For example, some States do not allow people to use marijuana because those State's governments believe that marijuana is harmful for health. However, libertarians believe that people can do whatever they want for their interests as long as their acts do not harm to the other people. Besides, libertarians also reject "morals legislation", which is the law that forces people to follow the notions of virtue of the majority. On libertarianism's view, people have right to decide what to do with their body; for example, prostitutes can use their body to make money. Moreover, libertarians oppose "redistribution of income or wealth" (60), which is a law that require people to help each other through the increase of taxation. Libertarian believe those laws are coercive taxpayers' freedom. Overall, it is possible to say that one of the biggest opponent of philosophy is government's laws. .
Based on those criterias, libertarians would agree to legalize marijuana because it maximizes freedom of choice and is not harmful to other people. Marijuana users have their own rights and responsibilities to decide what they want to do with their healths and bodies. Moreover, marijuana is one of the most valuable plants in the world because every part of them can be used efficiently. For example, hemp can be used for a variety of product such as paper and fabric while the seeds, which are a good nutritional source, can be used for tea. Especially, the flowers can be beneficial for medical purposes since ancient time. Therefore, if marijuana is legalized, it will create more choices for people to use marijuana in many different ways such as foods, clothing, and medicine. Although many studies show that marijuana may cause negative effects on health in a long term use, libertarian would agree to legalize marijuana because it maximizes individual's freedom.
In contrast, utilitarianism, which is know as the greatest happiness principle, is founded by Jeremy Bentham and concentrated on maximizing happiness and minimizing the pain in society.
