47. Marijuana as a Symbol “ The symbolic aspects of marihuana are the most intangible of the items …and yet they may be at the heart of the marihuana problem.” The National Commission on Marihuana and Drug Abuse: Marihuana: A Signal of Misunderstanding
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Editor's Notes
Women are 10 percentage points less likely than men to favor legalizing the drug. 1
Visuals as important as words. "a picture is worth a thousand words" Non-verbal communication is 90% of all communication. historically speaking these images and messages have had a monopoly on the content and marketing generated within and created for "the cannabis community."
Marijuana laws are intimately related to a view of a particular lifestyle that many associate with marijuana use. Picture of legal bud/reefer madness: what's the message?
Context = Social construction and cultural norms. Social construction Between marijuana and identified user groups Marijuana use as a behavior Perceived risks Cultural norms Gender Roles Women: Maternal Responsible Caretaker
