Required
Ethics Assignment
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.
Submission Instructions
Your document must be saved as a Microsoft Word file (".doc" or ".docx") that is named LastnameFirstname.docx. For example, John Smith would name his submission SmithJohn.docx. Your submission must be a Word file. You must submit your completed assignment to both of the "Ethics Assignment" links on the Blackboard site for our course no later than 11:45 p.m. on Sunday, June 5. I will not grade late assignments under any circumstances.
This is an individual assignment. I will use Turnitin.com to check the originality of your submission. Failure to do your own work or to protect your document from others is a violation of the University of Tampa's Academic Integrity Policy.
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.