A Pot-Smokers World

Culture can be define as socially constructed patterns that shape the way we live in today's world. With that being said, our culture has shaped the way we link certain signs with those who we think are "pot smokers." These signs could be hemp, tie-dye, Wiz Khalifa, rolling papers, the colors red, yellow and green...the list goes on.

Becker explains that we cannot necessarily "identify those 'traits,' which 'cause' the behavior [the act of smoking marijuana]. Instead, the problem becomes one of describing the set of changes in the person's conceptions of the activity and of the experience it provides for them." Basically, if a non-user does not receive any explanation of how he/she should feel like or act like after they have smoked, they may not find any satisfaction is smoking pot if they do not feel "high." Also, if this person is a new user, he/she may not get high their first time, resulting in no desire to try it again. On the other hand, if the new-user is taught the proper smoking technique and receives instruction on how to smoke and what the outcome should feel like, they will become a user, according to Becker.

These social experiences lead to Becker's idea of non-physical addiction to the drug. One becomes addicted to the idea of being accepted into a subculture of marijuana users that nurture him/her into becoming a "pot-smoker." The signs mentioned earlier leave someone "craving" the idea of smoking weed, not necessarily craving the drug itself.