In the recent past, it seems like the world got quite a bit greener. Numerous states such as Washington and New Hampshire have passed legislation decriminalizing recreational marijuana or legalizing medicinal marijuana. Uruguay became the first nation in the world to completely legalize the pot trade. Additionally – and perhaps most importantly for us Americans – all eyes are turning to Colorado to see how their experiment with legal recreational pot goes, as the first recreational dispensaries have been open since Jan. 1.
With all these developments in the marijuana advocacy movement, we should ask what the next developments may be in the world of weed. We should ask, “How has public opinion been affected by these developments?” Are public attitudes towards weed changing with the times or is legislation destined to move forward – or be held back – by unchanging stances against weed?
“The majority of Americans (58 percent, according to the latest Gallup Poll) already support ending marijuana prohibition … and I believe that this will only increase in the future,” Suzanne Carlberg-Racich, a DePaul professor of Public Health, said. “The medicinal benefits of cannabis are well-established and provide solid rationale for creating more helpful policy. Similarly, when we compare the harms of recreational marijuana use with the harms of alcohol use, it becomes evident that our drug policy does not reflect science; rather, it reflects politics.”
In addition, despite the hubbub recently given to Colorado, some from the state have downplayed the changes from the new marijuana policies as not a big deal.
“It’s (always been) relatively easy to get a medical card, (and) people have been smoking weed in public since before it became legalized,” Peyton Lucey, a DePaul sophomore from the state of Colorado, said. “Weed has always had a presence here, and legalizing it hasn’t shown to be too detrimental as of now.”
It’s clear that the populace has multiple reasons to believe in the advocacy movement, from the arguments that it will reduce the amount of nonviolent offenders in an overcrowded prison system to the fact previously mentioned: that alcohol – a substance that presents much greater third-hand risks of accident and violence – is already widely acceptable, both legally and culturally. It’s also clear that the majority of people don’t find weed use a big deal; it’s time for legislators to catch up with the Opinions of the people.
As with any substance-related issue, there are responsible and irresponsible ways to confront the problem. Carlberg-Racich suggests that “a public health focus is key (in the marijuana debate). For example, Uruguay’s change in law includes a public health campaign designed to help people make informed choices about the health risks and recommends routes of transmission other than smoking. This is no different than public health campaigns designed to reduce the harm associated with alcohol use, such as those that advocate for designated drivers.”
Marijuana is ultimately something that isn’t destructive, at least not when treated and regulated properly. It seems that Americans, as a majority, seem to accept marijuana use as a part of today’s culture. Will legislators continue to follow through in a responsible manner? Only time will tell.