"So, Do you smoke?"

Written by Kaiya Vicioso / Artwork by Brett Kaplan and Zoe Ades

Understanding the complicated history of Mary Jane

You’re sitting in the doctor’s office for a yearly checkup. You’ve gotten the routine weigh in, measurements, bloodwork, and there’s only one thing left in your visit. The doctor closes the door behind her. “So,” she asks, “Do you smoke?” The dreaded question. We’ve all been there, and the questions that usually follow are, “Do you drink?”, “Do you vape?”, and “How often?” It can be hard to know what to do in this scenario. Do you tell the truth? Do you lie? Does it matter? In reality, it doesn’t really matter. Under HIPAA laws anything you share with your doctor remains confidential unless there is a threat to yourself or others. But sharing your private habits with your doctor can still be embarrassing and scary considering the prevalent stigmas against marijuana. Smoking weed is becoming increasingly culturally acceptable. Many states have now legalized what was once considered a schedule 1 substance. Most recently, New York joined the list of sixteen other states that have legalized the drug.

A 2013 brochure by the National Institute of Drug abuse, found that 1 in 7 teenagers reported using marijuana in the past month. Considering new accessibility and cultural acceptance of marijuana usage, this number has certainly increased. Among my own peers, other college-aged students, most, if not everyone, I know at least smokes marijuana occasionally. Looking outside of just young adults, even older generations participate in marijuana usage. A Yahoo News and Marist University survey says more than half of American adults have tried marijuana at least once in their lives. So why does weed still have societal stigma?

You have to understand the complicated and unfair history behind marijuana use, incarcerations and laws. The historical turning point responsible for most modern-day stigmas behind marijuana is the 1986 Anti-Drug Abuse Act. The Act started the requirement for mandatory minimum sentencing. Implemented by President Reagan, the new law raised federal penalties for both marijuana possession and dealing. The possession of 100 marijuana plants would receive the same penalty as possession of 100 grams of heroin. In a later amendment to the law, a “three strikes and you’re out” policy was established, requiring life sentences for repeat drug offenders. These new laws had detrimental impacts on lowincome and communities of color, as higher policing in these areas led to more arrests and charges for seemingly minor offenses related to marijuana.

While laws surrounding marijuana have changed in many states and use of the drug has been legalized in many places, people are still being arrested for, and charged, with marijuana offenses. Despite a booming legal marijuana industry with new celebrity weed companies like Seth Rogen’s, “Houseplant” and entire forums and communities dedicated to finding the most lucrative marijuana stocks to invest in, there are still 40,000 Americans incarcerated for marijuana offenses today. In 2018, there were 663,367 arrests involving marijuana, and according to the ACLU, Black people are 3.73 times more likely than white people to be arrested for marijuana. Despite being more likely to be punished for offenses related to marijuana, Black Americans aren’t reaping the benefits of its legalization.

81% of Cannabis business owners are white and only 4.3% are Black. Legalization and decriminalization of marijuana is great, but in taking these steps we also must remember marijuana’s complicated past and find a way to rectify the inequities of the industry. Wealthy white business owners see marijuana as their next big business venture, while Black people are still being incarcerated for minor marijuana related offenses. Ending the discrimination and elitism that exists in the world of weed might seem challenging, but it is extremely necessary. There should be more pathways for people selling marijuana illegally to enter the legal industry, as well as the release of those who are still in jail for minor marijuana related offenses. Until these steps are taken fairness in the industry will never be possible.

So, next time your doctor asks you if you smoke weed, don’t panic! And next time you roll up a joint think about the history behind what you’re smoking, and consider supporting Black owned cannabis companies so that everyone can get a fair slice of Mary Jane’s economic pie.