Should Medical Marijuana Be Legalized - Research Paper Example

?Should Medical Marijuana be Legalized? One of the hot-button political questions in recent years has been the legalization of medical marijuana. While in the United States marijuana has been prohibited since the early twentieth century, the shifting nature of public perception in recent years has resulted in an increased willingness to examine legalization. In this contemporary cultural climate a number of states have lowered the penalties for individuals caught with marijuana, in a sense decriminalizing the controlled substance. Another trend, particularly in regions such as California and Colorado, is a movement towards medical marijuana; this is the legalization of marijuana for individuals with an approved medical condition. Still, a number of states, such as Florida, retain stringent marijuana laws and regularly incarcerate individuals for the offense. This essay examines both the pros and cons of the medical marijuana debate, and then presents my own views regarding the debate. Even as marijuana has gained a negative reputation in much of mainstream culture, medical cannabis can be used to safely treat a variety of symptoms. In terms of a broad category of symptoms, it’s understood that marijuana use aids individuals suffering from nausea, vomiting, premenstrual symptoms, and lack of appetite (Cornman). In addition to these broad ranging issues, marijuana use has been noted to aid individuals that experience levels of spasticity (Cornman). In these regards, the substance has a sedative effect that calms the patient and allows nerve functioning to assume recognized levels of normalcy. In terms of these other serious issues, marijuana has also been noted to have significant contributions to the fight against glaucoma, asthma, and a variety of neurogenic disorders. In examining the contributions medical marijuana has made to specific ailments the greatest current challenge is a lack of research, coupled with the pervasive negative connotations associated with the substance. Still, a growing body of research has indicated that marijuana may have medical benefits significantly more far reaching than previously believed. In these regards, it’s possible that medical marijuana usage may contribute to healing such large-scale issues as Huntington’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, collagen-induced arthritis, and Parkinson’s disease (Booth). In large part, current research and acceptance has indicated that marijuana can be effectively implemented in the treatment of physical ailments. Research has also indicated that marijuana can potentially contribute to a variety of psychic disorders. Perhaps the most pervasive in these regards is the use of medical marijuana for a variety of anxiety issues (Cornman). The sedative elements of marijuana have been reported to create a relaxing effect that calms the individual’s nerves and has a holistic effect on their psychological anxiety symptoms. In addition to contributions medical marijuana makes to anxiety, it also has gained growing support in alleviating psychic elements associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (Booth). While PTS is still an area of mental illness that demands a complex psychological response, medical marijuana has been qualitatively reported to reduce the psychic trauma and redirect the individual’s consciousness towards more functional concerns. Medical marijuana can be consumed through a variety of methods; most prominently marijuana is smoked in a pipe, but can also be vaporized or even eaten. Notably, one of the growing means of medical marijuana consumption is through synthetic pill form, known as Marinol. While there are substantial ethical arguments that support the legalization of medical marijuana, the approach of ethical egoism presents a case where marijuana should continue to be criminalized. Ethical egoism, “is the prescriptive doctrine that all persons ought to act from their own self-interest” ("Ethical egoism,"). In the context of the debate regarding whether medical marijuana should continue to be criminalized ethical egoism emerges in a number of contexts. One of the major arguments in terms of ethical egoism is the notion that in continuing to criminalize marijuana, those in the majority power in society are able to continue to oppress minority. Consider that, “African-Americans account for approximately 13% of the population of the United States and about 13.5% of annual marijuana users, however, blacks also account for 26% of all marijuana arrests” ("Top ten reasons,"). In this context of understanding, legalizing marijuana would result in a social situation where lower class and minority individuals have more potential for gaining power. Ethical egoism contends then that those in control should work to ensure that this does not occur. Another argument against the legalization of medical marijuana occurs in terms of general qualitative disregard for a perceived culture that surrounds marijuana use. In this context of understanding, there is a perception among members of the public that marijuana use carries with it increased crime rates, individuals willing to skip work, and a pervasive culture of apathy. In these regards, the reason for desiring the criminalization of marijuana is the desire to preserve the culture that they are accustomed to. Rather than considering broader social issues, this perspective thinks in terms of the individual’s self-interests. While there are convincing arguments for both arguments for the legalization of medical marijuana and arguments for its continued criminalization, ultimately I embrace legalization. There are a variety of reasons why I believe that marijuana should be legalized. The nature of marijuana legalization would clearly contribute to society in a number of ways. Most prominently I believe that legalization would limit the incarcerations rates for individuals using marijuana. The amount of individuals using marijuana in safe and recreational ways greatly outweighs the amount of people using it for purposes that can be deemed criminally detrimental to social progress. Still, staggering rates of people have been jailed for marijuana use, received criminal records, and had their lives negatively affected in strong ways. In keeping the criminalization of marijuana some of the major concerns are the understanding that individuals using or dealing with marijuana are involved in criminal acts that oftentimes function as a gateway to other crimes. Through this logic the nature of marijuana use places users in contact with other potentially more serious criminals. It’s important to legalize marijuana then as a means of creating separation from more serious criminals and the large amount of Americans who regularly use marijuana. In conclusion, this essay as considered major whether medical marijuana should be legalized. Another of considerations both in favor and against were considered. Finally, my own considerations were articulated. In these regards, the criminalization of marijuana is demonstrated to negatively affect the lives of otherwise upstanding citizens to the extent that legalization would have an overwhelming medical benefit to society. Ultimately, while the essay considers both the pros and cons of legalization, it argues that it would be most ethically responsible for medical marijuana to be legalized. References Booth, M. Cannabis: A History. Macmillan Publishers & Random House, Inc. 2005. Cornman, J, et al. Philosophical Problems and Arguments - An Introduction, 4th edition Indianapolis, IN: Hackett Publishing Co. 1992. Ethical egoism. Retrieved from http://philosophy.lander.edu/ethics/ethical_ego.html. 2011 Top ten reasons marijuana should be legal. Retrieved from http://www.alternet.org/drugs/60959/?page=2. 2011 Read More