Marijuana Is One of the Most Famous Drugs - Case Study Example

Marijuana of Marijuana Introduction The ever-dynamic world saturated by a myriad of ethical issues and mesmerized by drugs. Indeed, drugs play a significant role in the lives of human beings. However, it is imperative to note that some people have used drugs for nefarious reasons. Some of the badly misused drugs and substances include alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, gum, just to name a few. Statistically, alcohol and tobacco tops the list of the world’s most popular drugs (Gerdes, 2002). Marijuana comes third. For instance, in United States alone, over 80 million people use Marijuana regularly, or they have at least used it at one occasion in their lives. According to the government, over 20 million Americans smoked Marijuana in 2012 alone, and there are approximately 11 million Americans smoking Marijuana habitually. This is happening despite the fact that the government has outlawed the use of Marijuana. Cannabis, popularly known as Marijuana is a drug that people use either for recreational or medicinal reasons. Since its discovery in 1920’s, people had been using it majorly for recreational purposes until 1970’s when they started using it as a medicinal drug. Various scientists have suggested that Marijuana can play a significant role in healing glaucoma, hypertension, or depression (Gerdes, 2002). Additionally, people living with Hiv/Aids can take Dronabinol, which has cannabis, and cannabis can treat anorexia that emanates when a patient of this kind undergoes chemotherapy. Clearly, there is little doubt that Marijuana is a useful substance that can treat some diseases. Across the world, people use Marijuana for recreational or medicinal reasons. However, some have gone ahead to use it for their own pleasure. This is the reason why all over the world, there is a talk on the legalization of Marijuana. The topic of Marijuana legalization is one of the ethical concerns that various stakeholders continue to discuss on various platforms across the globe. In this paper, I focus on ethics of Marijuana. The paper will dwell on the how people use this drug and whether it have advantages or otherwise. Through the concept of utilitarianism, the paper will explain the concept of ethics, and through ethical egoism, the paper will highlight some of the ethical issues surrounding the legalization of Marijuana (Fuller, 2010). Ethical dilemma The primary ethical dilemma about marijuana has always been its legalization. However, before we discuss the issue in lengthy, we need to understand the effects of Marijuana in order to make the figure out the short-term and long-term consequences associated with this ethical concern. It is from this ethical concern that the paper seeks to draw the beneficiaries and the victims of legalization of Marijuana. Interestingly, all over the world, a plethora of people do understand the effects of drug and substance abuse (Gerdes, 2002). However, it is paramount to note that not all drugs are harmful to the health of human beings. In fact, some drugs serve as medicine to heal certain ailments. For instance, some people believe that Marijuana is a dangerous drug with detrimental side effects. On the other hand, there are people who believe that Marijuana has no side effects and therefore, it is safe for both recreational and medicinal use. These opposing views present an ethical dilemma presented in this paper. It is imperative however, to note that many countries drugs of this type are illegal. In fact, countries like United States and Canada have taken incredibly punitive measures in order to control certain drugs. There laws control the cultivation, and they have taken key steps to seal the borders and other entry points to discourage drug trafficking (Gerdes, 2002). In these countries, media sensitization on the dangers of using some drugs is high. However, amid all these key steps, the problem of drug and substance abuse remains perverse and the situation is continually becoming worse. Although various governments have been exercising their powers to control the use of certain drugs, the war is still far from over. The war on drugs has existed for so long, and as things look now, no government can entirely eradicate drugs and substances entirely. This is where the issue of ethical dilemma on drugs emerges. Experts have advised the use of other means in controlling the abuse of drugs. Indeed, unlike many other substances such as cocaine and heroin, marijuana is a soft drug (Gerdes, 2002). Therefore, there is a need to legalize it. However, its common perception that legalizing of marijuana will lead to increased consumption rates, and consequently causing health hazards. On the other hand, legalizing marijuana will save the government so much money that goes into law enforcement, and additionally, the legalization of marijuana means that those involved will have to pay taxes hence, supplementary revenue to the government. This will also give the government humble time to track down hard drugs such as heroin and cocaine. As highlighted above, marijuana can act as a medicinal drug and therefore its legalization is necessary, at least according to some people. The possibility of creating a new industry of marijuana products is one of the reasons to legalize marijuana (Earleywine, 2002). However, in Canada, marijuana is an illegal drug. Although the number of Canadians who have used the drug is not high, the idea of eradicating the drug wholly is out of reach. Interestingly, the cost of cracking the drug is low, and it does not pose grave criminal consequences compared