Legalizing Marijuana - Medical Uses of Marijuana - Essay Example

LEGALIZING MARIJUANA Introduction Marijuana is a global psychoactive drug used for its narcotic effect. It is known globally by various names including Khat, pot, cannabis sativa, weed, and grass to name just but a few. Its psychoactive element is derived from the THC- which is the delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol ingredient found in Cannabis plant (Hager, 2002). The quantity of the THC influence the psychological and physiological effects of marijuana will be. In addition, the potency of marijuana is dependent on the type of cannabis plant, when the cannabis plant is harvested, the soil on which the cannabis plant was cultivated on among other elements (Connolly, 2006). The subject of marijuana cultivation, usage and its legalization has elicited as much debate as important social issues such as rights for different sexual orientations, health reforms, emission of green house gases, humanitarian crisis in developing countries, global warming among others (Gerber, 2004). The thesis for this report therefore, is to highlight the ethical issues and ethical problems of legalizing marijuana. The report will analyze how the classical theory utilitarianism would resolve the problems and then, contrast that with the perspective brought to legalizing marijuana by relativism. In addition, the report will highlight a reason to support legalization of Marijuana. Ethical Issues and Ethical Problems of Legalizing Marijuana The consumption of marijuana has been ongoing for years and universally, despite the fact that major economies across the world have prohibited its production, marketing , consumption, transfer, possession and usage (Hager, 2002). As a result, marijuana is an illicit drug. Although many have argued that marijuana should be legalized, marijuana poses ethical implications. Upon usage of marijuana, the user’s pulse rates quicken, their blood pressure decreases and the rates of heartbeat increases. Into the bargain, the drug weaken and diminish short term memory, it is attributed with altering the ability of the user to sense time and affect adversely the capacity of the user to perform motor skills or operations that need keen concentration, speedy reflexes, and dexterity (Linn, 1971). This includes chores like running heavy equipments and motor driving. Ethically, long duration use of marijuana turns into a marijuana addiction, which is particularly hard to get over. Most marijuana addicts find it hard to stop and for those who go for rehabilitation, without commitment, social support system and proper guidance and counseling, they eventually regress to usage (Connolly, 2006). With addiction comes lose of self. This causes the user to neglect themselves, and may more often than not, isolate themselves from their friends and family, get depressed, have suicidal thoughts, routinely hallucinate, are careless at work and may eventually neglect their work and families causing loss of work and family disintegration (Hager, 2002). The users are known to lose control of their emotions such as anger, fear, anxiety, psychosis, resentment and panic hence may result them to commit crimes, such as being excessively aggressive and violent to others. Upon stopping consumption of alcohol, the user experiences withdrawal effects, which are to say the least painful; it causes anxiety and may alter the physical, emotional, social and psychological states of the user (Linn, 1971). Marijuana is a type of drug that may seem harmless, but eventually harm the lives of young people. The marijuana drugs are easily and cheaply affordable for the young owing to the fact that, they can be packed in any amount in sticks, dependent on the type of marijuana and how much money the user has. Young people, who take marijuana for recreational purposes, eventually experiment with other, more lethal drugs. Habitual use of marijuana drugs causes the young people to lose focus on life, and will consequently neglect their schoolwork and drop out either because of indiscipline or due to poor grades attained (Leonard, 2007). For young schooling teens, the drug influences negatively on their ability to learn by impairing their reasoning abilities, they are unable to comprehend subject content and harm their oral and arithmetical proficiencies and easily forgets what they have learnt (Leonard, 2007). Just like cigarettes, marijuana drugs causes harm to the body and health. Marijuana affects efficient supply of blood and causes chest congestion from the inhale smoke. Marijuana effects on the user health wise are quicker than in users of tobacco (Connolly, 2006). The fact that the marijuana sticks are made without filters, means that smoke is not filtered and the deep inhales irritate and damage the lungs tissue (Sanghai, 2010). Marijuana has carcinogenic elements, which causes cancer and emphysema. Men and women who use marijuana experiences short term infertility. This is indicative of the negative influence it would have on young people whose reproductive mechanisms are developing. Women who use marijuana experience stillbirths, premature deliveries and delivering low birth weight babies. Long over usage of marijuana, lend the users helpless, inattentive, unawares of their environs (Leonard, 2007). Users of marijuana eventually do not end well; they live desperately and become disoriented, are lonely and delusional, depressed and may die from health complications (Connolly, 2006). Owing to the fact that it is an illicit drug, users, dealers and traffickers once caught by authorities are eligible to serving time in incarceration. Classical Theory Utilitarianism Classical utilitarianism is an ethical theory that is a creation and suggestion of Jeremy Bentham. He states that “By the principle of utility is meant that principle which approves or disapproves of every action whatsoever, according to the tendency it appears to have to augment or diminish the happiness of the party whose interest is in