The prohibition of marijuana has for long been a subject of heated debates, arguments, and counter-arguments regarding the effects of such action around social and political circles. Many argue that the use of marijuana makes an individual intoxicated which results in feelings of anxiety, fear, and panic. Others argue that marijuana-induced intoxication leads to impairment of the memory, negatively affecting coordination and reaction time. Legalization of marijuana is believed to be a good thing since it will lead to the collection of larger amount of tax revenues and lower government spending. In spite of the fact that a large number of people use marijuana regardless of its legality, legalizing the drug is not likely to increase its negative effects in the society. Additionally, comparing the use of cannabis with alcohol abuse, it is evident that legalization of marijuana is considerably more ethically permissible than allowing young people and adults to fall into the social and economic problems associated with alcohol abuse. This paper, therefore, discusses ethical considerations when legalizing marijuana and uses the case of alcohol to investigate why the use of cannabis should be legalized.
Background on legalization of marijuana
Legalization of marijuana seems to be a great debate in most nations of the world. Several states in the U.S have taken steps in legalizing the medicinal use of marijuana with further actions being taken to legalize recreational use of the drug. Ethically, the use of marijuana is far much better than using other drugs such as alcohol and tobacco due the high number of deaths and violence associated with the latter drugs. Keeping marijuana illegal has been argued to help in preventing the increase in cases of criminal activities. The illegality of marijuana makes young people exposed to criminal acts since criminals are the ones who are mainly associated with the illegal trade of cannabis. There are also concerns about the fact that legalizing marijuana increases smoking of weed among the poor and those who are socially marginalized, thereby hindering their advancements. The use of marijuana is related to interference with human cognition which further affects the choices made by individuals. The implications of such actions are that the moral conscientiousness of individuals makes them opt for self-destructive alternatives. Those who smoke weed are believed to fall into the trap of failing to respect others, making good choices and maintaining their reputation. However, comparing marijuana use to alcohol abuse, it is clear that the former is to a larger extent less socially damaging since it leads to minimal effects on social, economic and health conditions of users and their families or friends. Ethical application of marijuana for therapy purposes explains why marijuana should be preferred to other drugs that only serve to disrupt the normal functioning of the users. Pitting marijuana users and alcohol users, the former could be to a larger extent healthier to use. There are fewer deaths reported from the use of marijuana compared to incidences of tobacco and alcohol abuse. Alcohol is 114 times more deadly than marijuana, thereby raising the questions on the ethical considerations of legalizing alcohol while prohibiting the use of cannabis.
Moral reluctance to legalize marijuana is accounted by the fact that its abuse leads to mental and cognitive problems as reported by World Health Organization. Excessive use of alcohol is, however, attributed to major health problems, among them high blood pressure, liver disease, cancer and dementia depression. Social problems are also concerns for alcohol users who tend to be less productive in terms of contributing to the growth and stability of the community. The majority of immoral issues in the society are linked to alcoholism where incidents of increased traffic accidents and domestic violence are common for alcohol users. However, the case is not the same with marijuana use since there are no cases reported on the social evils generated from the use of cannabis. Health-related costs of alcohol use, the high number of deaths and social problems caused increase the possibility of making marijuana use to create a shift from abuse of alcohol and substances such as tobacco.
Discussion
The subject of legalizing marijuana has for long stood out in most nations of the world. States such as Colorado in the United States have passed laws that decriminalize marijuana for adults above the age of 21 years. Prohibition of marijuana has for long been associated with the negative effects of its use. Many argue that the use of marijuana makes an individual intoxicated which results in feelings of anxiety, fear, and panic. Others argue that marijuana-induced intoxication leads to impairment of the memory such that coordination and reaction time is affected. Legalization of marijuana is believed to be a good thing since it will lead to the collection of larger amount of tax revenues, and lower government spending. In spite of the fact that a large number of people use marijuana regardless of its legality, legalizing the drug is not likely to increase its negative effects in the communities. In many cases, marijuana has been linked to respiratory infections and impairment of judgment but it is yet to be a leading cause of deaths among its users since other drugs such as alcohol are main causes of deaths. Legalization of marijuana would not, therefore, affect the harmless use of the drug, but rather, it would benefit the users in the country. A key consideration for marijuana users is to use their judgment such that they are unlikely to take overdoses of the drug. Legalization of marijuana is important since it is among the best ways of keeping it out of the hands of children in the family. Ethically, it would be wise to give people some degree of freedom in using marijuana so long as the citizens are made are of the fact that they do not use cannabis to impede the freedom of others. Concerns have been raised about the need for the government to avoid governing what people do in their own homes so long as it does not harm others and that marijuana could be used for medical purposes. The major purpose of the prohibition of a drug is to protect the interest of the citizens. However, with marijuana, the evidence of its effects has not been clear to the extent that marijuana is considered better than the use of other prohibited drugs. In several cases, marijuana has been found to be of much help in therapeutic interventions. The fact that marijuana is used for medical interventions means that ethically, it is good to ensure patients have access to their prescriptions. Marijuana has in recent times been used as a preventative medicine to prevent cases of Alzheimer’s disease. Through legalization, therefore, patients are assured that they will have access to marijuana as advised by their doctors and that they will be able to live for long compared to when they are denied access to the drug.
