Current Events, Ethical Dilemma
ISHER PANDHER
Grand Canyon University

Current Events, Ethical Dilemma
Legalization of medical marijuana was passed by Arizona voters on November 2, 2010. Arizona became the 15th state in the United States where marijuana can be obtained by patients with debilitating medical conditions such as cancer, Aids, and multiple sclerosis. The Arizona Department of Health Services plans to issue about 125 certificates to people who are interested in running medical-marijuana dispensaries. Legalization of the herb is a starting point for getting the medicinal help to the ones in need but there are also numerous issues.
There is evidence that marijuana can relieve certain types of pain, nausea, vomiting and other symptoms caused by such illnesses as multiple sclerosis, cancer and AIDS. Several recent studies, including the one from the Scripps Research Institute, shows that TCH, the chemical in marijuana responsible for the high, can help slow the progress of Alzheimer’s disease. (In fact, it seems to block the formation of disease-causing plaques better than several mainstream drugs.) Other studies have shown THC to be very effective antinausea treatment for people for whom conventional medications aren’t working. Medical cannabis has also shown promise relieving pain in patients with multiple sclerosis and reducing intraocular pressure in glaucoma patients. Marijuana has also been known to help with such diseases as seizures, migraines, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), ADHD and helps minimize symptoms of crohn’s disease as it stops nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. There is evidence, however, that frequent marijuana use can seriously affect a person’s short term memory, impair their cognitive ability, and lead to long-lasting depression or anxiety. While many people smoke marijuana to relax, it can have the opposite effect on frequent users and smoking it can lead to damage to the lung tissue. Another problem of using cannabis for medicinal purposes is that it is not approved by the FDA. There has not been enough research done on the drug to know the side effects and other complications of inhaled marijuana. There needs to be more research done on the drug to make sure it is safe for the public use. Just like any other drug that comes on the market, FDA needs to do extensive research on the safety of cannabis as a safe medicine.
There are concerns that legalization will lead to greater abuse and encourage more first time users to the drug. The proponents of legalized use of the drug argue that in fact it is less addictive than nicotine and is less dangerous than alcohol which the society glorifies. It is safer than other prescription pain medications in that one cannot overdose and kill self with it. Because of its use as a recreation drug there is always danger that people will abuse the drug. There need to be harsh penalties for doctors and dispensaries for improper use of the drug. The ethical dilemma that this presents is whether we should side with the proponents who show all the benefits to the sick or the opponents who state that it only opens the door to the abuse of the drug and that it is a gateway drug for abusing other more harmful drugs. Obviously there need to be strict policies on prescribing and dispensing the drug. Doctors and patients need to be educated on benefits, side effects and dangers of the drug and there needs to be a committee that overlooks the whole process. One can argue that there are no health benefits of alcohol and or cigarettes but they are still glorified and sold legally, then at least cannabis should be used for its medicinal properties to the patients who need it and can benefit from it.
There are issues in a lot of communities on setting up dispensaries in their neighborhoods. In Ahwatukee and other communities, potential dispensary owners trying to set up the shop are having hard time leasing space. Land lords do not want to lease out the space to a controversial business. Lots of influential people are against having dispensaries in their neighborhoods. Understandably so lot of people do not want the dispensaries close to where they and their children shop. They need to be aware of one segment of the law which gives permission to people to grow their own plants if they are more than 25 miles from a dispensary. There needs to be a middle ground, the dispensaries need to be away from residential, schools, and shopping centers, perhaps in an industrial area. Then again since this is going to be a prescription medicine may be they can give it out in a pharmacy. I don’t know how it will work but how about not giving the smoked type but the one that can be ingested or nebulized. This may make people more comfortable with the idea of using marijuana as a medicine rather than a recreation street drug. Some argue that it works best when smoked and that if people are already nauseous they will have hard time swallowing a pill. These seem to be excuses by those that actually want to abuse the drug. There are anti-emetic drugs that are given orally all the time. I would hope that somehow the department of health can actually eliminate the smoking marijuana all together which may decrease the risk of abuse for the drug.
The question rises whether it is ethical to prescribe a drug which is listed as level 1 of the controlled substance act (CSA), the most restrictive schedule. There are definitely benefits to certain patients who are suffering from pain, nausea and lack of appetite. There is also a concern raised by opponents on whether it will increase drug abuse among people who otherwise may not have tried it if it was illegal and there’s also question to where the dispensaries will be located. First, there should to be more study done on the potential benefits compare with potential side effects and harmful effects of the drug. Second, we should look into prescribing a pill form of the drug to minimize drug abuse (since it is mostly smoked by abusers) and that will also improve the perception of dispensaries. Third, instead of having separate dispensaries, perhaps this “medicine” can be dispensed at the local pharmacies. There are worst drugs such as hallucinogenic, feel good (anti-depressants) and narcotics dispensed at the pharmacies already. While true that this medication may still be abused but it probably will not be abused any more than the aforementioned drugs. Having it in pill form also clears the dilemma that comes with marijuana as a recreation drug. In this case the benefit will be the same but it will not have the perception that we currently have of it being abused by “druggies.”
I believe we will be utilizing the theory of utilitarianism in this instance. We are trying to do what is best for the patients who can benefit from the medicinal use of marijuana. There are hurdles and complications along the way but we should not hold out on potential benefits to a lot of people. Marijuana is one of the most abused drugs in the country already and using it for medicinal purposes has potential for abuse but there are measure that can be taken to minimize that. If we only looked at the negative aspects of everything then we will not be able to bring anything new to the marketplace. A lot of the drugs, internet, vehicles, and virtually everything can be abused. That’s why we have laws in place to protect the public and to minimize illegal activity. The prescription drugs can and are abused but that’s why they are given via prescription and not over the counter, internet is a great resource for information and keeping in touch with people but there are also pedophiles who abuse the internet, and people who use it to get information and make bombs etc. The vehicles, planes and trains are part of our everyday life but people can also use them as weapons, and we have not outlawed planes or vehicles after the world trade center or Oklahoma City bombings. The point is there are potential for abuse on almost anything but we must not forget our duty to the ones in need. We can do this by having laws that will punish the abusers and will benefit the ones in need.
In closing, there is an ethical dilemma when it comes to legalization of a drug for medical use which is listed as level 1 of CSA. On one hand there is potential to help a lot of people who are suffering from terminal illnesses and can benefit from the drug, on the other side there’s potential for abuse of the drug and potential for many more people to try out the drug since now it will be legal. We need to help out all the people that can benefit from the drug. All those people in pain and the ones with nausea and lack of appetite can have improved quality of life with the use of the drug. Just like with any other medication this will also be prescribed by a doctor and anyone who abuses shall be punished accordingly. We are using the theory of utilitarianism and trying to help as many people as we can to live a better quality of life. For now this drug is being approved on state by state bases, FDA should step in and do more research on the medicinal uses of the drug and take a stand by either completely outlawing it or permitting its use for medicinal purposes nationally. They can make an informed decision after an extensive research is done.

www.benefitsofmarijuana.com/benefits.php http://medicalmarijuanaprocon.org/ Medical marijuana: an unexpected fight The AZ Republic April 10, 2011
www.eastvalleytribune.com/opinion/article_63903508-f1c411df-909e-001cc4c03286.html