MARIJUANA: TO BE LEGALIZED OR NOT?

      Epileptic seizures, Alzheimer’s and multiple sclerosis are some of the diseases that marijuana can treat according to some studies. It can also treat loss of appetite after chemotherapy or following treatment for HIV and AIDS. People with these condition especially parents, whose children are suffering from such illnesses are seeing Marijuana as the light in their darkest problem.

    Here in the Philippines, The committee on health of the House of Representatives is considering the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes. Despite of its known medicinal benefit, a lot of people disagree with this bill as it detriments outweighs its benefits.

So the question is, to be legalized or not? Let us answer this question using the Utilitarian approach.

Utilitarian approach answers the questions “Who benefit from the act?” “Who are burdened?” “Does the act maximize the total net benefit to everyone concerned? “

1. People suffering from the disease

Isabella Rep. Rodolfo Albano III, principal author of House Bill 4477, said that there have been research findings that children with frequent medical seizures who were given medical marijuana felt a great improvement in their condition. He also added that t would give hope to persons with debilitating disease, severe pain, intense seizures and persistent muscle spasms that the legal solution to their problem is at hand.

2. Government

This bill will give our government a huge responsibility. It should address the issue on how it will regulate the plantations to ensure that it would not be abused.  Law enforcers will be forced to distinguish medical users from "recreational" users.

3. Doctors or Medical Practitioners

"I will use my power to help the sick to the best of my ability and judgment. I will abstain from harming or wrong doing any man by it. I will not give a fatal draught to anyone if I am asked, nor will I suggest any such thing." This is a part of the medical practitioner's oath. Physicians are in the best position to know what the patient needs and legalizing marijuana will be a great help for them in fulfilling their duty.

4. Community

Dr. Junice L.D. Melgar, executive director of the Likhaan Center for Women’s Health mentioned that marijuana has side effects like the alteration of moods. The community will be threatened due to government’s lack of ability to strictly implement policies and regulations.

    5. Marijuana Industry

Once, this bill is legalized, it would create an opportunity for the Marijuana industry.

"All the public knows about marijuana is the stereotype, that it's all for getting high and nobody shines a light on the few instances where it is the most compassionate for children who have epilepsy, for patients who have cancer," (Dr. Melgar). Based on utilitarian approach, medical marijuana should be legalized as the act maximized the total benefit to the people concerned. However, there is no committee hearing has been held on the bill at the lower chamber as it was only filed in May 2014.

sources:

https://www.harvestoftempe.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Harvest-of-Tempe-Medical-Marijuana-Dispensary3.jpg

http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2015/06/09/Philippines-medical-marijuana-pending-cannabis-bill-House-of-Representatives.html