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Will marijuana, or another psychoactive substance, enter the mainstream of society similar to how alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine have?
An increasing number of Americans support the legalization of marijuana, including the overwhelming majority of young adults. Despite this, the regular consumption of cannabis remains something confined to its own subculture. Those who partake often are associated with "potheads", something that has come largely through their own fault. To the contrary, a social drinker is not considered a wino; someone who drinks coffee each morning is not considered a caffeine addict. Caffeinated beverages are on offer at virtually every restaurant, and alcohols both refined and vulgar are offered at most. Yet can anyone imagine THC-laced bread sticks at Olive Garden or happy brownies at Applebee's? Even in the most tolerant societies, one would be hard-pressed to find such menu items outside of specialist cafes.
So: will cannabis or another psychoactive substance - psyclobin seems a likely candidate - ever gain the status possessed by alcohol or caffeine?
I think marijuana is just about there already but might need 20-30 years to be 'as' mainstream as caffeine, alcohol and tobacco.
Just because you can't buy it everywhere, even in CA or CO, doesn't mean it isn't totally in mainstream consciousness. TV and movies are featuring it at an accelerating rate and often without a hint of negativity. And every person by say 25 has tried it or knows people who do it. To me it's as mainstream as any (mostly) illegal thing out there except speeding.
Oh, and market value. If pot was legal, it would be America's #1 cash crop... yeah wheat and corn are mainstream.
Now if President Obama would pull his head out on this issue, it would expedite the process. To me Dems are the only option but instead of giving lip service about the Trayvon Martin case, he could help young black men 1,000-fold by working on pot.
Better question: Is there ANY drug, legal or illegal, which Americans are not eager to take?
Guns and drugs seem to be the money making machines left in this society. Yeah, balance one drug against another to avoid the underlying issues. Dress it up politically and make it an intellectual exercise and justification for personal failure.
Guns and drugs are for losers. Loser Zimmermann & loser Martin: Minorities battling it out stoned and armed. One is dead, the other already fat. Whine, whine, it's about race. Not. It's about justice. Not.
Seriously, the visions of an increasingly stoned, drunk, medicated and armed USA give me the creeps.
I put cannabis into the same category as alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine as they all are psychoactive substances that are generally used recreationally, although all have been used for ostensibly medical purposes.
And of course marijuana is not mainstream in the same sense tobacco, caffeine, and alcohol are (although tobacco is becoming demonized in certain circles). Just read the examples I mentioned above.
It's been the same since 1776. Opium, whiskey, beer, tobacco, etc. I don't see your point. Weed is the only one which doesn't kill people or give you cravings.
The best part is people like that don't even realize legal drugs are drugs too. They completely overlook the yuppies driving around on Xanax, and a whole host of other drugs and say "oh that demon weed and those heroin junkies" These are the same people who have neighbors popping Oxy like it's going out of style, but hey if the Big Pharma and the FDA give you gold seal it must be good!
I've never seen this, in either alcohol or marijuana use.
Visit any rehab facility to see different folks struggle with different substances and how it affects them. Don't believe the hype and the media. One day you will have your teenagers to guide and they will outsmart you any which way. Simple sugar addiction is what causes most obesity now, for crying out loud.
I had too many friends wasted on all kinds of drugs, legal or illegal. I was indifferent, tolerant, saw it just politically at your age. It's a very individual responsibility to make up your unbiased mind of what you can tolerate. But it becomes a heck of a complex issue with a partner, and especially with your own kids.
What if you have a beautiful daughter struggling with mild autism? All kind of chemical stuffs doctors prescribe. You, your wife, will be the judge what to give or not. Then she turns to dope and drinking on top of it. And not telling. HAving all the admirers in the world to turn her against you as parents. You have to learn fast how to guide her. Hard when she's drugged all the time, then pregnant on top of it. One 'issue' will chase the next. What if your son hangs out with rough kids and is talked into petty crime to get money for pills? You have taught him by example what is good or bad, didn't you? Or were you tolerant and 'let him find his own way'? Which will most likely be prison stints and hating you for not being a sterner father.
It's not political. It's personal. Government can't fix this either way. There's no harm done when you get yourself in motion and talk, visit an AA meeting, a church rehab center, any drug counselor in the ABSENCE of a having a drug problem. Just to get a reality check. Seeking confirmation on a blog like this only attracts like minded folks. And idiots like me who have learned their lessons by the loss of loved ones.
Just by developing a habit, people assume they have educated themselves about it. Sigh, if it would be that easy...
Why is it important to even ask- People will ingest what ever they want regardless of whether it is mainstream or not. Look at opiate use...going back to the days of opium dens - They still exist and they are not considered mainstream...just as heroine use..been going on in America for 100 years and it will never be mainstream. It depends on the substance. A pot head can appear to be functional in society - a junkie can for a time but always ends up passed out in some alley...as for mushrooms...lunatic running around telling you that your car is a wonderful color will be shunned.
Why is it important to even ask- People will ingest what ever they want regardless of whether it is mainstream or not. Look at opiate use...going back to the days of opium dens - They still exist and they are not considered mainstream...just as heroine use..been going on in America for 100 years and it will never be mainstream. It depends on the substance. A pot head can appear to be functional in society - a junkie can for a time but always ends up passed out in some alley...as for mushrooms...lunatic running around telling you that your car is a wonderful color will be shunned.
Comparing pot or psychadelic mushrooms to opium, etc (hard drugs) is an ill-informed comparison. From this quote, I can tell you have no experience with either. A person that ingests THC on occasion is no more a "pothead" than a casual drinker is an alcoholic. As for mushrooms... I know of no one who makes a regular habit of ingesting them. For me, and for those I've known, they're a once or twice a year experience to keep one's ego in check. Regardless of how often one ingests them, it's as far a stretch as calling mushroom-takers losers as it is people who stargaze.
I really think the history of drug use climbs and fall as history shows. But like alcohol most give up marijuana for the effect its has on their lifes especially lack of success in most fields. Mnay also continue because they can't function in the world without in time.
Not at all true. Most people who give it up simply get tired of it, or feel that they've "outgrown" it.
I'm a regular toker for 46 years now. I'm happily retired after a 40 year career, 25 of it in a lucrative sales position. I'm married for 38 years, raised & educated 3 kids, and built a rather large retirement nest egg. I'm now in the planning stages of building a house on our land in the 4 corners region of Colorado. I've done very well thank you and my regular toking has had no impact on my career, marriage, or family.
All of my toker friends are professionals, my family doctor, my attorney. I know stockbrokers, CPA's, other sales professionals, etc with whom I toke. The whole lack of success angle is a stereotype that many in the media use to build headlines & attract readers. Not that there aren't some who do have issues that are life & career impacting, but in general, those people would have those issues anyway. If it wasn't cannabis, it would be something else that they abuse and would negatively impact their lives.
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These are the same people who have neighbors popping Oxy like it's going out of style, but hey if the Big Pharma and the FDA give you gold seal it must be good!
