The first references about marijuana date back to 94 year of the 19th century. Considered that is an article by ethnographer John Gregory Bourke about hemp crops on the shores of North America. Since then, a lot of time has passed and marijuana has become widespread around the world. Having turned from a part of the culture of the indigenous tribes of that time, to the fastest and most accessible rescue to relieve stress for a modern youth. Is it worth to call John Gregory Bourke the culprit in the global spread of marijuana. However, impossible to deny that in the modern world marijuana has become so widespread, that the number of cases when easier to buy some weed than an alcohol is only growing.
What is the reason?
At first glance, you can consider too tough local laws guilty in the problem. But at last ime, we’ve seen a trend toward decriminalizing marijuana in the world. Already, 16 of the 50 U.S. states have legalized marijuana use and cultivation, and several more states are preparing to do the same. Canada fully legalized hemp use and culturing in 2018. Become the first G-7 country to do so throughout the country. Uruguay did this in 2013, become the first country in the world fully legalized marijuana throughout the territory. In October 2022, the German government agreed a plan to legalize marijuana, and according to it, in 2024 marijuana will be available to adults not only for recreational purposes.
The government of Thailand has allowed the possession, cultivation, use and transportation of marijuana since June 2022. By this move, they solved a long-standing problem and stopped the persecution of a culture that had long become part of the country. Thailand was the first of the Asian countries to decide on such measures, thereby changed meaning about drugs in all Asian region. And won the loyalty of travelers looking for the opportunity to meet the sunset on the beach with a joint. Demand gives rise to supply. And this law works here.
Where is the roots?
It would be unfair not to call music the main driver of the widespread of any drugs around the world. One of the most important roles in this was played by reggae music. Having become an integral part of the religion known as Rastafarianism. The religion, like the music that began in the 60s, originates in Jamaica. Interesting motifs with simple lyrics resonated in the hearts of many admirers around the world. Over the years, music has become beloved by everyone and has become an anthem of many generations.
And now, when many years have passed, reggae music is gaining new fans every year. For example, commercial director of Amsterdam Ajax football club was surprised by the unusually high demand on the third kit t-shirt of the season 20-21, made in the traditional colors of Rastafarian culture. The demand for a t-shirts was 4 times bigger than any first kit t-shirt ever. The official store had to several times order the release of new batches at the factory.
Whats now?
Of course, such wide popularity around the world could not simple pass. Nowadays we have a difficult, historically established situation, actively warmed up by the show business and mass media. But we should not fully blame show business in happens. Most often, the first experience of marijuana use occurs in adolescence. To date, according to 2018 research results, 4.7% of children’s in the world aged 14 to 16 have tried marijuana at least at once in their lives. Kids choose marijuana as alternative to alcohol in attempts to know yourself. At this moment are developed persistent psychological dependencies subsequently leading to systematic use. Adolescents with mental disorders are most susceptible to systematic use. We are talking about anxiety disorders, Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depressions.
According to the opinion of most modern psychologists, the causes of these disorders take the roots from a family. The wrong сhild-rearing practices along with the toxic environment at school for a long time cannot simple pass for the fragile psyche. At first times marijuana can really seem like a bright alternative to other available ways of influencing consciousness. But if unresolved psychological problems remain unresolved, and toxic environment still not changing then marijuana stops bring serenity like before. This is how the road to other drugs opens.
Whats next?
There is an opinion in society that 80% of those who have tried marijuana at least once switch to the use of other drugs. Yes, it is true, but partially. It this case statistics primarily count college students with their turbulent student lives. However, hast to calm down, most drug experiments students ends with graduation from college. Only a small part of this number continue to use drugs. It will have to be agreed that marijuana has springboard status to drug use, for reasons of prevalence, popularization and availability. But the large number of smokers around the world and the modern status of marijuana make think about the veracity of this statement.The going assumption is that widespread popularity of marijuana and other drugs lies not in the reasons above, and in a large number of cognitive and behavioral problems, forcing people to seek calm bringing shelter.
