Legalizing Marijuana - Essay Example

Legalizing Marijuana Although marijuana happens to be one of the main growing industries, presently, it is only legal for specific medical purposes. Within the United States, there are a number of issues regarding the drug epidemic, which individuals engage in with the use of marijuana amongst other hard drugs being an all-time high (Morgan, 2010). Consequently, a large amount of actions intended in legalizing marijuana use has been gaining momentum in the recent past, with a huge number of people contending for its legalization. This is because, if the United States legalizes the use of marijuana, it will make an enormous sum of dollars in terms of taxes, while, at the same time, save billions of dollars in the legal system. However, there are others who have concerns with the issues of health, damages, as well as challenging effects caused by marijuana. The aim of attempting to legalize marijuana was to assist and express views, along with ideas of individuals; therefore, the Federal Government, together with other lawmakers must permit every individual to air their thoughts concerning the legalization of marijuana. Apparently, there are an enormous number of cancer patients, who can be beneficiaries of marijuana, while it could be harmful to other individuals coming in contact with it. Therefore, in order to decide whether it is necessary to legalize marijuana or not, it is essential to explore the following ethical theories, which will necessitate the decision making process. The majority of ethical theories get involved with what is right or opportune; in most cases, they attempt to establish this by applying rules, which seem to fit with results that we mostly find as being "good". Ethical theories, along with principles tend to be the basis of ethical analysis since they are the perceptions from which guidance is obtainable along the way to a decision (Banks, 2004). Although every theory emphasizes distinctive points like predicting the result and following ones responsibilities to others so as to arrive at an ethically correct decision, for any ethical theory to turn out to be significant, the theory should be directed to a common, established goal. Therefore, ethical principles are those common aims that every theory attempts to achieve so as to be successful. These aims include beneficence that steers the ethical theory to carrying out what is acceptable least harm whereby a person must choose to do that which has the least harm possible thereby harming the fewest people; respect for autonomy, whereby an ethical theory should permit people to control themselves, thereby being able to decide what is applicable to their lives; and finally, justice, whereby ethical theories must prescribe actions, which are fair to those included. Each ethical theory emphasizes on different facets of an ethical dilemma, thereby heading to the most ethically acceptable resolution in accordance to the guidelines in the ethical theory itself (Banks, 2004). There are numerous ethical theories, but in this essay, we shall look at deontology, utilitarianism and virtue, then go ahead to decide, which of these ethical theories supports the legalization of marijuana. 1. Utilitarianism: This theory has its foundation on the ability of predicting the outcomes of an action; therefore, to a utilitarian, the option yielding the greatest gain to the majority of people happens to be an option that is ethically correct. This ethical theory has a number of benefits; one of them is that the utilitarian is capable of comparing similar predicted solutions, while using a point system in determining which option happens to be more advantageous for more people. According to this point system, there is a logical, together with rationale argument for every decision, thereby permitting a person to utilize it on the context of a case-by-case perspective. Utilitarianism has two divisions: act utilitarianism, together with rule utilitarianism. When it comes to act utilitarianism, a person executes the acts benefiting the majority of people, in spite of personal feelings or even the societal restraints like laws (Porche, 2004). On the other hand, rule utilitarianism considers the law, while getting concerned with fairness. Therefore, a rule utilitarian seeks out to benefiting the majority of people, but by means of the fairest, as well as the most just means available. 2. Deontology: According to this theory, people must stick to their obligations, as well as their duties when evaluating an ethical dilemma. Here, a person follows his or her responsibility to another individual or society since upholding ones duty tends to be ethically correct. Through deontology has numerous positive attributes, it also has various flaws; one of its weakness is that there is no pedestal for making a decision concerning an individuals responsibilities (Porche, 2004). Apart from that, deontology does not have roots on the context of every situation; it does not give any guidance when it comes to a complex situation whereby there are contradictory obligations. 3. Virtue: According to this ethical theory, a person gets judged according to his character instead of by an act that might deviate from his common behavior. Virtue ethical theory considers the persons morals, repute, as well as his motivation when rating a strange and erratic behavior that is unethical (Banks, 2004). Considering that marijuana happens to be one of the chief growing industries, at the moment, it is only legal for specific medical purposes. Therefore, if the United States goes ahead and legalizes Marijuana, it will make billions of dollars in taxes, while, at the same time, saving save billions of dollars in the legal system. There are a lot of people who got incarcerated for crimes, which ranges from possession of marijuana, to the distribution of marijuana; in the end, this costs the tax paying citizens billions of dollars annually (Morgan, 2010). A lot of money gets spent in paying the legal system for these laws, in addition to paying so as to hold these marijuana offenders incarcerated for the present marijuana laws. However, if marijuana gets legalized, then marijuana would eventually be produced by the government or legal corporations, rather than by criminals. Apart from that, with the legalization of marijuana, there will be the creation of new jobs; this will ensure that the majority of this unemployed youth earn a living without engaging in illegal acts. When it comes to the medical world, the value of marijuana outweighs its potential abuse; in reality, marijuana is less dangerous compared to alcohol, cigarettes, as well as the majority of over-the-counter prescriptions. In its natural form, marijuana happens to be one of the most anodyne therapeutically active substances discovered by man. Additionally, marijuana relieves nausea experienced by cancer patients going through powerful chemotherapy, besides getting used by patients who suffer from multiple sclerosis, as well as AIDS. Marijuana happens to be effective when treating glaucoma since its use lowers pressure within the eye. Consequently, its significance to the paper, as well as clothing industries is immeasurable; therefore, there is a need to consider legalization despite efforts by groups contending