question: or, what is the same thing in other words, to promote or to oppose that happiness." This means that the ethical value of an act is influenced exclusively by its worth in increasing the efficacy and reducing the harmful usefulness (Baker & Strosberg, 2009). Utility as Bentham presents it is the gratification, inclined contentment and comprehension deficient of harm and agony. Therefore, utilitarianism deals with consequences of actions, which means the ethical value of a deed is greatly influenced by its effect. Bentham implies that, “utilitarianism is exemplified as a quantitative and reductive approach to moral acts and ethics.” When applying the classical theory utilitarianism on the issue of legalizing marijuana, the approach taken is that, marijuana should not be legalized. This is because, although the user may experience a short-lived feeling of ‘high’ and experience excitement coupled with arousal and confidence, the negative effects on the user outweigh the benefits (Leonard, 2007). Marijuana may develop into an industry that accrue huge income revenues for the government, save for lose of life, ill health, and lose of self and direction in life that users especially the young people experience. All this is indicative that the pleasure and happiness is surpassed by the pain and suffering of the user. The physiological, emotional, and psychological trauma that is experienced conditioned users and those users experiencing withdrawal effects is unfathomable (Leonard, 2007). If per say, marijuana is legalized, utilitarian activists would disagree, cause it would mean the ethical value of using marijuana will not be greatly influenced by its effect. The greatest pleasure for the greatest number of people would not apply when marijuana is legalized according to the classical theory utilitarianism (Baker & Strosberg, 2009). The government would benefit from levies and taxes charged on cultivation and marketing of marijuana, but many of their citizens who would easily, cheaply access, and consume the drug, will experience the full negative effects of the marijuana drug as discussed above. This is violation of the core elements of utilitarianism, which suggests that concern for the interests of all compels that the society to overlook the interests of a few and that the interests of all should be contemplated on during the decision making policies and in this case, deciding whether to legalize marijuana (Baker & Strosberg, 2009). Classical theory utilitarianisms advocates for equality for all by having equal concern of happiness and pleasure or pain and suffering for all or for none. The theory of relativism Relativism is an approach that suggests that society does not have absolute truth and values and legitimacy. Relativists argue that moral and ethical values are virtuous and skewed, dependent on the diversities in perceptions and concerns in different cultures (Egan, 2007). Ethically, the theory implies that there is no balanced way of evaluating when an act is ethically wrong or right owing to the fact that there are diverse societies in existence who hold and practice different ethical values and perceptions (Macfarlane, 2009). In addition, it implies that there is such a thing as multiple ethical values and codes guiding on one single issue based on the society in which it is implemented. The relativity of deciding what is accurate and erroneous is influenced by an amalgamation of reason, studies, communal inclination and patterns, knowledge, feelings and guidelines that increases the worth or value of the action and minimizes the negative effect of the action. When combining relativism and the issue of legalizing marijuana, it means that marijuana should be legalized in different regions and societies across the globe based on their perception of whether use of marijuana drug is right or wrong (Macfarlane, 2009). This means legalization of marijuana would be approved across different nations based on what their moral beliefs and values are. For example if China decides that use of marijuana is ethically wrong and prohibits it, a country such as Mexico may look at the same issue and perceives it to be ethically right and legalize it, either nation is correct relative to what their ethical beliefs on marijuana usage are (Egan, 2007). This is because, relativism suggests that the rightness and the wrongness of an act, thought, belief, norm or law, is dependent on the ethical perception and values of the society in which it is carried out and a similar belief, law or act may be ethically wrong or illegal in another. The fact that relativism is all about lack of standards on moral and ethical issues, which can be applied across all nations and regions at all times, it means marijuana can be legalized. That is, marijuana can now be transferred, marketed, used, consumed, possessed and produced in any region that feels it is not wrong, or it is right to do so, without the legalizing nations being judged as violators and infringers of the rule of law (Egan, 2007). Cultural relativism implies that principles differ from one society to another, in view of the fact that the same principles are perceived as right and wrong in different diverse cultures (Macfarlane, 2009). On the other hand, considering principles as right or wrong does not automatically make them so, nor does it rule out the prospect of indicating that moral beliefs are misguided, which allow for relativists room to rationalize their values, laws and beliefs (Egan, 2007). This means nations that would prefer to justify legalization of marijuana need first to justify their stand and arguments on the issue. A Reason for Supporting Legalizing Marijuana Although many marijuana drugs are associated with numerous negative effects, there is one reason why the marijuana drug should be legalized. The reason for legalizing marijuana should be for medicinal use. Marijuana is among few of the hallucinogenic and stimulating drugs that can be used for medical purposes (Linn, 1971). In the late 