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Ethical Viewpoints Assignment - Worksheet
Research Question
Should the use of marijuana be legalized?

Viewpoint 1
Yes, especially for medicinal use.

Direct Quotations
 "There is now promising research into the use of marijuana that could impact tens of thousands of
children and adults, including treatment for cancer, epilepsy and Alzheimer's, to name a few. With
regard to pain alone, marijuana could greatly reduce the demand for narcotics and simultaneously
decrease the number of accidental painkiller overdoses.”
 "I'm on record saying that not only do I think carefully prescribed medical use of marijuana may in fact
be appropriate and we should follow the science as opposed to ideology on this issue, but I'm also on
record as saying that the more we treat some of these issues related to drug abuse from a public health
model and not just from an incarceration model, the better off we're going to be."
 "[T]here is very little evidence that smoking marijuana as a means of taking it represents a significant
health risk. Although cannabis has been smoked widely in Western countries for more than four
decades, there have been no reported cases of lung cancer or emphysema attributed to marijuana.
I suspect that a day's breathing in any city with poor air quality poses more of a threat than inhaling a
day's dose -- which for many ailments is just a portion of a joint -- of marijuana."
 "A day doesn't go by where I don't see a cancer patient who has nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, pain,
depression and insomnia. [Marijuana] is the only anti-nausea medicine that increases appetite. “
 “Natural cannabis contains 5-15% THC but also includes multiple other therapeutic cannabinoids, all
working in concert to produce analgesia..."
 "[T]he vast majority of people who use marijuana never progress to using other illicit drugs, or even to
becoming regular marijuana consumers..”
 “The average number of anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) tried before using cannabidiol-enriched cannabis
was 12. Sixteen (84%) of the 19 parents reported a reduction in their child's seizure frequency while
taking cannabidiol-enriched cannabis. Of these, two (11%) reported complete seizure freedom, eight
(42%) reported a greater than 80% reduction in seizure frequency, and six (32%) reported 25-60%
seizure reduction.”
 “For some users, perhaps as many as 10 per cent, cannabis leads to psychological dependence, but there
is scant evidence that it carries a risk of true addiction. Unlike cigarette smokers, most users do not take
the drug on a daily basis, and usually abandon it in their twenties or thirties.”
 “Natural cannabis contains 5-15% THC but also includes multiple other therapeutic cannabinoids, all
working in concert to produce analgesia..."
T.R.A.P. Evaluation
T: This article was updated on 4th January, 2018 and therefore meets the three year threshold
R: Attempts to understand the use of marijuana for medical purposes have appreciated the therapeutic
properties of this drug. Cannabis is considerably less harmful as compared to legal drugs such as alcohol and
tobacco. This confirms the fact that cannabis is not as harmful as initially thought by other members of the
public, and may have beneficial effects, in this case, the therapeutic properties. Additionally, studies have
confirmed that the misconception that the drug is addictive is irrational and has no scientific base. Moreover,
marijuana could be used to treat certain serious illnesses; hence, more study should be conducted on its
benefits. Marijuana should be availed to patients that are undergoing medical treatment, especially the ones
with life-threatening conditions. The pros here warrant its legalization.

A: The article mentions various experts including American College of Physicians in

"Supporting Research into the Therapeutic Role of Marijuana, Lester Grin spoon, MD Emeritus Professor of
Psychiatry Harvard Medical School, and Donald Abrams, MD Professor of Clinical Medicine at the University of
California, San Francisco

P: The report "Marijuana and Health" conducted by the United States federal government states that the use of
marijuana started about 140 years ago when it was used as a painkilling drug and also for the management of
psychiatric illness. Thus, the argument for the use of marijuana for its medical benefits is based on the
therapeutic properties of the drug .It is argued that the therapeutic benefits of using marijuana far outweigh
dangers and hence it should be legalized.

MLA Citation
Top 10 Pro & Con Arguments - Medical Marijuana - ProCon.org Medicalmarijuana.procon.org

https://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000141

Viewpoint 2
No, marijuana should not be legalized. It has ill effects.

