Cannabis culture

The concept of a real or perceived culture centered around the use of cannabis has grown in significance as cannabis use has become more commonplace in modern societies. The changing perception of cannabis users has resulted in a number of cannabis-oriented interest groups, as well as some commonly-held stereotypes of users, both of which have helped to shape the meaning of cannabis culture. Many believe that such typification of users is meaningless given the sheer diversity in the worldwide demographic of users, which spans different cultures, age, ethnicity, and social status. Some users, however, may identify with certain customs or ideologies surrounding the drug. Cannabis is also cited as an inspiration by many artists (see List of notable drug culture figures).

Overview

The illegality of cannabis in most parts of the world is often considered a unifying factor in cannabis culture, creating an "us against the world" mentality among many, particularly young, users. The criminalization of cannabis users has caused a great deal of resentment toward authority, especially law enforcement, for many users.

The counterculture of the 1960s caused a surge in cannabis use throughout parts of the world. Many users identified with rock music and the progressive, liberal values of the hippie movement. As this generation of cannabis users has aged, the demographic of users has become less and less confined to young adults, an age group with which cannabis use has traditionally been associated due to its relative lack of popularity before the sixties.

Stereotypes of users

A number of common stereotypes about cannabis users have been popularized over time by hearsay and, more recently, mass media. Stoner films, for example, tend to cast the user as a suburban teen or young adult slacker who is apathetic toward any aspect of life besides the pursuit of fun — and, often times, more cannabis. They may or may not identify themselves with other drug-related cultures and may even see use of other drugs, especially hard drugs, alcohol, and tobacco, as dangerous, addictive and/or morally wrong. Some marijuana smokers may identify with the hippie culture, Heavy Metal culture, the Rastafari movement, or hip hop, among others. As the number of cannabis users in the west has increased over the past four decades the image of the marijuana smoker has become more familiar in developed societies, and less identified with young people. Where once cannabis users were associated with hippie culture (Woodstock, Grateful Dead, etc.) and Rastafarians, they are now increasingly regarded as typical individuals. This intersection between suburban life and drug culture has changed how many people view cannabis users.

Stereotypes in Movies

One of the most popular cult-classic films is Up in Smoke featuring Cheech and Chong. Although it is a bit extensive and exaggerated, it is meant to be humorous. More modern interpretations of "the stoner" can be seen in Half Baked. Another notable modern interpretation can be seen in the protagonists of Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (or Harold and Kumar Get the Munchies as it is known in Britain) and Grandma's Boy.In some areas, the two films offer a largely inaccurate depiction of cannabis culture ; some humorous elements in both features are exaggerated to an even greater extent than aspects of Up in Smoke when regarding the mind's experiences under the influence of marijuana. The personalities of the protagonists, however, display many traits held by a number of marijuana smokers.

Music and cannabis use

Many musicians attempt to recreate their experience with cannabis through the use of audio distortion, droning, echoes, or guitar effects. In the genre of rock music, the terms psychedelic rock and stoner rock have emerged as classifications for rock music which makes prominent use of these techniques. Psychedelic music, however, is not limited to cannabis for its inspiration, as hallucinogens often play a more profound role.

In addition to providing a creative outlet for cannabis use, music is often used to enhance the cannabis experience, as it can have a significant effect on the kind of thoughts or sensations experienced while high. The type of music enjoyed by users crosses nearly any known genre. Many users find that their scope of music appreciation broadens while high.

Smoking

With paper

The most popular method of cannabis smoking is with hand-rolled paper, usually called a joint or doobie, which is passed among a circle of users. One or more tokes of the joints are taken before passing it to the next person to the left. It is also poor etiquette to get the joint overly wet with saliva. Tobacco or other fillers are sometimes used, more commonly amongst European smokers, but some North Americans enjoy the blend for its flavour, ease of rolling, and conservation of funds. Sometimes blunts (cannabis cigars) are smoked instead, usually with a larger crowd, or for a longer session due to the slower burning characteristics of the cigar paper. Blunts are typically associated with the hip hop culture.

With a bong or pipe

Another common smoking method is with a bong or pipe. In some circles, whoever packs the bowl gets the first hit, often called "greens", and then passes the bong or pipe and lighter to the next person. In some circles, however, one person will often pack and smoke the entire bowl before passing it on to the next person (often called "percys" or "singles", as noted above with regards to joints) who packs another for themselves. One person may be designated to pack the bowl. One simple variation on this smoking method is passing around 2 or more pipes at the same time. Another method is the "never ending bowl" theory. The packer fills the bowl half way and passes it to his right. After the second hit he refills the bowl with another hit and a half and passes the piece along. This keeps most of the "bong chives" from vaporising off with no one enjoying its benefits. This method also allows for everyone to get a green hit and provides better combustion performance for the piece. When smoking from a bong or pipe, made from ceramic or "soft" glass, pyrex glass, or sometimes metal, the smoke travels from the lit cannabis and through a glass tube into water. This is where the term "water pipe" comes from. The smoke is then filtered in the water, and cooled, and then is inhaled by the user. However, hot water is used in some ocations, to warm it up.

Shared smoking

Users may smoke in groups, using a common smoking device such as a joint or bong passed around from person to person^[1]. Most often the circle will use one specific direction of passing the smoking implement. There have been many variations on this social circle, such as the "be polite, pass to the right", "pass to the left", or the "shoes-off blaze". A common phrase in smoking is "puff puff pass" (or "two-toke it around") where whoever has the smoking device takes two hits and then passes it to the next person. Others are "Smoker's Left" or "Left with Love" and in these cases the smoking objects go to the left. People sometimes use these terms "Light up" (To light up the blunt/joint), "Backdoor" (To get it next after the person who said "Light up"), and "Tres" (To get it third), but classically the cannabis is just passed left. This is also done in Canada, and Britain, except the terms are different; "Roller's Rights" or "Roller-Starter", meaning whoever rolls the spliff lights it. In the U.S. as well this is followed by "Deuce" (or "Dubs"), "Trips", "Quads", and "Quats". In the north shore of Chicago, it is common for people to call their hit by the names of the days. Whoever packs the bowl automatically gets "mondays".While a bowl is being packed, someone shouts "tuesdays" indicating they get the second hit of the bowl. People shout out days until someone unfortunate is left with the dreaded "fridays" or even worse, "saturdays". Another term for first hit off of the device is "greens". Greens refers to the unsmoked marijuana still being green. Usually the person that provides the cannabis gets greens. Some Floridians call "neighbors" to signify that they get the second hit because they are neighboring the person loading the bowl or rolling the blunt.

The selfishness associated with 'calling for hits', or 'roller's rights' with the phrases mentioned above is not always the norm. Many smokers are relaxed about how they enjoy cannabis together and look out for their peers to make sure that they are all sharing the experience.

Sharing cannabis in a group is not always the norm. Some users consider sharing joints to be unhygienic.

References

1. ^ Smoking Etiquette

See Also

• High Times Magazine
• Cannabis Culture Magazine
• 420 (cannabis culture)
• Smoking culture
• Hotboxing

Wikipedia information about Cannabis culture This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Cannabis culture". It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer). Help contribute to Americola and edit this article.