9781422276945

Introduction It often takes decades, or even a lifetime, for major changes in public opinion to occur. For example, it took until 1920 for the U.S. Congress to grant women across the country the right to vote—more than 140 years after the U.S. was founded. But in the case of marijuana, public opinion seems to have changed much faster. Over the past two decades or so, its usage has been decriminalized or legalized, normalized, and even celebrated in some countries and U.S. states. Once a taboo topic, now many regular people—and celebrities—aren’t afraid to say that they use it. Many support its legalization. From singers Lady Gaga and Rhianna, to actor Morgan Freeman, to U.S. Senator Rand Paul, people are showing their support. But some people still oppose marijuana usage. They see it as a dangerous

drug. U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Pope Francis, and other notable public figures have spoken out against it for various reasons. Depending on which “side” you’re on, you may want to demonize those who disagree with you (which you should never do). But the fact is that it’s not a simple issue. Both sides make some very good points, as we’ll discuss in this book. We’ll look at the arguments, opinions, and research shaping this controversial issue. The State of Public Opinion What percentage of people think that marijuana should be legal in the U.S. compared to last year? Ten years ago? Fifty years ago? Let’s take a look. The Pew Research Center is an organization of trusted experts who study a variety of issues. They gather data, analyze it, and provide summaries of this information in the form of statistics and research reports. According to its research, as of 2016, more than half (57 percent) of adults in the U.S. believed that

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