19th and early 20th century, pharmaceutical institutions produced and traded marijuana. Marijuana was an ingredient in prescriptions and medications to cure colic conditions in babies, cholera, coughs, and painful nerves among others (Jacob, 2009). This illustrates that marijuana presently which is more strong that it initially were, can be used to cure illness. In addition, compounds in marijuana drugs can easily be used to make sedatives. Herbalists to heal cases of depression have used marijuana and nervous system diseases such as encephalomyelitis disseminate in the past. Patients can consume manufactured cannabinoids as recommended medication (Jacob, 2009). By legalizing marijuana, the medical fraternity will embark on comprehensive research and analysis of marijuana, to analyze added benefits of marijuana in disease control, prevention and curing (Connolly, 2006). Among global nations that have legalized marijuana sparingly includes Spain, Vermont Holland, Montana, Nevada, Canada, Australia, New Mexico, Arizona, Washington DC, Hawaii, Maine, Alaska, Michigan, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, and DC (Hager, 2002). Recent studies have indicted that marijuana drug is an effective drug for controlling nausea, insomnia, PMS, and used to induce appetite for patients who did not feel the urge to eat and drink. Medicinal marijuana is efficient in mitigating migraines, and managing inflammatory bowel disease (Sanghai, 2010). By legalizing marijuana, people may consume it to prevent contracting Alzheimer’s disease. This is because; marijuana’s THC prevents acetyl cholinesterase, which is the primary enzyme in development of the disease. In addition, use of marijuana helps individuals with muscle pains, chronic pains arising from chronic illness like Diabetes, relieving pressure in the interlobular of the eyes and it is effective in creating a balance in body metabolism (Linn, 1971). It has been established that marijuana compounds if consumed, decelerate the progression of some of the forms of cancers and proper usage for epileptic patients, can avert seizures associated with the disease (Jacob, 2009). In animals, marijuana herb and drug can be used to treat wounds and sores on animals. Among compounds in marijuana drugs that make the drugs, proficient medically includes among others cannabidiol, tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabinol, &-Caryophyllene, and cannabigerol. Among present legalized prescribed medications, include Marinol, Sativex and Nabilone (Hager, 2002). Legalizing marijuana is a debate that has been raging for ages, and it is time that global economies and societies do put the matter to rest. This will entail a comprehensive deliberation, analysis and evaluation of what effects and implications will arise upon legalizing marijuana. If the benefits outweigh the limitations associated with marijuana use, then marijuana will remain an illicit drug (Gerber, 2004). Nevertheless, if the results concluded illustrates that marijuana is more useful than many are made to believe, then marijuana should be legalized. This calls for a unity, commitment and open mindedness by all governmental and non-governmental sectors (Sanghai, 2010). This will separate myths about marijuana consumption and lay it bare on what marijuana as a drug and an herb is all about. Conclusion The thesis statement of this report was highlighting the ethical issues and ethical problems of legalizing marijuana. As discussed in the report, marijuana use causes numerous ethical implications such as causing users to hallucinate and more often than not, become delusional. For school going students and young people, use of marijuana results into experimentation with other more harmful and lethal drugs, losing concentration in schoolwork, forgetting easily, and losing interest in the things that should, in life. Long use of Marijuana causes the user to be delusional, lose focus, becomes disoriented, lack interest in work hence losing their jobs and resort to alienating themselves from families and friends. Users of marijuana become in no time addicts who cannot take care of themselves and a burden to the society. The report also highlighted the classical theory of utilitarianism, and highlight how it would be used to contest arguments, for legalizing marijuana. In addition, the report analyzed the concept of relativism relative to advocating for legalizing marijuana and a major reason why marijuana should be legalized. The major reason that advocates for legalizing marijuana is for its use in medicinal purposes. Compounds in marijuana are beneficial medically in relieving chronic pain, controlling nausea, prevention of Alzheimer’s disease, prevention of development of carcinogenic elements in the blood, which promotes cancer, treating depression, and can be used as sedatives. References Baker, R. & Strosberg, M. (2009). Triage and Equality: An Historical Reassessment of Utilitarian Analyses of Triage. Kennedy Institute of Ethics Journal, 2(2), 103-123. ISSN: 1054-6863.DOI: 10.1353/ken.0.0035 Connolly, S. (2006). Marijuana. Melbourne: Black Rabbit Books. Egan, A. (2007). Epistemic modals, relativism and assertion. Philosophical studies, 133(1), 1-22, DOI: 10.1007/s11098-006-9003-x Gerber, R.J. (2004). Legalizing marijuana: drug policy reform and prohibition politics. Sidney: Greenwood Publishing Group. Hager, P. (2002). Myths about the Harmful Effects of Marijuana: Contemporary Issues. San Diego: Green haven Press. Jacob, J.W. (2009). Medical Uses of Marijuana. New York City: Trafford Publishing. Leonard, B. (2007). Marijuana: Facts for Teens. Singapore: DIANE Publishing. Linn, L.S. (1971). Physician characteristics and attitudes toward legitimate use of psychotherapeutic drugs. Journal of Health and Social Behavior; 2, 132–140 Sanghai, L. (2010). Imagine Ideas That Challenge the Status Quo. London: Author House. Macfarlane, J. (2009). Relativism and disagreement. Philosophical Studies, 132(1), 17-31, DOI: 10.1007/s11098-006-9049-9 Read More