Ethical and Social Responsibility: Consciousness
Marijuana has now been legalized in numerous states. Some people believe this has resulted in an increase of impaired drivers on the road and that traffic fatalities have increased as a result. While some drug tests taken at the scene of accidents do indicate the presence of marijuana, such tests only reveal that the drug has been used—they do not indicate actual intoxication, as indicators of marijuana use can stay in the system for days or even weeks after actual use. This is unlike alcohol, where a roadside test is a clear indicator in most cases of intoxication. What are some likely ethical issues arising from such testing? If people are using marijuana for medical reasons, they will most likely test positive for the drug’s presence all the time, yet they will need to be able to drive. How can a “legal limit” be reasonably set if intoxication is not measured by current tests?