Ethically, it is of no use to deny a dying person the right to use prescribed medicine that could ease their suffering. The fact that marijuana could be used as preventative medicine means that its use for recreational purpose is good since it protects individuals from old age diseases. Compared to legalized drugs such as tobacco whose effects to the lungs and the respiratory systems is much more than marijuana, it is ethically proper to consider legalization of the latter. Leaders need to realize that legalization requires the highest level of transformational leadership. If properly executed, legalization of marijuana could create some positive changes in the society including reduction of reliance on more dangerous drugs. Currently, marijuana is legal in 21 states of the United States, but researchers have argued that ethical implications of marijuana use could be adverse for the society. The ethical aspects are the foundation of debate due to the fact that legalization will potentially lead to higher rates of abuse while others argue that it could be prone to unacceptable sue for medical purpose. Once it becomes legalized, is believed that children will be spoilt morally since they will begin to think that marijuana use is acceptable. This means that, legalizing marijuana would make future generations believe that drugs are acceptable in the society. Currently, marijuana is used for recreational purposes hence legalization would mean increased incidences of drug abuse. Young people using drugs are at higher risk of becoming dependent and abusive on marijuana. The ethical questions asked is the intention of the government in legalizing a drug that damages the body system of individuals.
Ethical use of marijuana for health care
Modern society tends to shift from the fact that marijuana use is a criminal act to seeing it as good for medicinal purposes. Health care practitioners have in the recent years discussed the use of marijuana for palliative care since it relieves the suffering of patients. With the objective of health care being to ensure compassionate care for patients, it is ethical enough to consider using marijuana to prevent and relieve symptoms of the disease. Since relief of patients’ pain is necessary and is largely seen as a right for patients, pain management becomes a core competency in health acre professions. Marijuana also alleviates nausea and vomiting and wasting due to AIDS infection. Ethically, seriously ill patients have the right to have effective therapy as they wish hence denying them the opportunity to recover interferes with ethical medical practice. States in the United States have resulted to enacting medical marijuana statute, but the debate is still evident on the ethical implications of legalizing medical marijuana. A key concern is using marijuana for medical reasons is the fact that recommending drugs that are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration raise questions on ethical aspects in a patient-doctor relationship. Others have argued that it is unethical to rely on marijuana for a prescription since there is limited data available in determining the side effects of the drug. The risk of using marijuana for medicinal reasons have therefore been linked to side effects from ineffective dosage but there are also advantages including use of marijuana for management of symptoms of cancer, AIDS and some forms of mental illnesses. However, non-restriction of medical options that could have positive impacts on the lives of patients means denying them freedom. The fact that patients have a right to life, health and bodily liberty makes it permissible for them to be allowed to accept marijuana prescriptions if they feel it will contribute to management of pain. Freedom to life and health is subject to non-interference by external parties and is largely the responsibility and the right of patients to choose whatever they feel is good for them.
Ethically, medical professionals have the duty of care not to corrupt the lives of patients and provide them with the best care. Health care professional therefore have the option to ensure they do not eliminate the options open to patients and which could contribute to their recovery. Legalization have a significant impact on the actions of health practitioners. In the event where the use of marijuana for medical purpose is legally allowed, then the practitioners have within ethical context the choice through consultation of the patients to use marijuana for pain management. The pain and anxiety experienced by patients provide reason for permitting cannabis prescriptions to ensure patients do not have to suffer much from their illness. The use of marijuana for medicinal purpose contrast alcohol use which is not related to any useful application in the lives of people. Instead, alcohol use is among the major cause of illness among individuals who then suffer from severe pain later suppressed through marijuana medication.
Comparing Alcohol and Marijuana use
Drinking too much alcohol can kill a person within a very short time. Alcohol use is linked to shutting up of the brain such that it becomes difficult for users to have effective lungs and respiratory functioning. Researchers have proven that aspects of binge drinking lead to deaths in few minutes after consumption. Marijuana is however better compared to alcohol and tobacco abuse that are linked to thousands of death every year across the United States. Marijuana also has effects of the respiratory system since it leads to increased heart beat rates and blood pressure but it is unlikely that an individual will fall into the temptation of overdosing the drug. Alcohol is also more likely to interact with other drugs unlike marijuana such that in the event where a person is under medication, taking alcohol decreases the level of activity of the medicines in their body. Excess alcoholism has severe long term consequences that contribute to major threatening issues in the lives of individuals. Liver disease is among the most common effects of alcohol drinking which contribute to conditions such as fibrosis of the liver and liver cancer. With marijuana however, researchers have tried to explain why its abuse does not lead to severe consequences like those that come about from smoking tobacco products. Marijuana has for long been associated with destruction of millions of young users and is a gate way to hard drugs. Other suggestions on marijuana have been that it makes an individual lazy such that they tend to sit down the whole day doing nothing. However, with all the beliefs on marijuana use, it is imperative that people learn to have an open mind on the harmful effects of marijuana.
