Marijuana in America: More Mainstream Than Ever, More Arrests Than Ever!

Need more evidence that marijuana has gone mainstream in America? This morning on The Today Show, Matt Lauer chatted up a piece on so-called "Stiletto Stoners": educated, professional women with killer careers and enviable social lives who favor marijuana as their intoxicant of choice -- and are increasingly comfortable admitting it.

The piece draws its inspiration from an article titled "Stiletto Stoners" in the current issue of Marie Claire magazine. The story raises the question: Why are so many smart, successful women lighting up in their off-hours?

The sympathetic article and TV piece feature interviews with a wide range of successful women who wind down at the end of the day with a joint instead of a martini. The women see no need to apologize for their drug of choice and offer up various reasons for choosing pot over booze: Some don't like alcohol, others say they enjoy more rewarding conversations with friends when they're indulging in marijuana.

The coming-out party is happening in more and more places. The entertainment newspaper Variety recently ran a feature story on the depiction of marijuana as an everyday, normal occurrence on TV shows and in movies. The story references NBC's Parks and Recreation, the CBS pilot Accidentally on Purpose and AMC's Mad Men -- all portraying marijuana use matter-of-factly without the "reefer madness" storyline.

There's more: Emblazoned on the cover of the September issue of Fortune Magazine is a photo of actress Mary Louise Parker, star of the popular Showtime hit Weeds, teasing the lead story: "How Marijuana Became legal: Medical Marijuana is giving activists a chance to show how a legitimized pot business can work. Is the end of prohibition upon us?"

And let's not forget what President Obama, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger all have in common: They are all elected officials who have admitted to smoking marijuana and it didn't hurt their political careers. In fact, their candor may have even helped boost their appeal in some way by making them seem more approachable and hip, whether by writing about it in memoirs (Obama), being featured in marijuana reform organization advertisements (Bloomberg), or being shown enjoying marijuana in documentary films (Schwarzenegger).

While these examples of public figures owning up to past drug use without suffering adverse consequences are a sign of progress toward overcoming the "couch potato" stereotypes of marijuana users, we've sadly still got a way to go when it comes to public policy.

You might be surprised to learn that in the United States more than 750,000 people are still arrested every year on marijuana possession alone. In New York, under "moderate" Mayor Bloomberg, there were 40,000 pot arrests last year, and the city now has the unfortunate distinction of being the marijuana arrest capital of the world.

While marijuana use doesn't discriminate, our marijuana policies do. Both nationally and in New York City, marijuana arrests show stark racial disparities. In 2008, 87% of those charged with pot possession in New York were black or Latino. These groups represent only about half of the city's population, and U.S. government surveys consistently find that young whites use marijuana at higher rates than blacks and Latinos. Yet blacks and Latinos are arrested for pot at much higher rates, in part because officers make stop-and-frisks disproportionately in black, Latino, and low-income neighborhoods.

I applaud the "Stiletto Stoners" who are admitting to their family and friends that they smoke marijuana. It is brave to "come out" and cast aside shame and shatter stereotypes about what it is to be a "pothead." But we need to remember that the war on people who use marijuana is all too real and has not ended.

In November, more than 1000 people from across the country and around the world -- including drug policy experts, health care and drug treatment professionals, elected officials, and people who were formerly incarcerated -- will meet in New Mexico to organize, strategize, and promote alternatives to the failed war on drugs.

The Today Show said there were 8 million women who tried marijuana in the last year. We need them to join the movement to end marijuana prohibition.

Tony Newman is the director of media relations at the Drug Policy Alliance (www.drugpolicy.org)

Comments

[fresno500]

The countless lives affected by a trivial MJ possession charge is ridiculous. Why should a 21 year old smoking a joint have the rest of his life affected.


We can do better.

[Coinyer101]

$92 billion wasted in the war on drugs this year, and y'all wonder why we can't afford health care reform? The President failed in his first online townhall, to give a 'pragmatic' response to calls for legalization, by dismissing participants in the TH by "what does this say about the online crowd?', remark. This was the first indication I saw that he was not going to be a friend to liberal-pr­ogressives and libertarians. What a disappointing response from a 'man of the people'....., I been questioning his level of common sense, ever since.....,

[BusGreg]

Over one trillion tax dollars have been wasted on this quixotic enterprise and over twenty million people arrested since 1936. The only ones benefitting from this idiocy are the Prison-Ind­ustrial-Ko­mplex and those public dis-servants who get re-elected due to the insane amounts of lobbying done to preserve the status quo, even though over half of Americans support legalizing cannabis for adult use!

