The documentary, “The Union: The Business Behind Getting High,” introduces the history of marijuana, clarifies misconceptions, and discusses the benefits of this drug. In the beginning of the video, it talks about the background of marijuana and how it came to be: from being used as agricultural uses like making fiber and paper to being a drug, there are many laws passed that explain what made marijuana illegal. This documentary interviews the opinions of everyday people, people who use medicinal marijuana, and experts like the Mayor of Vancouver and the Professor of Economics about their knowledge of marijuana and their opinions against prohibition. It also discusses misconceptions such as marijuana killing brain cells and raises awareness
By far, marijuana is considered the most widely used illicit drug (DeSimone, 1998). Reefer Madness is a fictional drama filled propaganda film centralized on a narcotic known as violent, deadly and dangerous – marijuana. The film opens up more so with what marijuana is and why it should be deterred. The purpose of this film was to sufficiently highlight the horrendous toll that the drug marijuana has on youth. Alongside singlehandedly bringing awareness of the frightful toll to youth, there is the intent to strongly express the need of education on the subject of narcotics.
The previous decades saw increased the decriminalization of certain drugs, such as marijuana, as they began to be used more casually. However, the 1980s and the specifically the Reagan administration saw the “War on Drugs” start. Led by Nancy Reagan, the “Just Say No” campaign dominated the headlines as parents became concerned about their children using drugs (Goode & Ben-Yehuda, n.d.). Under new leadership, the government began to criminalize drug use to unprecedented levels.
Becker (2009), state’s “sociological is the meaning of the behavior, and perceptions and judgements of object and situations”. In “Becoming a marijuana user”, it analyses through interviews, the views and behaviors of marihuana users within a social setting. The issue of Marijuana use, highlights how the perceptions and judgements of society of that time period can influence what behaviors are considered deviating from the norms. In 1953, the use of marijuana was a deviant behavior, however, in 2015, in Washington state U.S.A. the use and procession of marijuana for over 21 year old is now legal, thus showing the influence of society in regards to behavior.
The war on drugs has always been a very controversial topic especially amongst politicians, and columnists. In the article “Rethinking the War on Drugs” Mark Kleiman, Jonathan Caulkins and Angela Hawken argue that although legalization of drugs sounds like an ideal
Isralowitz here tries to look at marijuana use in a political way and presents different voices from various social organizations, offering a new perspective to indicate that there are health benefits to be had with marijuana’s use. However, the context of this article reveals a preference for marijuana legalization and a prospective shift in values of marijuana without showing solid evidences to prove Isralowitz’s
Responding to the opening question requires another question first be addressed: what is drug culture? Psychologist Pamela Brian defines drug culture as “the lifestyle of people who take and abuse drugs that create an altered form of consciousness” (Brian). The US Center for Substance Abuse Treatment is even more specific and defines a drug culture as one with its own history as well as shared values, beliefs, customs, traditions, rituals, and behaviors. Members of a drug culture often share similar ways of dressing, patterns of socializing, language, and styles of communication (Center). Drug cultures also tend to be localized to a certain degree (Center).
In the 1960’s marijuana use had no outstanding effects on the United States people but in today's society the use of marijuana had become a huge epidemic over the past years. Even though it has been scientifically proven that marijuana can help seizures, Crohn’s, and effects of cancer, yet many people in today's society still believe that it has no use. In the United States 45 percent of drug arrest in 2013 were due to marijuana, but at Woodstock in 1969 when there was a controversial “Drug War” no one was arrested for marijuana (Merino par. 3). The use of marijuana is more strict in the United States now then it was in
The paper focuses on the recent issue of marijuana legalization in Canada. The paper represents Marx and Durkheim view of sociological perspective regarding why marijuana might be legal or not legal in Canada and describes the legal consciousness about the use and role of law in legalizing marijuana. The paper represents the peoples’ reaction to this change of law and its benefits to the Canadian economic system. From time to time, the law has been modified and recreated in our society due to social movement about social facts. Marijuana considers as the illegal substance in many other countries, and only a few countries have legalized.
Over the past forty years, the United States government's stance on drugs has changed dramatically. Society went from a strange, drug-infused 1960s which encouraged the assumption of many different drugs coming new to mainstream America including: marijuana, LSD, and crack-cocaine. For quite a long time in the United States these drugs were legal. As the 1970s arrived, many looked back upon the 1960s with shame. These were a time of the “flower children” and rebellion against the government, especially against the Vietnam War.
One of the main concerns risen in social media recently by the citizens of Canada is the impending access of youth and adolescents to marijuana, and the hypothesized pandemic of addiction. However, what members of the public do not know, and should know, are the acts and laws that will be put in place to minimize the unnecessary spread of marijuana. With the legalization of anything, whether it be a substance, an action, or a policy, there will be dispute. Every argument has a party with a rebuttal.
The Queensland Media Association’s annual conference for 2014 has been framed around the question, “The Media: Constructing a New Youth?” Today I will be speaking to you about how and why cannabis is affecting mental health in today’s generation of teens. Cannabis, or by the most popular street names “Pot, Dope, Weed, Leaf, Gunga, weed, Grass, or the most popular name, marijuana” is undoubtedly the most well-known and used drug especially by teenagers.
WAYS TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA To legalize marijuana, it needs to start from the supply chain. There are 12 ways a state can regulate the supply of marijuana, grouped into three categories. The first category covers the two familiar models: maintaining prohibition but reducing penalties, a policy being increasingly adopted, and the commercialization Colorado and Washington are testing out right now. Another category explores two extremes: maintaining prohibition and increasing penalties, and repealing prohibition without passing any kind of regulation of the marijuana industry. A third category explores eight options that fall somewhere in the middle.
Marijuana, for instance, is a drug that is most widely used in the United States (Thio, 2013, pg. 301). Society is starting to look at this drug as a useful tool in medication as well as a helpful tool in recreational use. The overall use of marijuana is seen to many in society as deviant, regardless
In the past decade, a number of movements to legalize the use of marijuana has been gaining momentum. According to the 2016 Gallup survey, a record high 60% of Americans say that marijuana should be legalized and this figure marks a 9% increase compared to 2014. Support for legalizing marijuana was 31% in 2000, 50% in 2016 before reaching 60% last year. This shows that despite government efforts to eliminate its use, marijuana is becoming more popular. It is clear that
