The Predicament of Marijuana
Is smoking marijuana ethical? Should someone who has a medical marijuana card be discriminated against if a licensed physician prescribes it? Why is it still considered unethical to employers in the states that permit the sale and consumption of recreational marijuana like Colorado and Washington? Here are my thoughts on this subject.

Marijuana is an herb. It contains chemicals called cannabinoids that affect the central nervous system. Marijuana is smoked for nausea, glaucoma, appetite stimulation, mucous membrane inflammation, leprosy, fever, dandruff, hemorrhoids, obesity, asthma, urinary tract infections, cough, anorexia associated with weight loss in AIDS patients, pain, and multiple sclerosis. It is also inhaled to weaken the immune system after kidney transplant to lessen the chance of transplant rejection1.
Marijuana is a prominent and controversial issue in today's society. The states mentioned earlier have made changes to existing laws which where against the use of marijuana because it was believed that its consumption was not harmful and its harmful and now my question arises being a veteran I find it difficult to find a job just because of the presence of marijuana in my system which was prescribed to me by a doctor for my (PTSD). In fact some researches have proven consumption of marijuana was less harmful than consumption of alcohol. Employers give an opportunity for the ones consuming alcohol but not marijuana. The states authorities should make new law’s, which should be enforcing the employers to hire the people who consume marijuana for medical purposes. The society still frowns upon those who use these substances in the work field. Why is it ok for individuals to take prescribed narcotics at work if they choose to but it’s not ok for people to take a prescribed medication like marijuana?
Anyone who serves their nation whether it is home or overseas should not have a difficult time trying to find a place of employment that will accept their medical situation. I am a resident of Washington State where it is not only legal to smoke recreational marijuana but also they issue medical marijuana cards to patients who meet the necessary criteria. Washington state and Colorado should be the most likely states where employers are lenient about consumption of marijuana but that is not the case in reality. Many people have struggled with this for many years now. These states need to take necessary measures to correct these issues and should encourage employers to hire people with these medical disabilities. I feel as if each state is making a significant amount of money off of each patient every year. Then they should do a better job in controlling these laws that are still in place and stop frowning on individuals who use marijuana in a prescribed manner or even if its legal in some states each employer should change their mandatory drug test and test for illegal substances only.

Some states overcame the strict laws and penalties that were put in place from the federal government and legalized the use of medical marijuana and that was the first positive enhancement in the right direction.