[research]

Political prisoners caught up in the Nixon JE Hoover war on peace loving hippies.

The USA has more political prisoner than any other country has total prisoners.

[oliver-tahoma]

All the wasted time, money and resources we put into arresting marijuana users is disgusting. The police we send on scavenger hunts for a little baggy of weed should be spent hunting down murderers and rapists, not some teen with the munchies.

[bermanator]

Sometimes, I love being from Massachusetts ;-)

Worst that can happen to me is a $100 fine (and I don't even have to pay it!)

[ECBA88]

We the voters of Massachusetts already told the state legislature in 2004 that we overwhelmingly favored legalization and taxation as a response to marijuana use... too bad the legislature thinks it needs to ignore non-binding resolutions. I just don't understand how politicians can consistently get away with being so much more conservative on this issue than their constituents are. I think it's because of the stigma attached to anyone who seems willing to fight a little TOO hard for drug reform. The process of integration into popular culture is a start, as the baby boomers become the oldest living generation, perceptions will slowly change and it will become more acceptable to "come out of the closet" as a user. I just can't believe we have a President and a large number of congresspeople who admit to having used at some point in their lives, but still seem to believe it should be illegal to do so. Anyone with real experience in marijuana should understand how much less damaging it is than alcohol.

[mbaty]

There are many sinister reasons for the drug war and for the continued prohibition of various medicinal plants. But I don't see any legitimate reasons. It's good that Americans are peacefully resisting the prohibition of pot.

[larmarch5]

Pot users will be the last group to step out of the closet. They/we are everywhere. I know more 40-60 year olds who smoke pot than do not. I don't know any under 40's who do not smoke it. It is the largest cash crop in Marin and Humboldt counties. Only beneficiaries of illegal pot are prison industries and drug cartels.

[ntrepid]

The last few months here in San Francisco, there have been numerous busts of "grow houses" in the Sunset District. Meanwhile, there are dozens of "legal" Medical Marijuana Dispensaries. Seems contradictory to have such a crackdown on what may very well be the sources for these Cannabis Dispensaries. Granted, some of the techniques used in the grow houses may be dangerous, but it is a waste of taxpayers money to pursue marijuana infractions. I've known a few cops that toked on a regular basis. Which made them "cool" but still untrustworthy. I also used Marijuana back in the early 80's to alleviate the side-effects of chemo-therapy. My parents were completely against it, but now that my father (80 yrs old) has cancer, he believes it should be available. Of course I later told them that I had been smoking pot since I was 14. Just as with alcohol, some people just get more stupid when they use marijuana. If it were legal, the tax revenues would be astronomic, it could be regulated much in the way alcohol and tobacco is. My feeling is the privatized prison industry, the alcohol industry, and the tobacco cartel all have an interest in upholding the prohibition on cannabis. Btw, I haven't toked in about 6 years and I'm 50 now. I'd love to but, I lost my connections and haven't bothered to seek a new one...

[larmarch5]

From SFGate:
Richard Lee, executive director of the medical marijuana dispensary known as Oaksterdam, and Jeff Jones, former director of the Oakland Cannabis Buyers' Cooperative, are the sponsors of a measure that would allow anyone over 21 to possess or grow marijuana for personal use. It would allow each local government to decide whether to tax and regulate marijuana sales.

The secretary of state's office approved the initiative for circulation along with a similar measure sponsored by John Donohue of Long Beach. Each needs at least 433,971 signatures of registered voters by Feb. 18 to qualify for the November ballot.

The Lee-Jones initiative would legalize possession of up to an ounce of marijuana. Lee says it would generate billions of dollars in tax revenue.

[ECBA88]

This is what we need. These sorts of initiatives need to be taken seriously, not stigmatized and laughed off as "stoner stuff."

[apoyo]

It's a freaking waste of freaking money going after these people.

Unless they are dealing or selling to minors leave them alone and use that money to catch real criminals.

[musselmanm]

Unlike the meds I get from my pharmacy, My natural pain relief has only one side effect, I get happy and the pain goes into the backround. I came close to overdosing on water once but each time I got scared of overdose by weed, I went to sleep and started over when I awoke.

[treboi]

lol!

