Cannabis culture has expanded over the years and has now gone international, and the world is picking interest in it again. Since the restrictions on the legalization of cannabis are gradually released in more and more countries and regions, cannabis use has crossed borders, and with them comes a colorful and extensive culture. Cannabis has defined the legalities of societies in North America and has been used traditionally in Asian cultures and societies.
In this article local and international cannabis culture will be examined both in terms of anthropology, how various countries have adopted or rejected the plant and how the plant has affected their economy and culture, or how the inhabitants of certain regions or countries celebrate cannabis.
What is Cannabis Culture?
As we will consider the details of cannabis culture in different regions of the world, we first need to understand what cannabis culture represents. In other words, marijuana culture is the social, artistic, and political context related to the consumption and liberalization of cannabis.
It covers areas mainly how the substance is used (smoking, vaping, consuming food products) secondly how it has been perceived in art, music, and social events. In some areas it is considered a necessity, in other areas it is used for leisure and the related culture.
with the increasing acceptance of marijuana all over the world it is also increasingly part of the culture of these countries. Culture is a dominant factor that determines the perception of marijuana and how it is used, from festivals, and pot art to cannabis companies.
Cannabis in North America: Pioneering Legalization
Over the previous few years, the legalization of cannabis in North America has quickly grown into the limelight. Both the United States and Canada have emerged among the global leading countries in recreational and medical marijuana. But how did it come to this and what entirely makes the culture of cannabis in these two countries different?
United States: A State-by-State Approach
Different cultures of using marijuana have been transformed in the United States through increased legalization of marijuana for medical purposes and recreation. Formerly, the states that legalized marijuana were California, Colorado, and Oregon; currently, there are 23 states in which consuming cannabis in some form is legal.
Nevertheless, cannabis is still federally prohibited, and so federal and state laws on marijuana are a convoluted web, often quite confusing to users.
Where cannabis is legal, marijuana dispensaries have become a normal feature in society’s daily life. These dispensaries are not only stocked with a wide range of marijuana products, but they are also open for cannabis-related community meetings and different events and seminars concerning the advantages and applications of marijuana.
While Western culture has pretty much embraced marijuana or cannabis in places such as the cities of Los Angeles and Denver, there is much more focus on the artistic and social uses of cannabis.
Cannabis fairs are seven days and larger events that are similar to wine festivals where people come to celebrate the harvest and the cultivation of cannabis, the so-called Emerald Cup of California, or 420 days –when people come out in masses on April 20th to celebrate cannabis literally in every single form.
Cannabis has also during its integration into local communities led to the emergence of new kinds of art regarding cannabis, from mural arts to the music festival with inspiration from marijuana.
Canada: A Nationwide Legal Revolution
While the use of cannabis for medical or recreational purposes is legal in the United States, Canada has legalized the use of cannabis for both purposes across the country. After the Cannabis Act’s enactment in 2018, Canada has ranked among the biggest markets in the international market for legal marijuana. Canada regulates the growth, sale, purchase, and use of cannabis to ensure that cannabis products are safe, standard, and of superior quality.
This is because cannabis culture in Canada is perceived through the dimension of social approval. Vancouver and Toronto are perfect examples of congruent cultural adoptions of the plant, as cannabis cafes, dispensaries, and communal gatherings have become the Architecture of the Cities.
The culture of marijuana is not as strict, and people of all types can be seen using marijuana in public places just as they would in the United States using alcohol.
Of course, general characteristics define modern cannabis culture around the globe, but what distinguishes Canadians most of all is their focus on quality and responsibility. There is significantly favorable legal regulation of cannabis consumption which provides for education on the substance.
The majority of cannabis businesses in Canada aim at providing products that satisfy the economic buy as well as the recreational market and range from low THC to CBD-based edibles and creams.
Cannabis in Europe: A Bowl of Legal and Cultural Soup
On the other side of the Atlantic, there are seemingly more options in Europe when it comes to cannabis. Marijuana is still a prohibited substance in the European region with some of its nations easing up on the plant while others have very strict no-tolerance policies. Let me show you the major European countries and their attitude toward cannabis.