to hard drugs (Gerdes, 2002). This is one of the reasons why marijuana posses an ethical dilemma as to whether to legalize it or not. In any case, the criminalization of marijuana does not necessarily imply that people will stop using it. Instead, it will make many rebel the sanctions and use it even more. Laws are just laws, and they only make marijuana expensive to obtain, but they will never stop people from consuming it (Fuller 2010). Potential short-term and long-term consequences Although there is no medical prove linking marijuana to addiction, medical experts associate marijuana to psychological dependency. Once taken, the user will experience euphoria and stimulation as primary intoxication, then sedation and pleasurable serenity as the second phase of intoxication (Gerdes, 2002). However, when taken in large doses, the user can experience hallucinations and can cause lack of concentration especially in the classroom. Clearly, this is an ethical dilemma where we have balances pros and cons. Many will agree that this information makes it hard to choose whether to legalize or criminalize marijuana. Consequently, an ethical consideration ensues. Considerations Now that, the paper has discussed marijuana from the health point, it is also imperative to discuss it from the recreational point. Many policy makers in the government believe that the use of marijuana can lead users into criminal activities. Although many drug addicts parade as criminal gangs, some statistics elsewhere say otherwise. For instance, marijuana is a legal drug in Netherlands. In Amsterdam for example, the number of crimes is not as high as of other neighboring European countries and even in North America. However, in terms of law enforcement, drug trafficking and possession remains the biggest challenge facing many governments that have criminalized marijuana (Williams, 2003). Governments are the biggest losers in the war of drugs since they spend so much money tracking down drug cartels and users, take them into prison where again it will spend money taking care of them. This forms one of the reasons as to why drug policies that criminalize soft drugs such as marijuana in many countries such as Mexico have failed to produce positive results. Maybe, the preeminent way to pact with this concern is to legalize it and use the money realized through taxation in doing other productive projects. Additionally, the revenue generated from the taxation of marijuana can help control the entry of hard drugs into the black market (Fuller, 2010). Although considered a threat to health by some people, others think otherwise. There are those who consider marijuana as one of the best painkillers that work better than prescribed drugs. Many patients, especially those experiencing multiple sclerosis, can reduce the effect of the pain immediately just by a single puff. Indeed, if this is true, then there is no doubt that marijuana poses serious ethical considerations. Marijuana can also treat other diseases such as glaucoma and high blood pressure (Earleywine, 2002). Critics of the criminalization of marijuana believe that lack of information contributes to that scenario. They cite competing interests from drug manufacturers and drug dealers. Big pharmaceutical companies and cannabis farmers have traded accusations on the way forward. Marijuana experts have severally accused these companies of conspiracy in order to foster their enterprises (Williams, 2003). The banning of marijuana in United States occurred in 1937. Ironically, since that time, the government has gone ahead to create several programs through the media on the dangers of marijuana without stating tangible research evidence. Nonetheless, there has been clash that has not only generated a heated debate, but also created an ethical consideration concerning marijuana. Conclusion In many forums, the issue of legalizing marijuana has come into sharp focus. Many people have suggested that since marijuana is a softer drug, it is vital to legalize it. On the other hand, there are those who deem that marijuana causes serious health problems, and its excessive consumption can affect concentration, and cause other health conditions (Williams, 2003). However, legalizing marijuana has more advantages than criminalizing it. For instance, by legalizing it, the law enforcement agencies will have time to deal hard drugs such as heroin and cocaine. Additionally, the clogged court systems will for once be free, and this will pave a way to deal with other serious criminal and judicial cases. Legalization of marijuana can also generate more revenue to the government in a form of taxation. Hemp products derived from marijuana will also create a new industry that will offer new job opportunities besides treating certain ailments. Although marijuana can act as a medicinal drug for treating diseases such as high blood pressure and glaucoma, it can cause be mild forming, and its carcinogenic ingredients can be dangerous at times if taken in large doses. Nevertheless, as compared to other permissible drugs such as tobacco and alcohol, marijuana is less addictive (Beauchamp & Childress, 1994). References Beauchamp, T. & Childress, J. (1994). Principles of biomedical ethics. New York, NY: Oxford University Press. Earleywine, M. (2002). Understanding marijuana: a new look at the scientific evidence. New York: Oxford Press. Fuller, J. R. (2010). Criminal justice: Mainstream and crosscurrents. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Williams, M. E. (2003). Marijuana. San Diego [Calif.: Greenhaven Press. Gerdes, L. I. (2002). Marijuana. San Diego, CA: Greenhaven Press. Read More