Direct Quotations
 “The dangers and risks of marijuana use are well-known by the scientific community”
 “For nearly all conditions for which marijuana has purported benefits, we already have existing
medications - safe medications - demonstrated to have value”
 “Marijuana smoking is associated with large airway inflammation, increased airway resistance, and lung
hyperinflation, and regular marijuana smokers report more symptoms of chronic bronchitis than
nonsmokers”
 "The evidence clearly indicates that long-term marijuana use can lead to addiction. Indeed,
approximately 9% of those who experiment with marijuana will become addicted”
T.R.A.P. Evaluation
T: This article was updated on 4th January, 2018 and therefore meets the three year threshold

R: Marijuana has been banned for a while due to a number of reasons. Marijuana has corrupted the social life of
many individuals mainly due to the excessive use and resultant addiction. The victims have not been able to
carry out their normal routines and have hence been pronounced unproductive by the society. Marijuana has
thus been referred to as a counterproductive drug. Many governments have since been reluctant to legalize it
due to its harmful effects on the users or abusers in this case since little is known with regard to this drug. The
unknown components are likely to cause adverse effects when used on individuals contrary to the medical
reasons attained. The form in which the drug is taken has also raised concerns due to the adversities associated
with smoking activity. This may worsen certain medical conditions especially those associated with the
respiratory system. Marijuana has also been discovered to affect the cognitive functions in the users.

A: This article incorporates experts from American Academy of Ophthalmology and US Food and Drug
Administration (FDA)

P: The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has claimed that the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes is
not likely to be a success having stated various reasons for their argument. They have argued that legalization of
marijuana may lead to negative impacts on the behavior of adolescents within the society. This is due to the
increased availability and social acceptance or lower prices that may increase access to this drug and
consequently the use. In addition, this may lead to other negative effects of marijuana, such as the edible or
vaporized forms that may possess significant harm and eventually lead to increased cases of drug abuse and
antisocial behavior.

MLA Citation
Top 10 Pro & Con Arguments - Medical Marijuana - ProCon.org Medicalmarijuana.procon.org

https://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000141
Reflection
After this research, I strongly reaffirm that there is need to consider legalizing the use of marijuana. I looked into
proposing and opposing literature. The reason for this legalization is that scientific research has proven that it is
extremely beneficial in providing therapeutic relief to patients or individuals that may be suffering from a myriad
of conditions. Apart from relieving the pain and suffering of these people, it also offers other benefits such as the
killing of cancerous cells amongst patients within palliative care. It has also shown that it can stop vomiting,
inducing appetite and relieving a patient from stress, depression, and anxiety amongst others. Contrary to the
desire to legalize the medical marijuana, there is also the opposing view that it can lead to increased abuse or
misuse of the drug thus urging criminal behavior amongst adolescents. Tests should be conducted with regard to
marijuana and all effects ascertained. This way medics can get to know what proportion to use to achieve a
certain therapeutic effect and the overall drug efficacy can be determined. This way some adversities will be
avoided that mostly come as a result of overdose. The remaining side effects regardless of the dosage can be
evaluated against the therapeutic effects achieved from the use of the drug. This will allow the medical use of
marijuana since most drugs certainly have their side effects which are outweighed by their importance.
Restrictions however should be put in place to control access to the drug. The drug should be used only after
prescription by a qualified medic and they should be the ones administering the drug. The drug should be
manufactured into less harmful forms before administration. This is mainly because the use of this drug in smoke
form greatly affects the respiratory system. Smoking should thus not be used as an administration method.
Efforts should also be made to ensure it is not over the counter to minimize its abuse. Proper responsible use of
marijuana is undoubtedly beneficial. This prompts the need to legalize it. All drugs when misused are hazardous.
That is the perspective that should be used to view marijuana since its benefits have been proven. It needs to be
legalized and I strongly vouch for the same.