Marijuana use has been a cultural factor for many communities for years. According to numerous articles and reviews, the number of people using weed in these modern times is at a record high. Retrospectively, this has not always been the case. But now, you can hear a song about cannabis in any genre possible.
Currently, stoner culture is publicized on numerous platforms. In any given hour, pop culture showcases several references to cannabis. Since mainstream media and other sources of entertainment are a representation of people’s culture, it is clear that weed influences pop culture in general. What came first, weed use or weed use in pop culture?
The History of Cannabis in Pop Culture
The first and most notable identification of cannabis in mainstream culture was in connection to music. Reggae and Hip-hop were the first two genres with serious mentions and depictions of drug use. For years, the plant and its use were synonymous with reggae, and people followed the culture.
At this point, it wasn’t legal for individuals to come out as users, and the depiction of the same in songs and music videos was an act of rebellion. The general culture’s outlook on use at the time was encased with years of stigma and discrimination.
While Bob Marley and other Reggae artists were keen on advocating for the use of the crop, legal restrictions prevented people from seeing the benefits. Weed use was at the time thought to be associated with violence and behavior that was repulsive. The result was that even though artists were singing about its medicinal properties, people were still afraid of the same.
Current Effects of Marijuana on Pop Culture
Contrary to the dark years of stigmatization and discrimination, there have been changes in how people view weed. If the general references of the crop in songs, movies, artworks, and the general culture are anything to go by, then the attitudes have undergone a tremendous shift.
Marijuana has resulted in less stringent portrayals of the drug and the benefits of its use. Ingesting cannabis now comes off as being cool and part of the enlightened group. Rather than offering negative imagery of stoners, modern culture proves that they can use and work effectively.
Now weed references are not only isolated from gangster hip-hop but can be found in R&B, pop music, and more. These current attitudes are pushing more and more individuals to be more lenient towards the open use of the plant. Other than music, what other indicators are there of marijuana influencing general culture?
How does Cannabis affect the influence of pop culture in general? As discussed, marijuana and how it affects the body are concepts that people are now well aware of.
The publication of these shows and songs, as well as the support of well-known personalities, has led to an increase in the number of people using the drug. Marijuana has, in a way, influenced the ease of its decades-long stigmatization, making it ideal for people to associate with its use.
Weed Use and Social Media
You cannot think about pop culture without considering social media. In recent years, social media has become very important for many individuals. Evaluating the same will show how marijuana affects mainstream culture in general.
One of the ways to gauge influence is to consider the vape situation. Cannabis use through vapes hit the world a few years back, and it has been quite a wave. More and more people are being influenced to use vapes packed with CBD and THC compounds.
Compared to ancient times, social media pushed weed use culture to people through portrayals of active users and non-violent effects. Through social media accounts and other engaging programs, activists have been pushing for a more positive attitude towards cannabis use.
Retrospectively, the effect of weed on the greater population has been propelled by social media. Social media, a common aspect of pop culture, is more relevant than ever in influencing people’s behavior and attitudes.
Do Famous People use Weed?
An analysis of the internet, inclusive of social media sites, reveals that more and more people are coming out as marijuana users. The list does not only contain artists and rappers who have become synonymous with cannabis, but also active professionals.
Gone are the days when the drug was associated with negative behavioral outcomes. Pop culture has adopted a positive attitude towards using the same in general. Does Weed enhance performance?
On a creative level, marijuana influences more daring thought processes and could, in a way, lead to better lyrics, more extensive art pieces, or even more heartfelt poems. Regarding the professional side, weed use doesn’t improve performance. A marathon runner cannot run faster while high. Though their running may lead to positive feelings, in most cases, it will not give them an advantage over others.
Conclusion
It is hardly ever possible to go through the internet for long without bumping into a pro-marijuana piece. The current attitude on cannabis use is accepting of stoners and their product use. The body of restrictions on the substance has been wearing away over time. Maybe in the near future, it will be legal from a federal point of view, just like it was years back.
