1. California is the largest US state to legalize the recreational use of marijuana.
    True
    False

  2. Anyone is California can now possess and use marijuana.
    True
    False

  3. People over the age of 21 can grow their own marijuana plants.
    True
    False

  4. Critics are worried that legalization will lead to increased drug use among young people.
    True
    False

  5. Despite the legalization, some people are still complaining about some rules and restrictions.
    True
    False

  6. Donald Trump voted in favor of marijuana legalization.
    True
    False

  7. Marijuana sales in California are still restricted by taxes and regulations.
    True
    False

  8. Critics are worried that the taxes and restrictions will encourage people to continue buying marijuana illegally.
    True
    False

  9. Hundreds of marijuana shops have been opened since legalization.
    True
    False

  10. There are dozens of marijuana outlets (shops) in Los Angeles and San Francisco.
    True
    False

  11. Five other US states legalized the use of recreational marijuana before California.
    True
    False

  12. Marijuana is still considered illegal by the US Federal government.
    True
    False


triangle Script



California starts the new year by becoming the largest state in the United States to legalize the recreational use of cannabis. Adults over the age of 21 can now possess up to 28 grams of the drug and grow six marijuana plants at home. Opponents say the new law will lead to more drug driving and will encourage young people to take up drug use. Supporters have complained about red tape. Our Los Angeles correspondent James Cook reports.

Californians voted in favor of legalizing cannabis on the same day that Americans selected Donald Trump as their president. In the 14 months since then, a complicated patchwork of taxes and regulations have been drawn up to govern sales of the drug. Critics say the red tape will discourage consumers growers and retailers from leaving the state's vast black market. And only a few dozen shops have so far been approved to open. The cities of Los Angeles and San Francisco have yet to sanction any recreational marijuana outlets. Still, California, with a population of nearly 40 million, is now the sixth state to legalize cannabis, which means one in five Americans can legally purchased the drug. Confusingly, the federal government still regards marijuana as illegal, classifying it alongside heroin and cocaine as a prescribed substance.

Our Los Angeles correspondent James Cook.

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