Legalizing Marijuana Case Study
HRE4M – Chapter One
Should Marijuana be legalized?
Some would say …
Marijuana should be legalized
Because…
It is no worse than alcohol, and it safe if controlled. If the government controlled the use of marijuana like they do with alcohol then there would be fewer drug dealers and the marijuana would be safe because it is regulated. “Marijuana does not cause permanent mental illness; it is not highly addictive; it is not stronger than in previous decades; it is not more damaging than tobacco; it does not cause residual memory or cognitive impairment; it does not cause fetal damage; it does not impair the immune system; it does not cause crime; it is not a gateway drug; it is not causing an increase in hospital emergencies” While others …show more content…
It is a gateway drug that makes it more likely to try other harsher drugs. “The fact is that there is not one reliable scientific study that shows smoking marijuana to be a safe and effective drug. “ “The main psychoactive ingredient in marijuana (THC) is already legally available in pharmaceutical capsule form by prescription from medical doctors.” “Marijuana is an unstable mixture of over 400 chemicals including many toxic psychoactive chemicals, which are largely unstudied and appear in uncontrolled strengths.” Aristotle would take the following side:
Aristotle would agree that marijuana should be legalized.
Philosophical reason #1
Aristotle’s views on teleology states that actions aim at “the good”, and that humans use reason, intellect, and rationality in life as it is. Relate to the article Marijuana is an action that helps pursue “the good” because it helps to calm down people and open their minds to realms of possibility. Humans naturally use reason, intellect and rationality in life so the majority would naturally know there limits, like with alcohol, and so it would be relatively harmless
Philosophical reason …show more content…
In Aristotle’s view humans need to show restraint when dealing with things like marijuana, but should not avoid it completely, moderation is key. Kant would take the following side
Kant would not agree to the legalization of marijuana.
Philosophical Reason #1
Kant’s views on theoretical verses practical reason state that the law of nature, and cause and effect gives humans no freedom of choice. Relate to the article
The choice to smoke marijuana varies from person to person, they can choose whether or not to smoke weed. With this in mind, Kant’s theory believes in no freedom of choice because of the laws of nature. Without freedom of choice then everyone would either have to smoke marijuana or everyone should not. Philosophical Reason #2
According to Kant’s theory on the good will of people states that actions are only moral judged by the motivations of those actions. Relate to article
The decision to smoke marijuana is a decision made on the need to escape from the world for a bit which is a not valid motivation and therefor is not a moral action. Marijuana is an action that alters the mind and is not virtuous and neither is the motivation to smoke it making it unmoral. Philosophical Reason
Should Marijuana be legalized?
Some would say …
Marijuana should be legalized
Because…
It is no worse than alcohol, and it safe if controlled. If the government controlled the use of marijuana like they do with alcohol then there would be fewer drug dealers and the marijuana would be safe because it is regulated. “Marijuana does not cause permanent mental illness; it is not highly addictive; it is not stronger than in previous decades; it is not more damaging than tobacco; it does not cause residual memory or cognitive impairment; it does not cause fetal damage; it does not impair the immune system; it does not cause crime; it is not a gateway drug; it is not causing an increase in hospital emergencies” While others …show more content…
It is a gateway drug that makes it more likely to try other harsher drugs. “The fact is that there is not one reliable scientific study that shows smoking marijuana to be a safe and effective drug. “ “The main psychoactive ingredient in marijuana (THC) is already legally available in pharmaceutical capsule form by prescription from medical doctors.” “Marijuana is an unstable mixture of over 400 chemicals including many toxic psychoactive chemicals, which are largely unstudied and appear in uncontrolled strengths.” Aristotle would take the following side:
Aristotle would agree that marijuana should be legalized.
Philosophical reason #1
Aristotle’s views on teleology states that actions aim at “the good”, and that humans use reason, intellect, and rationality in life as it is. Relate to the article Marijuana is an action that helps pursue “the good” because it helps to calm down people and open their minds to realms of possibility. Humans naturally use reason, intellect and rationality in life so the majority would naturally know there limits, like with alcohol, and so it would be relatively harmless
Philosophical reason …show more content…
In Aristotle’s view humans need to show restraint when dealing with things like marijuana, but should not avoid it completely, moderation is key. Kant would take the following side
Kant would not agree to the legalization of marijuana.
Philosophical Reason #1
Kant’s views on theoretical verses practical reason state that the law of nature, and cause and effect gives humans no freedom of choice. Relate to the article
The choice to smoke marijuana varies from person to person, they can choose whether or not to smoke weed. With this in mind, Kant’s theory believes in no freedom of choice because of the laws of nature. Without freedom of choice then everyone would either have to smoke marijuana or everyone should not. Philosophical Reason #2
According to Kant’s theory on the good will of people states that actions are only moral judged by the motivations of those actions. Relate to article
The decision to smoke marijuana is a decision made on the need to escape from the world for a bit which is a not valid motivation and therefor is not a moral action. Marijuana is an action that alters the mind and is not virtuous and neither is the motivation to smoke it making it unmoral. Philosophical Reason