Final answer:
Sam is at the preconventional stage of moral development because his reasoning to avoid stealing is based on the self-interest of avoiding punishment, rather than societal norms or ethical principles.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sam's statement that "Heinz shouldn't steal the drug because if he steals he will go to jail. Jail is a bad place, so Heinz shouldn't take the risk of such harsh punishment" indicates that Sam's moral reasoning is at the preconventional stage of Kohlberg's theory of moral development. At this level, moral reasoning is primarily concerned with direct consequences to oneself, such as punishment, rather than societal rules or ethical principles. Sam's concern with potential jail time as a deterrent for theft leans toward moral reasoning that is base on self-interest and the avoidance of negative personal outcomes.
This is distinct from the conventional stage, where societal rules and the approval of others become more important, and the postconventional stage, where abstract reasoning and ethical principles guide moral decisions beyond the individual and societal norms.