On Culture and Weed

Howard Becker took on a brave enterprise when he explained how the body functions on marihuana. I will attempt to do the same with my mother as the audience in mind. One of Becker’s main points in his article was that pot heads are not born, they are made. To me this sounds like he is on the side of nurture rather than nature in this issue. They are made though what we call “social construction.” The way I understand social construction is that without the “culture” or social atmosphere that surrounds that activity of smoking weed, the drug would not have as noticeable effect on the body. Someone must first somehow learn to enjoy smoking pot either by being taught or through observation. Not only must they learn to smoke it correctly, they must also be taught to recognize that the effect the drug has on their body is indeed desirable and pleasing. Many pot smokers in Becker’s study reported that at first, they did not understand what they were supposed to feel like while high. One smoker even needed a friend to tell him what to expect for him to feel anything at all. To me this suggests that the high feeling that people experience is all made up in their mind or created from social expectations.

Another issue surrounding pot smoking that we discussed in class is whether pot was addictive or not. Some students suggested that it was but not from the drug itself, instead it was the social experience that goes with the act of getting high that was so addicting. Smoking in a group will give a sense of belonging and companionship. In this way pot smoking may fall into the category of a “psychopharmlogical” drug, meaning that the effects may be more mental than physical.

It seems to me that Becker is arguing us to take a position on whether we believe that our body can shape our politics. Is pot more appealing to a certain type of person or does it matter more if your friends are users that will ultimately determine whether you will join the ranks of the pot heads. On a personal note, I myself have never smoked pot. I find it interesting to note that no one in my close circle of friends has habitually smoked either. These two facts do not seem unrelated to me. Maybe if I had friends that were users I myself would be more likely to try smoking as well. Who we associate with seems to have a large effect on how we are socially constructed.