that marijuana is a harmful drug, capable of increasing crime rates, thereby leading users to other more harmful substances. However, before legalizing the marijuana act, it is essential to analyze whether by so doing, this act will be the right thing to do or whether the side effects will outdo the benefits, by looking at its outcomes. On the other hand, according to critics, there are a number of reasons as to why marijuana should not be legalized; first, there are increased chances of the drug getting to the hands of children. Considering that there is forbidding of unhealthy items, which are legal such as cigarettes and alcohol, from getting sold to children, yet they still end up in children’s hands. Marijuana use is capable of causing serious harm to developing brains and bodies hence it is necessary to keep marijuana, as well as other drugs from reaching the hands of children. Apparently, any time something becomes legal, it becomes easily accessible to children (Morgan, 2010). According to the utilitarianism theory, when offered a set of choices, the act chosen happens to be the one that produces the best outcome for the greatest number influenced by that choice. Therefore, by applying the classical theory utilitarianism, the way out to resolving this issue is by legalizing marijuana, considering that overall it is for the greater gain of the United States. Amongst the benefits accrued from this endeavor, the United States economy will benefit from the creation of jobs it will save the taxpaying citizens billion dollars, while, at the same time, and massive amounts of sales tax revenues would be created. This revenue could be re invested in other valuable resources like education or healthcare, in addition to giving the law, enforcement more time, as well as resources for focusing on real drug war. Although we have looked at the issue of legalizing marijuana based on the classical theories of deontology, utilitarianism and virtue, it is essential that we contrast this response from the perspective brought about by the theories of relativism, emotivism, or ethical egoism. 1. Emotivism: This theory responds to this question by modifying the language of ethical discourse thereby avoiding any disagreements concerning facts that are perceptions, as well as feelings; rather it deals with attitudes. According to this theory, human beings tend to use ethical language in influencing the attitudes, along with the behavior of fellow human beings (Holmes, 2007). Therefore, ethical language tends to express closely-held attitudes, which one person uses having the intent of swaying others to accepting and to acting on, not information, which is either true or false. 2. Ethical Egoism: This theory asks whether the decision made is in the interest of the decision maker since ethical egoists upholds that every human being needs to pursue what is in their self-interest exclusively. Therefore, when ethical decisions are made by agents, there is a need to put individual’s self-interests as the main issues even though there is no factual distinction between people (Boundas, 2007). Unfortunately, although ethical egoism offers an intriguing argument about what agents must do, it does not offer consistent principles about what agents should do. 3. Ethical Relativism: This theory enables individuals, societies, as well as cultures to tackle some highly significant, as well as complex notions, particularly those relating to the purpose of human existence, along with the link between means and ends (Boundas, 2007). This theory rejects the being of any absolute moral or utmost end or purpose within life; rather, it requires the willingness of seizing upon present opportunities while adapting to sudden alterations in fortune, while refusing to act on any principle as normative. Contented to living with a short-term perspective, looking only to instantaneous prospects, while letting the future take care of itself by intentionally intending to stay open to possibilities; therefore, the ethical relativist should not be committed to any stance. Although the theory of ethical relativism rejects the being of any absolute moral or utmost end or purpose within life, it requires the willingness of seizing upon present opportunities while adapting to sudden alterations in fortune. Therefore, by legalizing marijuana, we would be considering the opportunities presented by this legalization, while, at the same time, letting the future take care of itself. Ethical theories tend to bring considerable characteristics when it comes to making decisions. While all the ethical theories try to pursue the ethical principles so as to be applicable, as well as valid by themselves, every theory falls short with complicated flaws, along with failings. However, there is a diversity of ethical theories, which offer a substantial framework when attempting to make ethically acceptable answers. Every ethical theory tries to stick to the ethical rules, which lead to success when attempting to reach the most excellent decision (Holmes, 2007). When one comprehends every theory, comprising of its strengths, together with its weaknesses, it is possible to make extremely informed decisions in an attempt of achieving an ethically acceptable answer to a dilemma. Conclusion Although marijuana supports tend to get strong opposition from a number of companies, some activists, as well as paper manufacturers, most of these companies oppose marijuana due to their selfishness; nonetheless, this should not preclude its use within society. In spite of what these organizations end up saying concerning marijuana, the fact remains that marijuana has the potential of becoming one of the most effective substances all over the world. Therefore, if people took the plunge, while, at the same time, the government legalizes it today; benefits of this decision will immediately be seen. People suffering from medical conditions ranging from manic depression up to Multiple Sclerosis will have the opportunity of experiencing relief. On top of that, the government will benefit from making billions of dollars from the taxes it imposes on its sale, along with its implementation in the industrial world would be capable of creating thousands of additional jobs for the economy (Morgan, 2010). On top of that, due to its role in paper making, it will be possible to save the rain forests found in South America from their present fate of extinction. Apparently, there are no records of deaths resulting from marijuana use, and it is not physically addictive compared to alcohol or tobacco, with the majority of doctors agreeing that it is safer to use compared to those substances. Therefore, there is no validity at all in marijuana being illegal; rather, owing to all the positive aspects of marijuana it only appropriate to legalize it. References: Banks, C. (2004). Criminal Justice Ethics: Theory and Practice. Arizona : SAGE. Boundas, C. V. (2007). The Edinburgh Companion to Twentieth-Century Philosophies. Chicago: Edinburgh University Press. Holmes, A. F. (2007). Ethics: Approaching Moral Decisions. Illinois: InterVarsity Press. Morgan, K. (2010). Legalizing Marijuana. California: ABDO. Porche, D. J. (2004). Public & Community Health Nursing Practice: A Population-based Approach. Louisiana : SAGE. Read More