The Netherlands: The CannaBusiness hub of Europe
A symbol of liberal drug policy, the Netherlands has always been associated with cannabis culture in the Old World. Holland and especially its capital Amsterdam are also famous for so-called coffee shops where grown-ups can legally consume marijuana. These coffee shops remain an element of the city’s nightscape and welcome visitors from all over the world who wish to try the peculiar features of the Dutch marijuana culture.
Cannabis is prohibited in the Netherlands but the Dutch practice what is referred to as the tolerance policy under which the sale and utterance of cannabis is permitted but in specified places. environments. This very pragmatic tactic has created a vibrant cultural tendency based on pot consumption, primarily for recreational purposes.
Spain: Communications and Impacts: How Cannabis Clubs Influence Society
The cannabis market is rather segmented in Spain. The consumption of cannabis is prohibited, however, there are private associations related to cannabis, which are most developed in Catalonia and Basque Country where people may cultivate marijuana and consume it in restricted areas for members only.
The Cannabytes are part of a developing culture of proactive, sensible marijuana consumers who utilize the product for its communal benefits as opposed to merely casual, recreational purposes in public places.
The locations are the so-called Cannabis Social Clubs which are legal spaces for the individuals that use and promote cannabis. While cannabis for general public use is still prohibited, these private areas can afford much more controlled, safer, and communal ways.
Switzerland: Cannabis and Progressive Reforms
That is why Switzerland is much more liberal with cannabis, particularly with the spread of CBD products. Currently, the use of cannabis for leisure remains prohibited, but the production and sale of CBD derived from marijuana, including oils, sweets, and drinks, has been legal in Switzerland for many years.
Consumers in Switzerland can now purchase good quality CBD products that provide the medicinal effects of cannabis with none of the psychoactive ingredients.
CBD has found its place in the Swiss culture and is used mostly for relaxation purposes and relieving pain and stress. This has led to an interplay of cannabis culture and health trends in Switzerland as will be explained below.
Cannabis in Asia: Caution and controversy mark the biological tradition of behavior and response.
Cannabis in Asia: Caution and controversy mark the biological tradition of behavior and response.
Now let’s examine the situation with cannabis in Asia: Cannabis use is a socially unpopular activity throughout Asia and members of society who use it are looked at as underperformers or lazy. The latter even in 2013 remains largely influenced by previous cultural taboos and laws against the consumption of marijuana.
But there are exceptions, right? Medical cannabis has been on the rise in some Asian countries in the last few years, notably Thailand and South Korea. For instance, Thailand was the first Southeast Asian country to pass a medical cannabis law in 2018 with the special consideration of cannabis as a medicine.
However, despite these recent changes, Asians are still cautious and conservative when it comes to cannabis culture. For example, Japan and Singapore maintain severe laws prohibiting the possession of drugs and the penalties are very severe; the utilization of marijuana is disapproved.
This has meant that the cultural communication climate is very different from what is prevalent in a place like the US or Canada.
Exploring the Future of Cannabis culture
With the acceptance of this plant worldwide it’s important to note that the culture surrounding cannabis internationally has to change. Whether people use it for medical purposes, cannabis wellness, or for fun, the plant has made a place in culture. The inevitable legal and social evolution of cannabis across the globe is defying prognostications the world over which will define this intriguing and revolutionary plant in the future.
What do you think about the changing culture relative to cannabis? Is it something that will only keep on expanding in terms of power? Or are we now just experiencing a fad? Please feel free to share your opinion or experience in the framework below.
Conclusion
Cannabis culture is not confined to aficionados of marijuana. Regardless of the region – North America, Europe, or Asia – the impact of cannabis is being experienced in one or the other. Starting with law and societal legalization to art and spirituality along with various youthful practices; cannabis is changing cultures all around the globe.
We’ll have further information and analysis on how cannabis is affecting the world as this topic continues to rapidly develop.