[PlaceboStudman]

Sadly, we lost the marijuana battle a long time ago, when Obama made his ill fated "I don't know what it is about you people on the internet?" comment at his economic town hall several months back. That one comment pretty much cemented his legacy as the anti-drug president in many of our minds, and he might as well be joining Nancy Reagan's "Just say no" campaign

[treboi]

Ummm...why is it that everytime I see one of your posts you are always hating on Obama about something irrational? Seriously boo, sometimes you have your points, but most of time I feel like you are rambling as incoherently as a rethuglican...are you a closet conservative?

Imagine how it would look for the first Black president to legalize marijuana...the rethugs would have a field day with it...moreover, its a state issue anyways and states are moving to change the laws...chill out a little bit boo, you can pass the dutchie to the left hand side Obama is not trying to take your smokes from you...

[PlaceboStudman]

"closet conservative"? Hardly. I am a self-identified small business, small government Conservative in a Libertarian vain, not the GOP vain. If I criticize President Obama, it is because I want him to succeed, I simply may have different ideas about what success means than most people.

As for Obama being the First Black President, I guess I'm just not caught up in the whole racial identification as everyone else. He is, to me, the president, and as such, he has the power to lead and guide this country in ways that most people don't. So when I criticize him, it is only because I disagree with his stance on an issue, or a direction he is leading an issue, nothing more.

And you'll also have to forgive me if i am a bit impatient, but seeing as how I am terminally ill, I don't really have the luxury of patience as everyone else, so yes I am very passionate about expressing my opinions and views, with the understanding that most people should realize that they are just opinions and views, even if they aren't opinions and views that flow with the mainstream

[larmarch5]

One state at a time, then two at a time and so on.

[minerva117]

My state legislature passed medical marijuana....The the stinkin' Governor (Pawlenty) vetoed it. Way to betray your entire state!!

[transparent]

I know it's a different subject, but what about Hemp? Jeez, the tax increase from a whole new industry would pay for health insurance reform. It doesn't make any sense!

Also: 55, married, 6 figure from hubby, one speeding ticket. I'd love to smoke pot occasionally, and I do when I can get it--but how the hell am I suppose to get it? I think a lot of adults in my position would enjoy if they didn't have to feel like a criminal. Yeah for these women.

[musselmanm]

I advocate encouraging our North Carolina tobbakky farmers to change from growing cancer and death to hemp growth. Lets make some clothes and other fine products from a natural product which no one can get stoned on.
I would advocate growing weed for uncle sam to tax but that time seems to be in the near future, not right now.
At almost 60, I will continue to grow my own and cheat America from a great tax base until I die from sickness caused by the things which we make legal and encourage. Like guns and alcohol.

[BusGreg]

Our Medi-pot legislation appears to be stuck in committee.
http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/gascripts/BillLookUp/BillLookUp.pl?Session=2009&BillID=H1383

[treboi]

its easier to find in the bigger cities...NYC, LA, SF have delivery services. What you need to do is find out which of your friends have that "drug karma" or that sense about them that they have done a couple of drugs in their life and likely still smoke. Or you can go to a Phish or Dead concert, there are always people selling there

[MaggieMamacat]

I'm 53, disabled, and rarely leave the house because of pain. I too lost my connections...so now my source is my 23 yr old daughter who has never smoked a puff in her life. Several of her coworkers indulge, so she picks it up from them. I tease her about being my mule, and make hee-haw sounds. She doesn't use because she just has no desire for it. But she never wants me to run out because she can't bear to see me in that much pain, and the herbs work better than pills. Besides relieving my pain, herb lifts me out of depression and puts me in the mood to work on creative projects like sewing or my novel.

[1sparrow]

just let me chill with some good bud. the generals and military kiss my peace lovin ass.

[1sparrow]

i recollect half of every tax dollar goes to military- this whole article is to block the senators that block unemployment benefits continuation because of double think. everything is in total control.

[Clavis]

The article doesn't mention that George W. Bush, although he was typically weaselly about it, was also rumored to have enjoyed a lot of ganja way back when.

Coupled with "I didn't inhale", that means that, for (if you include Obama's 8 years) we will have gone 24 years with a pot-smoking President.

Yes Nancy Reagan's BS still rules the roost? What a joke.

[1sparrow]

seriously , in this country prisons are FOR PROFIT--- a good friend of my fathers was ex- CIA ..... he often warned of being caught in the "system"....the prison system.. our prison system... i have my freedom , but i don't have much time.

[Trophoto]

Once the prison industry got "privatized" the amount of incarcerated expanded greatly. Its a disgrace.
Prisons run for profit = lives lost and ruined. Health care run for profit = lives lost and ruined.
Hmmmm anyone else notice a trend?