Ethics Assignment

Required

Read the attached case study, “The Ethics of Medical Marijuana,” and write a one-page, single-spaced essay that answers the questions at the end of the case in the context of the essay.

Expository Essays

The type of essay you will be writing is often referred to as an expository essay. One of the key elements of expository essays is conciseness. This essay is limited to one page in length. I will stop reading after one page, so only include what really needs to be said. Do not attempt to circumvent this requirement by using narrow margins, small fonts, etc. One-inch margins are required, and a standard font (such as Times New Roman 12) must be used. Make sure your line spacing is single space with no additional spacing between lines. Skip a line between paragraphs.

Please note that you must submit an essay that answers the questions at the end of the case, not a list of answers to the questions.

Here is the questions you should answer in the essay:

Questions

1.     Based on the information provided about this situation, explain why it would not be ethical for Greg to use medical marijuana. 

2.     Explain why you think it would be justifiable for Greg to use medical marijuana. 

3.     Other than Greg, identify three stakeholders who would be impacted by the decision that he makes, and explain how each of the stakeholders would be affected.

Purdue Owl provides a good resource for writing these essays. Their section on expository essays (http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/685/02/) explains some of the important parts of this type of essay. I also recommend looking over the sections on “Conciseness” on the left side of the page. These resources can help if you find yourself having difficulty keeping your essay to one page.

The Ethics of Medical Marijuana

Greg Cole opened the medicine cabinet, and he saw enough bottles of medication to fill a pharmacy. Having retired from the Marine Corps a few years earlier with, among other things, two traumatic brain injuries, four herniated discs in his upper back and neck, and two blown knees, he had no trouble getting medication from the Veterans Administration (VA). But he hated taking pills. “I don’t like putting that junk in my body,” he thought to himself as he closed the medicine cabinet. He had used other methods to relieve pain such as physical therapy and chiropractor visits. Those, along with medical marijuana, had helped him deal with the pain without subjecting himself to the possibility of becoming addicted to painkillers. However, he had just moved from California and was now living in Florida, where medical marijuana was not legal.

Greg Cole

Greg received his medical discharge from the Marine Corps in 2013. After his discharge, he decided to stay close to where he had been stationed in California. He had experienced many physical injuries during his military career, and he also suffered from insomnia. With a seventy percent disability rating from the VA, he was classified a disabled veteran. As a California resident, he was able to apply for and receive a medical marijuana card after leaving the military. California was one of the first states in the United States to legalize medical marijuana with the passage of Proposition 215 in 1996 (Imler, 2009). Medical marijuana had lessened, and in some cases relieved, the symptoms of his injuries and his insomnia.

Medical Marijuana in Florida

In 2015, Greg moved to Florida, where he faced a dilemma. While living in California, he had found an effective way not to take pills to relieve the symptoms of his disabilities. However, medical marijuana usage was not legal in Florida. In 2014, Amendment 2 gave Florida’s voters the option to legalize the use of medical marijuana, and it received the support of a majority of voters in the November election. However, it fell short of the 60% threshold required for passage (Ferner, 2014).

Because he lived in a state where medical marijuana was not legal, was Greg’s only option to take his prescription medications?  Should he have to break the law to relieve his pain?

Questions

1.     Based on the information provided about this situation, explain why it would not be ethical for Greg to use medical marijuana. 

2.     Explain why you think it would be justifiable for Greg to use medical marijuana. 

3.     Other than Greg, identify three stakeholders who would be impacted by the decision that he makes, and explain how each of the stakeholders would be affected. 

References

Imler, S., & Gutwillig, S. (2009, March 6). Medical marijuana in California: A history. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 25, 2016, from http://www.latimes.com/health/la-oew-gutwillig-imler6-2009mar06-story.html

Ferner, M. (2014, November 4). Florida's Amendment 2 Fails, Dashing Hopes Of Statewide Medical Marijuana. Retrieved March 25, 2016, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/04/florida-amendment-2-fails_n_6032422.html

Here is how the essay will be grading. Make sure you meet all of them: