Crawford 1 Jameson Crawford Angel Matos WR 13300-06 5 December 2012 Popular Culture and Society's View of Marijuana The

legal status of one federally illicit drug is currently being called into question in many states. That drug is marijuana or cannabis. A detailed depiction of the production and distribution of illicit drugs has almost never been a television series' subject until the arrival of the highly acclaimed television series Weeds on Showtime and Netflix. Together, Showtime and Netflix establish an enormous audience base for the show depicting marijuana. Popular music artists such as Wiz Khalifa often boast about a hefty amount of pot smoking. Many films such as Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle and Pineapple Express are sophisticated in integrating marijuana into their plot. Does popular culture have any connection to American society's recent acceptance of marijuana socially and legally? Popular television, rap music, and film show how popular culture reflects a growing social and legal acceptance of marijuana and may even affect legal acceptance (on the state level) of marijuana in an increasingly libertarian society. The History of Marijuana Use in Society To understand marijuana's connection with American society, it is important to look at its history and to look back at studies done in the later half of the twentieth century. In the chapter "Marijuana Overview" in Robert Emmet Long's book Drugs and American Society, several studies on cannabis are presented. The book was published in 1986 which goes to show a historical account of studies done on the drug in the twentieth century. Long writes that there are limitations of marijuana research, but includes a study utilizing surveys to show marijuana use in the United States. National surveys have found that "over the past 20 years there has been a

Crawford 2 marked increase in the acceptability of occasional marijuana use among adolescents and young adults, although there has been some degree of increasing disapproval since 1980" (Long 117). The survey goes to show that before the twenty-first century, marijuana use had been on the rise. Popular culture promoting marijuana acceptance does not really appear until the twenty-first century but it is important to note that marijuana use was on the rise and was prevalent before this. The national surveys in the 1980s also show that the drug had become more controversial towards the end of the twentieth century. In decades before these surveys, it would be safe to say cannabis use was found among isolated groups of spiritual experimenters especially those of the 1960s, and remained for the most part, uncontroversial. But in the 1980s, as these groups of users broadened, especially in adolescents, more controversy on the use of cannabis was generated. This growth marks a period of transformation from spiritual experimentation to common use in society seen at the brink of the twenty-first century. Figure 1

Source: Miech, Richard, and Stephen Koester. "Trends In U.S., Past-Year Marijuana Use From 1985 To 2009: An AgePeriodCohort Analysis." Drug & Alcohol Dependence 124.3 (2012): 259-267. Academic Search Premier. Web. 25 Nov. 2012; Fig. 1. Although there was an increase in marijuana use up to 1985, it is also important to note a decline in marijuana use from 1985 to 1990 (See Figure 1). The trend shows the prevalence of

Crawford 3 marijuana use declining from 1985 to 1990 and leveling off from 1990 to 2009. This could be a result of the growing controversy over marijuana. Perhaps as more controversy was generated, more people labeled the drug as a taboo. Despite marijuana use ultimately being the same in 2009 as it was in 1990, popular culture waited until the twenty-first century to reflect the commonplace of marijuana use. But shouldn't popular culture have done this before 1985 when drug use was on the rise? The answer is no most likely because for whatever reason, society still did not accept its use and marijuana was still a social taboo. Perhaps that reason has something to do with the fact that it was not until the twenty-first century that most of the current 18 states with medical marijuana passed their laws. Five of these eighteen states passed laws in the late 1990s ("18 Legal Medical Marijuana States and DC."). This seems to be either what set off popular culture's depiction of marijuana as socially acceptable or what was caused by popular culture's depiction of marijuana. Half of these states passed their bills after the first season of Weeds. The other half passed their laws before. Perhaps it was not a coincidence that legal action on marijuana occurred during the same time that Showtime's Weeds depicted marijuana. The subject would reach popular culture with sophistication and the purpose of reflecting the commonplace of cannabis use that drew attention from medical marijuana laws in several states. Weeds and Breaking Bad It is important to note how marijuana is depicted in popular culture in comparison to harder drugs to explain marijuana acceptance. Federal law categorizes marijuana with harder drugs but popular culture seems to differentiate marijuana from harder drugs. The physical danger of marijuana does not even compare to the physical danger of harder drugs. Weeds shows an illicit drug with questionable danger while Breaking Bad shows an illicit drug, methamphetamines, with certain danger. Both shows go to suggest how marijuana is not a

Crawford 4 dangerous substance. Breaking Bad's depiction of methamphetamines and Weeds' depiction of marijuana are complimentary in separating these drugs: Weeds' characters laugh in the back of a van ("Lady's a Charm") while Breaking Bad's characters tweak before beating someone to death ("Seven Thirty-Seven"). The shows complement each other in that Weeds depicts marijuana as harmless and Breaking Bad depicts harder drugs are harmful. Breaking Bad's methamphetamines depict what Weeds' marijuana is not, and that is a drug that induces violence, overconfidence, and addiction. Neither show seems to be depicting marijuana as harmful. Both shows imply that the sale of illicit drugs has social implications that make illegal distribution dangerous and destructive of family relationships. The first way they do this is by disrupting the image of the mother and of the father. The characters do not disrupt the common intentions of a parent: they want what is best for their children financially and so they sell drugs. But with the social implications of selling drugs in a large scale operation comes concerning effects for Nancy and Walter. Nancy's son, Silas, starts his own operation of drug sale ("Doing the Backstroke") and her other son, Shane, becomes violent and ignores rules and laws ("All About My Mom"). Walter's son looks to his uncle Hank for guidance more than he does to Walter and he notices fake behaviors in his father. Although Nancy and Walter are able to provide for their children, their means of doing so seems to affect their children in a way not usual by the means of a normal mother or father. The shows also imply that the sale of illicit drugs has actual repercussions that make distribution seem destructive of moral values. Nancy and Walter become progressively greedy when their efforts as drug dealers bring them financial success. There are lots of times where their financial rewards are threatened, but they keep securing their assets in cash and assets as drug dealers. As the characters continually succeed even after their success is threatened, they develop greed for money. Nancy's greed gets her involved with larger, more violent suppliers

Crawford 5 but is justifiable as she is widowed. Walter's greed leads to violence and a total loss of a sense of morals. Walter's greed may not even be as justifiable since he wins his battle with cancer. Marijuana distribution seems to be just as serious and violent of a business as methamphetamine distribution. By depicting illicit drug sale as destructive and dangerous while depicting marijuana use as harmless, the shows seem to carry the implication of promoting the legalization of marijuana. This implication deems relevant to the political issues of the time as the supposed legality of marijuana is being debated in many states. Marijuana has recently been made legal in Colorado and Washington while being prescribed medically to patients in even more states. Although this implication may not have been the intention of the shows' creators, the fact that they do depict any drug sale as morally destructive and violent while depicting marijuana use as harmless, they have the overall effect of promoting the informal marijuana movement seen across the nation. Illegal drug sale is associated with gang violence and marijuana use has not even been proven to be associated with any physical dangers. Legalizing marijuana is predicted to have the effect of eliminating illegal drug sale and thus the gang violence and loss of moral values that seem to go with it. Much of the influence of the violence in Weeds and Breaking Bad stemming from gang involvement reaches Nancy and Walter's children and that hits hard to the average American. Weeds and Breaking Bad seem to reflect society's growing tendencies towards accepting marijuana use in a legal sense. Both shows' creators probably did not have the intention of promoting marijuana use. But through their depiction of drug sale as harmful to individuals and marijuana use as not evil, the shows inadvertently support the movement to legalize marijuana in the United States. Given the popularity of the shows, the success of Weeds into a 8 season series, and the appraisal of Breaking Bad, it would not be hard to argue a connection between the ideology of the shows and the ideology of the marijuana movement.

Crawford 6 Algorithms based on popularity affect which television shows appear first in the instant viewing service of Netflix. Both shows appear on the home screen of this service along with many documentaries on the legalization of marijuana. Is Netflix trying to legalize marijuana? Probably not, but the common subject of marijuana and drugs on the widely popular television and movie service may be saying something about how popular culture is reflecting the attitude towards the once tabooed drug. It seems as though Netflix even has the ability to affect how audiences view marijuana and their decision when its legalization is on the ballot. Weeds, Counterhegmony, and Race From further analysis of Weeds, it can be concluded that the show eliminates stereotypes and preconceptions about marijuana as a taboo. In an academic article titled "Smoking The Other: Marijuana And Counterhegemony in Weeds," Dusty Lavoie writes "Weeds [has] transgressive self-conscious playfulness with stereotyped ethnicities, loopy plotlines, and counter hegemonic dialogue. Cultural/political implications follow" (Lavoie 1). Through playfulness with counter hegemonic dialogue, cultural and political implications reflect America's growing acceptance of marijuana. But before this can be proven, it is important to define hegemony and show how Weeds acts to resist and counter the hegemony that has been enacted to label marijuana as a taboo. The idea of hegemony is central to the article's discussion of Weeds and marijuana. Lavoie defines hegemony as when "a provisional alliance of certain social groups can exert 'total social authority' over other subordinate groups, not simply by coercion or by the direct imposition of ruling ideas, but by 'winning and shaping consent so that the power of the dominant classes appears both legitimate and natural'" (Lavoie 3) Marijuana is subject to this hegemony; the dominant classes of America, probably during the 1960s, achieved consent that the drug was as much of a detriment to society and individuals as any hard drug. It is easy to see

Crawford 7 how this resulted in social authority over those who did not see marijuana as a taboo. The United States government classified cannabis as a Schedule I drug and so marijuana was not only outlawed through political means, but also carried the label of a taboo by the social authority implied by law. Lavoie argues that Weeds counters and resists the hegemony of marijuana by "inviting its audience to formulate and reformulate their personal opinions about marijuana as it exists in American suburbia" (Lavoie 3). The portrayal of marijuana in the show allows audiences to formulate opinions about the drug by challenging race associations. Marijuana is not only the show's subject, but Weeds also acknowledges "the existence, use, transfer, and enjoyment of marijuana in white suburbia" (Lavoie 5). Society often associates the drug with the black ethnicity of America: it is not uncommon for one to visualize a drug dealer as a black (or of another ethnicity of a minority group) gang member from a particularly rough suburban area. This could be a result of the portrayal of drug dealers in other pieces of popular culture and also holds true in Weeds: the dealers Nancy competes with are black and the suppliers she works for are Hispanic. By including Nancy in the trade, the show now introduces the white ethnicity into the equation. Many other white characters in the show use marijuana and are shown enjoying the drug. Doug Wilson, played by the hilarious actor Kevin Nealon, is a leader of the town council in the first few seasons of Weeds and is shown laughing and enjoying pot quite frequently. Preceding racial ideas about marijuana are challenged as it is shown to be prevalent in white society. Unfortunately, when it comes to marijuana, society tends to make the stereotype that minority groups are not only associated with drug trade but also drug use. This can only be explained by the prevalence of drugs in rough suburban areas often populated by minority groups. But Weeds is the best example of a piece of popular culture that challenges this conception for one drug: marijuana.

Crawford 8 The hegemony surrounding marijuana is resisted in Weeds. As racial stereotypes with marijuana are eliminated, so can the association of marijuana with harder drugs such as cocaine, heroin, and meth be eliminated. As the hegemony associated with marijuana is resisted, so can the preexisting conceptions of the drug as a taboo. This allows for audiences to create their own opinions. Weeds certainly reflects how America is accepting marijuana use into society. If not, why does Jenji Cohen portray cannabis as commonly enjoyed in even white society and why is Weeds so popular? Recent political occurrences such as the legalization of marijuana in two states seem to be affected by such reformulation of the conceptions behind marijuana. Are laws legalizing marijuana being passed as a result of the elimination of its taboo label? If not, why has marijuana not been legalized before these reformulations? Popular Music and Film Not only is popular culture depicting marijuana in television, but it is also depicting marijuana in popular music. Wiz Khalifa is a successful figure in the music industry and oftentimes in his music, he boasts about the amounts of cannabis he smokes daily. Wiz Khalifa's published music combines marijuana with lyrics not meant to exclude anyone: "[His music] is designed to alienate no one. That good will extends to the subject matter, which is less marijuana minded than his mixtapes, though not by much" (Caramanica). Although his published music may not be about marijuana as much as his mixtapes, it is important to note that the margin of this difference is small. The title of Wiz Khalifa's "first major-label album, 'Rolling Papers,'" (Caramanica) is about smoking marijuana as "papers" describe marijuana paraphernalia while "rolling" describes the act of creating a marijuana cigarette. This may be the first album with a title insinuating marijuana use of any musical artist with as much popularity as Wiz Khalifa.

Crawford 9 Twenty-first century film also depicts marijuana use. Although marijuana has been depicted decades before this time, twenty-first century marijuana movies seem to be more sophisticated. The creators of Cheech and Chong's Up in Smoke (1978) "said marijuana movies these days differ from their brand of pot humor. 'Ours is more primitive. Theirs are more sophisticated,' Chong told Reuters" (Dobuzinskis). Twenty-first century films such as Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle and Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay are more sophisticated with their depiction of marijuana. The filmmakers "wanted, in part, to break the stereotype that [Asian and Indian] ethnic groups are too rule-bound" (Dobuzinskis) by depicting the main characters, who are of Asian and Indian descent, smoking marijuana. The extremely popular actor Seth Rogan appears in Pineapple Express frequently smoking marijuana with his drug dealer played by the popular actor, James Franco. Although filmmakers are depicting marijuana in their films, "Hollywood players say their portrayal of marijuana use is not meant to encourage anyone to smoke pot. They just want to make it part of story lines to reflect today's society" (Dobuzinskis). Even filmmakers claim their depiction of marijuana use is meant to reflect society. That is a society that seems to be open about the use of marijuana and less hesitant to call it a "taboo" than society in previous decades. Conclusion: A Final Note Popular culture clearly reflects the use of marijuana in society, but does it reflect an acceptance of marijuana in society? The popularity of television shows, music, and films depicting marijuana points to the answer being yes. As more people are drawn to popular culture with marijuana subject matter, those same people, judging from their taste, seem to be accepting its use in society. This does not mean everyone who has interest in the subject smokes marijuana, but it definitely suggests they accept its use in society. If society does not accept the openness of marijuana use then why do so many people flock to the theatres to see Harold and

Crawford 10 Kumar smoke with George Bush? Why do so many people change the channel to Showtime or choose Weeds on Netflix to watch Nancy's endeavors selling marijuana? Why do so many people listen to Wiz Khalifa openly rap about smoking massive amounts of marijuana? Although not everyone is accepting of the openness about marijuana and some still consider it a social taboo, popular culture suggests that the general trend is openness about marijuana and an enormous decline in the labeling of it as a social taboo. Acceptance goes along with a libertarian society pushing for marijuana laws and succeeding for medical marijuana in eighteen states and for legalization in two states. On the federal level, marijuana remains a Schedule I drug with legal penalties for its manufacture, distribution, or possession. The question is, will the federal government ever listen to the voice of the voters in the many states that have taken legal action on marijuana? Popular culture has listened.

Works Cited "All About My Mom." Weeds. Showtime. Portland. 31 Aug. 2009. Television. Caramanica, Jon. "Rapper Reaches Back Well Before His Time." New York Times 31 Mar. 2011: 7. Academic Search Premier. Web. 19 Nov. 2012. Dobuzinskis, Alex. "Weed Grows in Pop Culture: Pot Use Seen in Movies, TV | The San Diego Union-Tribune." Weed Grows in Pop Culture: Pot Use Seen in Movies, TV | The San Diego Union-Tribune. Reuters, 8 Aug. 2008. Web. 19 Nov. 2012. <http://www.utsandiego.com/uniontrib/20080808/news_1c08pot.html>. "Doing the Backstroke." Weeds. Showtime. Portland. 13 Aug. 2007. Television. "Lady's a Charm." Weeds. Showtime. Portland. 23 Jun. 2008. Television. Lavoie, Dusty. "Smoking The Other: Marijuana And Counterhegemony In Weeds." Substance Use & Misuse 46.7 (2011): 910-921. Academic Search Premier. Web. 19 Nov. 2012.

Crawford 11 Long, Robert Emmet. "Marijuana Overview." Drugs and American Society. New York: Wilson, 1986. 109-133. Print. Miech, Richard, and Stephen Koester. "Trends In U.S., Past-Year Marijuana Use From 1985 To 2009: An AgePeriodCohort Analysis." Drug & Alcohol Dependence 124.3 (2012): 259-267. Academic Search Premier. Web. 25 Nov. 2012; Fig. 1. "Seven Thirty-Seven." Breaking Bad. AMC. Portland. 8 Mar. 2009. Television. "18 Legal Medical Marijuana States and DC." ProCon.org. Web. 27 Nov. 2012.