cannabis users' informal rules for managing stigma and risk

Abstract

Cannabis use has undergone a transition from what was once a largely marginal activity to one that is more generally established. Although the practice is both prevalent and tolerated widely, there is still a certain stigma experienced by users and associated risks that they acknowledge. The thesis of normalization suggests that a more nuanced understanding of such deviance is needed. The focus of analysis, accordingly, must shift from looking at types or traits of drug users to the specific circumstances in which a drug is used. Based on interviews conducted with experienced users in Toronto (N = 104), this paper examines the idea of normal cannabis consumption based on users' own perceptions and management of risk.

Notes

The views expressed in this paper are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the host institution.

Patricia Erickson and three anonymous reviewers provided helpful comments on earlier drafts of the manuscript.