The fact that there are lot of people out there who are unfamiliar with marijuana makes it subject to misinformed perceptions. Most of the people in the society have never tried marijuana in spite of them believing that it is worse than other drugs such as alcohol. There are negative stereotypes on those who use marijuana since they are believed to be dangerous and unable to maintain order in the society. However, in most cases, marijuana is used the same way alcohol is used since the two drugs are mostly used for recreational purpose. Such argument therefore arise from ethical consideration of legalizing marijuana since the fact that it is used the same way as alcohol and that the later has severe consequences means that marijuana needs to be legalized. Use of marijuana is therefore not immoral or wrong since it is simply what responsible adults would chose to do. Marijuana is to a larger extent good compared to alcohol since the latter is more toxic, addictive and leads to injuries to the body as well as increased cases of interpersonal than marijuana. Many people have died from alcohol abuse while millions suffer from effects of excessive consumption.
Thousands of deaths from alcohol abuse are reported annually across the United States. On the other hand, there are no estimates of individuals dying from use of marijuana hence raising the question on whether it is ethically proper to allow alcohol and prohibit marijuana use. With alcohol, the more one consumes the more they get their desired satisfaction. Health costs related to alcoholism exceed those for marijuana use thereby implying that the government spends more in preventing alcohol abuse and rehabilitating addicts that in spend on marijuana users. The addictive nature of alcohol makes it morally destructive since those who become regular users are likely to be dependent on alcohol for a longer period with adverse effects on their health. Alcohol abuse is linked to increased cases of assaults that are attributed to injuries on both the abuser and their victims. The forms of violence linked with alcoholism makes marijuana use ethically permissible and hence the need for stakeholders to take actions in legalizing the drug. The implication of alcohol abuse in the community has for long been proven since it contributes to aggressive and violent behavior that tend to disrupt the peace in the society. Intoxication form alcohol use is among the reasons for violent relationships in marriages and disruption of family ties that are among the factors that interfere with ethical aspects desired in the community. Millions of alcohol related violent crimes are reported annually across the United States while on the other, there are limited cases on violence from marijuana use. Domestic abuse and assaults are in most cases related to alcohol abuse with male to female physical aggression being linked with alcohol abusers. Incidences of sexual assaults are also widely documented among alcohol abusers compared to marijuana users who have no records of sexual violence. The implications of such actions from alcohol abuse proves that ethically, it is much better to legalize the use of marijuana and discourage excessive consumption of alcohol since the former has limited effects on the stability of the society.
Conclusion and recommendation
Ethically, use of marijuana is far much better than using other drugs such as alcohol and tobacco due the high number of deaths and violence reported from marijuana use. Keeping marijuana illegal is linked to increased cases of criminal activities which are largely unaccounted for and are therefore based on misinformed perceptions. Illegality of marijuana makes young people exposed to criminal acts since criminals are the ones who are mainly associated with illegal trade of cannabis. However, comparing marijuana use with alcohol abuse, it is clear that the former is to larger extent less harmful since it leads to minimal effects on social, economic and health conditions of users and their families or friends. Ethical application of marijuana for therapy purposes explains why marijuana should be preferred to other drugs that only serve to disrupt functioning of the users and have no alliterative good use in the society. The pain and anxiety experienced by patients provide reason for permitting cannabis prescriptions to ensure patients do not have to suffer much from their illness. However, with all the beliefs on marijuana use, the recommendation is that people need to learn to have an open mind on the harmful effects of marijuana. While choosing to have the open mind, it is also appropriate that they compare the effects of different drugs with cannabis use. The fact that there are lot of people out there who are unfamiliar with marijuana makes it subject to misinformed perceptions. Most of the people in the society have never tried marijuana in spite of them believing that it is worse than other drugs such as alcohol. There are negative stereotypes on those who use marijuana since they are believed to be dangerous and unable to maintain order in the society. Ethically, marijuana use is therefore considerably good compared to use of drugs such as alcohol that continue to contribute to break down of family ties, disruption of stability in the community and destruction of the lives of users.
Works Cited
Blumenson, Eric and Eva Nilsen. "Liberty Lost: The Moral Case for Marijuana Law Reform." Indiana Law Journal (2010): 279-297. Document.
Clark, Peter. "The Ethics of Medical Marijuana: Government Restrictions vs Medical Necessity." Journal of Public Health Policy (2000): 40-60. Document.
Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative. Should marijuana be legalized in the United States? Technical Report. New York: Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative, 2013. Document. <http://danielsethics.mgt.unm.edu>.
Mohammad, Al-ghzawi. "Alcohol Use among Adolescents." International Journal of Humanities and Social Science (2014): 167-176. Document.
Philipsen, Nayna, Robin Butler and Christie Simon-Waterman. "Medical Marijuana: A Primer on Ethics, Evidence, and Politics." Journal for Nurse Practitioners (2014): 633-640. Document.
