Brian's Franchise
The story of Brian's successful marijuana-growing operation franchise should inspire the decriminalization of the plant. The government should not prohibit the growing and selling of marijuana for several reasons illustrated in this story. First, marijuana generates huge cash revenues. These cash revenues were stimulating the local economies of Northern California and they would likewise stimulate any local economy that supports growing marijuana plants for personal use and profit. Furthermore, rather than spending billions of dollars on persecuting and prosecuting growers of marijuana, including costs for their incarceration, the government could channel those funds elsewhere, such as health care. In essence, the harsh stance on marijuana represents not only distorted legislation but unethical governmental policy. Money saved from criminalizing marijuana could be better spent on genuinely improving public safety and welfare. The government does not prohibit the manufacture or sale of deadly assault weapons, alcohol, cigarettes, or fast food; therefore it should not prohibit the growing and selling of marijuana which is no more harmful than any of the above. This stance is essentially libertarian and supportive of human autonomy.
2. From an ethical point-of-view, I would advise Brian to continue pursuing his business ventures in Holland, where the overall climate of tolerance permits it. The only ethnical problems with continuing an operation in North America arise when growers resort to guns and other forms of violence to protect their crops from being stolen or from the police. Other than that, marijuana growing is ethical even if it is illegal. Breaking the law in this case does not represent a breach of an ethical code, because the law itself is unethical. Laws are generally formed in response to the society's overall ethical code. This stance does not demonstrate moral relativism even if it is highly liberal; however it does coincide with ethical principles of autonomy and utilitarianism: Brian's franchise is hurting no one. It supports his right to pursue a good career. The business would only harm himself if he chose to pursue the business in the hostile climate of the United States, where he would certainly be incarcerated if he were he caught.
