Psychoactive drugs have become repopularized in the United States. Most are banned under 1970 Controlled Substances Act, though new research supports their mental health benefits. Some citics of a law change argue that psychedelics are addictive and may cause erratic behavior, and others point out that drug companies stand to make huge profits from a legal market. Advocates, however, point out their spiritual significance in some communities and suggest reported health threats are exaggerated. Should psychedelic drugs be legal for individual consumption in the United States?

61% of countries have a drinking age of eighteen or nineteen, yet the United States' was raised to 21 in 1984. This amendment has resulted in a 16% decline in motor vehicle crashes, though critics argue it is illogical to give an eighteen-year-old the right to vote and join the military yet prohibit alcohol intake. Additionally, this results in unsupervised and/or binge drinking, a hazard to young adults' health. What factors are morally relevant in determining the legal drinking age?

Happy the elephant has lived in the Bronx Zoo's one-acre enclosure for forty-five years. The Nonhuman Rights Project garnered 1.5 million signatures in support of her release and personhood status, while zookeepers assure protestors that she receives extensive care and interaction. Some suggest ruling in favor of Happy's personhood would provide an opportunity to consider the improved treatment of non-human sentient beings, whereas others point out that doing so would drive up research costs and threaten to impede critical medical breakthroughs that benefit humans and animals. Should Happy be granted personhood status?

A city ordinance prohibits using a historical grave for recreational purposes, including walking a dog, but Jade does it anyway. She figures that since she's never seen anyone visit the grave to honor someone, and that others ignore the law by walking and exercising, it's okay for her to do it as well, and that she would leave if someone asked her to. Is there anything wrong with Jade's actions, or anyone's actions involving using the gravesite for their own recreational purposes despite the law?

“Tech cities” like San Francisco have not experienced the kind of widely-shared economic growth that would be expected. One partial explanation of this is that many of these tech workers interact less with the local economies than is expected. For example, employees in these large firms often get their meals from in-house dining facilities. Now some legislators support a policy that would ban the construction of any new on-site workplace cafeterias. Is there any moral reason that firms should “share the wealth” with local communities in the specific way that local communities desire?

Advocates of gun storage laws see it as a safety issue, and an important strategy for reducing gun injuries and deaths. Many gun enthusiasts balk at such legislation. Do safe storage laws violate gun owners’ right to self-defense? Why or why not?

Is any bail system that uses monetary deposits unjust given widespread wealth inequality in the U.S.? Why or why not? If so, how could this be mitigated?

BSL refers to legislation or policy that bans or restricts certain breeds of dogs that are purported to be more aggressive. People that support BSL think that it will help to reduce dog attacks, while opponents of BSL think that it is unjustified. Is BSL morally permissible? If this kind of discrimination is morally wrong when applied to humans, is it wrong to apply it to animals? Are some versions of BSL more morally acceptable than others?

Millions of tons of electronics are discarded each year and end up in developing nations, where they hurt the environment. Is it morally permissible for nations to sell potentially hazardous e-waste to willing buyers in developing nations? Do manufacturers have a moral obligation to create products with longer lifespans, even if they would earn less money as a result? How should manufacturers, governments, and consumers solve this problem?

There is only one abortion clinic left in Mississippi due to state laws regulating clinics and pro-life groups that intimidate patients at clinics. If it closes, it will become impossible for many women to exercise their legal right to abortion. Is it permissible for government funding to cover abortion procedures?

One conjoined twin (Jodie) was born anatomically sound while the other (Mary) had severe abnormalities. Doctors determined that both twins would die if kept together, but Mary would die and Jodie would survive if surgically separated. The parents, devout Catholics, opposed separating the twins but the court ruled against them and ordered the twins be separated.

The Texas "Stand Your Ground" laws allow deadly force in cases of self-defense and don't require individuals to try to retreat from danger prior to "protecting" themselves. Legal protection for self-defense homicides increased the number of self-defense homicides, murder, and manslaughter. Are these laws ethical?

The Carolina Beach town council banned smoking on the town's beach. Supporters of the ban cited environmental, health, and aesthetic concerns. Opponents cite economic concerns and claim the ban intrudes on personal rights.