I have chosen cannabis as the primary research subject of my final project. In particular, I want to explore its properties, effects, regulation, and how it connects with wider socioeconomic trends. Marijuana is a widespread and common psychotropic substance, often being the primary source of exposure to drugs for the wider population. In the present age, it is being widely destigmatized, leading to its acceptance into the public consciousness. Most individuals are aware of what cannabis is and what its consumption might entail. Therefore, gaining a better understanding of this drug may become necessary in the future when scientists, researchers, and medical professionals will have to estimate the long-term consequences of marijuana use. I want to keep myself knowledgeable and aware about how the substance works, both to make informed choices when encountering it myself and when discussing it with others. I think that cannabis use intimately connects to discussions of drug abuse, despite its relatively mild effects.
Many individuals use cannabis for recreational or medical purposes, and the relatively quick acceptance of the drug may tell us a lot about the society of today. With the existence of deep systemic problems, such as poverty, lack of affordable education, housing, and emergent climate problems, many people seek to relieve some of the stress of their lives with the use of cannabis. Teens and older adults alike find it to be a source of comfort or enjoyable activity to engage in. At the same time, a regulated cannabis industry slowly emerges, with companies attempting to profit off of the legalization and destigmatization of marijuana. The involvement of professional retailers introduces the drug into the larger capitalist system and works to profit off of the people’s desire to alleviate their mental and physical pain. I want to further discuss some of the reasons people are drawn to marijuana, how companies use that to their advantage, and how the current climate surrounding the drug will affect society moving forward.
Project Plan
- Introduction
- Reasons for choosing a topic
- Origins and a short history of cannabis
- Effects
- Production, use, legalization
- Cannabis and wider society
- Cannabis and the open market
- Potential effects of widespread cannabis use
- Conclusion
- References
Works Cited
Barton, A. W., et al. “Trajectory classes of cannabis use and heavy drinking among rural African American adolescents: Multi-level predictors of class membership.” Addiction, vol. 113, no. 8, 2018, pp. 1439-1449.
Halperin, A. “Cannabis capitalism: Who is making money in the marijuana industry?”the Guardian, Web.
The health effects of cannabis and cannabinoids: The current state of evidence and recommendations for research. National Academies Press, 2017.
“History of cannabis.”The University of Sydney, Web.
Knaappila, N., et al. “Changes in cannabis use according to socioeconomic status among Finnish adolescents from 2000 to 2015.” Journal of Cannabis Research, vol. 2, no. 1, 2020.
Olthof, M. I., et al. “Identifying subgroups of cannabis users based on help-seeking preferences: A latent class analysis.” European Addiction Research, vol. 28, no. 5, 2022, pp. 331-339.