There is a question that is often asked – why do people smoke cannabis?
Globally, marijuana is the most commonly used street drug. A 2007 survey found that 14.4 million people in the America alone had smoked cannabis at least once in the last 30 days.
There are a variety of reasons that people take drugs and we certainly don’t have all the answers. However, there are some classic psychological reasons that people start and continue to smoke weed that we can explore.
Psychological reasons
The psychological reasons for taking drugs can be similar to the reasons that people make purchases, visit certain websites or choose an impulsive or momentary course of action at any particular time.
While dopamine transmitters make up only 1% of the brain they “are wired” in the most important parts.
Dopamine is commonly associated with the “reward system”, providing feelings of enjoyment and reinforcement to motivate a person to perform certain activities.
Dopamine is released and rewards experiences such as food, sex, and drugs.
The function of dopamine transmitters isn’t fully understood but it could explain a variety of “urges” in human behavior. We will naturally be attracted to any activity that provides a reward. It may explain why humans will take drugs for an instantaneous reward when a longer term negative effect is fully understood.
Here is an action flow diagram which may explain the process:
We’re conditioned to seek out food and are rewarded with nourishment as well as a “dopamine reward” which is then learned so the process can be repeated. Drugs can also give us a positive experience (the “high”) and this coupled with a “dopamine reward” which is then “learned” and encourages habitual behavior.
This would explain the circular causation that many addicts experience. They are bored (hunger), take drugs (nourishment), are rewarded, learn the association, and then the next time the positive associations are reinforced thus forming a habit.
So, we all have dopamine transmitters but only some of us take drugs. So what are the other reasons?
To fit in / peer pressure
One of the strongest psychological factors to explain behavior is known by a variety of expressions such as “monkey see, monkey do”, “peer pressure” and “social proof”. This can be described as a copying or mimicking of behavior we see around us.
For various reasons we are conditioned to do as others around us are doing. So, simply enough, if there are a lot of people smoking weed around us, we are likely to follow suit.
This pressure to fit in can be a more powerful amongst younger people as we all know. However, taking drugs just to fit in is not the whole picture and should never be understood that way. However, it may be a contributory factor.
Copying of role model / hero
Another reason why people smoke weed is allied to the previous point of copying behavior. People naturally try to copy the behavior of individuals that are held in esteem by a peer group. So copying the drug taking habits of celebrities can be explained in this way.
Alcohol
Some of the most important role models for most people are their parents. Many children “learn” to drink alcohol from their parents and then when the effects of this drug aren’t appreciated marijuana can seem a desirable alternative.
Rebelling
Similarly, depending on the individual and the “stage” in adolescence or young adulthood, smoking grass can seem like a way of differentiating themselves from their parents.
Relax
Life for everyone can be stressful at time. Young people are particularly susceptible to sudden bouts of stress and smoking dope can be seen as a temporary release from this tension
Experiment / take risks
Young people, males in particular, can be prone to taking greater risks and to experiment more than people of other ages.
Religious
Many religions emphasise the importance of smoking cannabis to find oneself spiritually.
Medicinal
Marijuana is known to be a pain reliever for various ailments. For young women it can be particularly helpful in combatting period pains.
