Pot and The Circuit of Culture

While reading Howard Becker’s, Becoming a Marijuana User, I started to compare the drug to The Circuit of Culture.

Marijuana is represented in many ways. Some believe it to be strictly an illegal drug that is not to be used or touched due to his harmful effects. Others view it as a recreational drug used for fun and pleasure. Others use to become part of some sort of group or environment. There are many tones and feeling towards marijuana. The subject stirs up a lot of controversy because many feel it should not be illegal due to the fact that the drug itself isn’t actually addictive.

Next when a person begins to smoke pot they gain an identity. The people who smoke marijuana use it for pleasure. They care about it because of what they get out of it. They gain an image and maybe even a group of friends. The non users often judge the users. They perceive them as burnouts and bad influences. The users are often generalized. One must understand that marijuana in itself isn’t addictive. It’s the environment and idea of marijuana that is craved.

Once a person begins using marijuana consumption plays a huge role. People who consume pot must buy the drug from a dealer. So yes, it is something you buy. It’s not cheap, but compared to other drugs, it’s affordable. Marijuana is clearly advertised as a harmful drug through anti-drug campaigns.

As with consumption, production is apart of marijuana as well. The user is paying for it and the money comes from their personal funds. People have to grow marijuana and sometimes the people who make it produce and sell it as well. One makes a good amount of money from selling it. So many types of people smoke marijuana for various reasons. They are not all the same person. One type of user could be a rebellious teenager and on the other end it could be a normal adult who uses it for recreational use or medical reasons.

Lastly marijuana is definitely regulated. It is illegal and against the rules in the United States. There are many loopholes though. One can acquire a medical marijuana license meaning they can use it legally for a medical reason. The government is charge of this ban/regulation.