Soc 120 - the Legalization of Marijuana

Legalizing Marijuana

SOC 120 Introduction to Ethics & Social Responsibility

May 30, 2011

In viewing the legalization of marijuana we will look at the Utilitarianism Theory. According to our text Mosser (2010) says that, "Utilitarianism argues that, given a set of choices, the act we should choose is that which produces the best results for the greatest number affected by that choice. The use and legalization of marijuana has caused much controversy, some argue that it is wrong and should be illegal, while others state that its legalization will help solve issues such as reducing crime and helping those that have a medical need. In my opinion legalizing marijuana will help more people than it will hurt.

The use of statistics show that the total number of arrests will go down if marijuana is legalized therefore, taking the burden off the court system. The courts are inundated by crimes that involve the use or sale of drugs. By legalizing marijuana many crimes will not take place because this drug would no longer be illegal.

If marijuana is legalized there will be control over the purity of the substance before it is put out on the market for sale. The industry will be FDA regulated which would cut out the mixing of various other hazardous ingredients that are put in marijuana to stretch it to increase sales. The FDA will have all of the ingredients listed on the package as well as any hazards there will be to the end user.

With the legalization of marijuana the price will be controlled, which will prevent buyers from being taken advantage of and the price changing depending on the seller.

Right now people are doing whatever they have to do obtain marijuana and some of the tactics are detrimental even resulting in death. In Ohio and in many other states there are stores that are selling a synthetic version of marijuana called "K2" or "Spice". According to Katie Drummond or AOL News "K2 is being blamed in at least one death, that of 18 year-old suicide victim David Rozga in Iowa, as well as hundreds of emergency room visits and 567 calls to poison-control centers this year alone. In 2009, there were a mere 13 calls to poison-control centers." This drug is being manufactured in a lab and there is no quality assurance so people really don't know what they are taking. According to Drummond, K2 originated at Clemson University, where researchers developed synthetic cannabinoids in an effort to create therapeutic drugs. But the cannabinoids also have effects akin to THC, the key ingredient in marijuana.

Lawmakers have made the drug illegal in Britain, German, Poland and France, and it is slowly being banned in many states in the United States. However, you can purchase it over the internet where I was told it was made popular. When I look at legalizing marijuana in terms of relativism, which Mosser (2010) states, 'is the idea that one's beliefs and values are understood in terms of one's society, culture, or even one's own individual values" our culture here in the United States seems to be half and half, some people accept the use of marijuana as being ok even though it is illegal while others look down on people who use and or sell marijuana. They view the illegal sale and use of marijuana as being simply wrong and they don't feel that even medical use is acceptable. However, in some cultures the use of marijuana is acceptable and just a way of life. For example, in an article Abel (1980), "The Zulus tribe smoked cannabis before going into battle and they were not the only tribe that did this. Speaking of the Sothos, David Livingstone wrote that the warriors "sat down and smoked it [hemp] in order that they might make an effective onslaught."" The practice of smoking marijuana in this culture was not only acceptable but it helped them to win their battles.

Marijuana crimes will decrease and trafficking will be eliminated when it is legalized. According to Crime in America.Net (2010)

"Mexico is the number one foreign supplier of marijuana abused in the United States. In fact, according to a 2008 inter-agency report, marijuana is the top revenue generator for Mexican DTOs--a cash crop that finances corruption and the carnage of violence year after year. The profits derived from marijuana trafficking--an industry with minimal overhead costs, controlled entirely by the traffickers--are used not only to finance other drug enterprises by Mexico's poly-drug cartels, but also to pay recurring "business" expenses, purchase weapons, and bribe corrupt officials. Though the GOM has a robust eradication program, many of the military personnel traditionally assigned to eradicate marijuana and opium poppy have recently been diverted to the offensive against the cartels."

As per the above article marijuana is now one of the top contributors of corruption which fund illegal activities that ultimately hurt the United States citizens. Many lives would be spared by viewing this situation though the utilitarianism concept and legalizing marijuana because it would do more good that evil for most Americans.

The chart below shows statistics from 1980-2009 and the Total, marijuana and drug arrests by year. "Although the intent of a 'War on Drugs' may have been to target drug smugglers and 'King Pins,' over half (51.6%) of the 1,663,582 total 2009 arrests for drug abuse violations were for marijuana -- a calculated total of 858,408. Of those, an estimated 758,593 people (45.6%) were arrested for marijuana possession alone. By contrast in 2000, a total of 734,497 Americans were arrested for marijuana offenses, of which 646,042 were for possession alone, FBI Uniform Crime Report (September 2010)."

US Arrests

Year Total Arrests Total Drug Arrests Total Marijuana Arrests Marijuana Trafficking/Sale Arrests Marijuana Possession Arrests Total Violent Crime Arrests Total Property Crime Arrests

2009 13,687,241 1,663,582 858,408 99,815 758,593 581,765 1,728,285

2008 14,005,615 1,702,537 847,863 93,640 754,224 594,911 1,687,345

2007 14,209,365 1,841,182 872,720 97,583 775,137 597,447 1,610,088

2006 14,380,370 1,889,810 829,627 90,711 738,916 611,523 1,540,297

2005 14,094,186 1,846,351 786,545 90,471 696,074 603,503 1,609,327

2004 13,938,071 1,746,570 773,731 87,329 686,402 586,558 1,644,197

2003 13,639,479 1,678,192 755,186 92,300 662,886 597,026 1,605,127