Legalization of marijuana
The debate is on the table following the proposal of legalizing marijuana with more than 27 states making it available for medical use. From the research done, it shows that Cannabis sativa has the medication benefits that justify it useful for users. For example, the cannabinols found in marijuana can cure several ailments that include chronic pain, which it works through intercepting pain receptors in the brain (Cherney). Second, is alcohol and drug addiction, the research confirms that smoking marijuana helps reduce alcoholic and drug addictions from people. Third, treatment of cancer, it helps in reducing the side effects of chemotherapy also it kills cancer cell (Cherney). Also, it is used to cure mental diseases like depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and social anxiety, and many more.
The legalization of the drug could not go without critics. Most of them are not yet confirmed; the claims that usage of marijuana has puts a person at risk. For example, continuous use of marijuana causes Bipolar disorder with insufficient evidence is not yet confirmed; it is suggested that people with a history of the disorder are at risk of getting it when they use Marijuana (Miller). Also, other unconfirmed cases include the cause of testicular cancer and respiratory diseases. Further, there are also confirmed effects of the drug that include hallucinations that affect the normal functioning of the brain, which may pose risks to a person’s physical life. For example, a person under the influence of marijuana should drive any machine. And other side effects
Furthermore, the legalization has to be considered from an ethical perspective to determine whether it is right or wrong. It is through analyzing the actions, consequences, and the moral status of the decision. Use of ethical aspects like utilitarianism, rights-based, duty-based, virtue-based, and justice-based ethics can be used to justify the legalization of marijuana because they are the theories that explain the elements of ethics and morality in actions.
Under utilitarianism ethics, the legalization of marijuana is right; this ethic is based on the outcome of the choice of the action. It says if the action is going to bring great positive consequences to the majority, it is right whether the action is correct or wrong (Herring). Marijuana has many benefits than the negatives; hence legalization will save many lives of people suffering from the above-discussed ailments. Also, there is a considerable gap between the number of people suffering from the diseases cannabinol heal and the number of diseases cannabinol cause. Hence, it helps the majority positively.
According to the right based ethics, a right, whether good or bad, is given to the people only because they are humans (Herring). These rights are proper, and they promote the well-being of them to live in society. Hence, legalizing marijuana is a right that people should be given because they are human. Despite government mechanisms to stop the usage of the substance, many people are still using it, which justifies how people need the drug, which is unfair denying them.
Basing on justice-based ethics, legalizing marijuana is a moral decision. The theory is concerned with the moral choice and its effects on other people. It emphasizes on the equity and equality (Herring). The demand for drugs is high, with institutions like health centers want to use it for medicinal needs. Therefore, lifting the ban on marijuana will mean equality and equity to both the users and the non-users. It is because the non-users they are the one who condemns it and declare illegal not considering people who need it and why.
According to duty-based ethics, morality is based on what a person does, not the outcome of the action (Herring). For example, stealing to feed the family members who need food is wrong because the act is wrong though positive outcomes. Hence, the legalization of marijuana is the right thing to be considered.
Lastly, the legalization of marijuana can be considered under the virtue-based ethics. The theory is concerned with the moral life and not the actions of a person (Herring). In this theory, the legalization of marijuana varies with the society a person belongs to. Following most people’s beliefs concerning the drug, legalizing it will be morally inappropriate. Furthermore, the decision can be moral, considering the value the drug will offer to society.