Does owning marijuana stocks raise the same ethical issues as owning stocks in an alcohol or tobacco firm – or are they more like pharmaceutical stocks?

Illinois recently became the 11th state to legalize marijuana for recreational use. As more states follow suit, legal cannabis spending is expected to grow over 200% from about US$9 billion in 2017 to $31 billion in 2022.

With these unparalleled increases in spending, marijuana stocks, including marijuana exchange-traded funds, with catchy tickers such as YOLO, an acronym for “you only live once,” are becoming more common.

So should people add these stocks to their portfolios?

The rise of socially responsible investing

As a business ethicist, I know that socially responsible investing has become more popular, especially with millennials. Socially responsible investments experienced a 38% increase between 2016 and 2018. At the beginning of 2018 alone, $11.6 trillion was invested in socially responsible funds. This translates into $1 out of $4 of all U.S. invested funds.

Investors committed to being socially conscious have more choices than ever and can expect similar returns to traditional investors.

Moral basis for investing

While there is no set definition on what socially responsible investing entails, it goes beyond the fundamental view of Milton Friedman, an iconic economist, who claimed “the business of business is business” – in other words, making money or “profit.”

In addition to profit, socially responsible investing focuses on what is known as the “triple bottom line.” This means that companies also consider “people” and “planet,” as part of responsible business practices.

Scholar David Vogel defines socially responsible investing as “practices that improve the workplace and benefit society in ways that go above and beyond what companies are legally required to do.”

Socially responsible investors typically buy stocks in companies that have policies to mitigate climate change or support fair trade, but may avoid companies engaged in fossil fuels, tobacco, alcohol and arms production.

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Most people would agree that such companies ultimately cause more social and environmental harm than good.

For instance, fossil fuels, while meeting the demands for a relatively cheap and consistent energy source, unequivocally contribute to air pollution and negatively impact human and environmental health.

The case of tobacco is similar. It is highly addictive and may seriously compromise a healthy and long life.

The case of marijuana

Taking a view on marijuana is more complex. The substance is used both medically and recreationally.

Marijuana use can cause harm, especially when used at a young age. The National Institutes of Health acknowledges that 30% of users develop dependence and withdrawal symptoms with the long-term use of marijuana. It can also lead to long-term and adverse changes to the brain.

The American Lung Association advises against smoking marijuana due to the risks it poses for lung health.

However, marijuana also has some health benefits.

Even though marijuana is not recognized by the Federal Drug Administration as a medicine, the National Institutes of Health recognizes chemicals derived from the plant can help increase appetite, decrease pain, inflammation and nausea. The NIH also acknowledges that such derivatives may be useful in treating certain mental illnesses and addictions and some studies have shown it may be a weapon against opioid dependence.

Clinical trials hold the promise of finding more therapeutic benefits and possible treatments.

Medical marijuana stocks

So does owning marijuana stocks raise the same ethical issues as owning stocks in an alcohol or tobacco firm – or are they more like pharmaceutical stocks?

There are gray areas in socially responsible investing. Not all socially conscious investors have the same values, and not all companies create equal amounts of good.

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I do think any socially responsible investor should stay away from recreational marijuana stocks due to the potential for addiction coupled with other health risks.

Medical marijuana stocks, on the other hand, appear to have more benefits than harms. When used for medical reasons, the therapeutic benefits seem to outweigh the health risks. In my view, socially responsible investors should feel free to include a medical marijuana stock in their portfolios if it aligns with their values.

Editor’s note: This piece is part of our series on ethical questions arising from everyday life. We would welcome your suggestions. Please email us at ethical.questions@theconversation.com.

Sandra Woien, Lecturer of Philosophy, Arizona State University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.