Introduction
The modern moral culture targets the elimination of prejudice and condemnation, emphasizing the importance of treating all people equally. One of the prominent areas in which moral entrepreneurs and rule creators operate is drug laws and policies. In the past, moral entrepreneurs who perceived drug use as immoral created many rules prohibiting drug use and enforcing penalties for drug use and distribution. However, modern rule creators promote compassion for drug addicts and the elimination of negative stereotypes associated with drug use and distribution.
Modern Moral Culture vs. Conservative Opposition
A prominent example of modern moral entrepreneurs is the cannabis rights movement. The group protects the interests of cannabis users and promotes the legalization of marijuana for medical use. The rule the group would like to see established is the global legalization of marijuana use.
The group’s reasoning for the rule explains that the legalization of marijuana will reduce violent crimes associated with the illegal drug trade and eliminate the power of cartels and gangs, providing safer living conditions for the population. However, the findings from the research suggest that recreational cannabis laws had little to no influence on crime rates in Colorado and Washington (Lu et al. 12). Thus, while marijuana users and the younger population actively support the movement, people from older age groups continue to express dissatisfaction with the position. So far, the group has been able to get permission for legalization in some states, but on a global scale, the group’s progress is hindered by differences in moral value systems.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I think the modern moral climate will positively impact the public’s acceptance of substance abuse victims. However, the rule creators supporting marijuana legalization will not be able to succeed in the near term, even though they will ultimately prevail. Changes of this magnitude require considerable preparation, which cannot be implemented in a short time because the responsibility for the rules will be handed over to the government in the end.
Work Cited
Lu, Ruibin et al. “The Cannabis Effect on Crime: Time-Series Analysis of Crime in Colorado and Washington State.” Justice Quarterly, vol. 38, no. 4, 2021, pp. 1–31.