Introduction
Substance abuse such as alcohol usage, tobacco smoking as well as others has been on mass media over the last two decades. Some of the popular mass media platforms where substance abuse is common nowadays may include music industry, TV series and now it has been rampant in the movie industry. American movie industry’s exposure on marijuana usage in on the rise as the USA government stand against the issue is changing every moment. This has facilitated the rise in usage of marijuana in movies such as Pineapple Express and Requiem For A Dream as well as others.
Thesis statement
Therefore, analyzing the situation would lead to establishing the aim why protagonists in American movie industry embrace the use marijuana regardless of the government policies than any other major industry films (Balio 394).
Thesis question
Why protagonists in American movie industry embrace the use marijuana regardless of the government policies than any other major industry films?
Movies that came out in last two decades
Most movies in America that were released in the last two decades have exposed the use of marijuana usage. Many studies have proven that the use of illicit drugs among adolescent and children in America is very common nowadays. Over half of the citizens in U.S. have or will experiment the usage of these illicit drugs commonly by using marijuana where at least a third of these people will continue using the marijuana on a regular basis. For instance, Ed, External Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Chemical hunger, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Fast Times at Ridgemont High among others are some of the favorite movies that incorporates the usage of marijuana which lure the audience. Therefore, film or movie exposure to marijuana has provoked the usage of the drug among many teens than adults something that sends alarming warning to the government. However, it is not clear as to which extent has the movies exposure on marijuana contributed to the usage of the same drug among movie watchers (American Journal of Public Health 40).
The Protagonists
Many protagonists support the usage of marijuana in the American movie industry due various reasons which are tied to the different characters that participate in the shooting or production of the entire film. Many protagonists argue that the use of marijuana will shape up the performance of the participants in a certain movie. For instance, many American movies put forth that the use of marijuana is healthy and thus people should try it for the many benefits it carries. However, this is not the case since many people who have ever consumed marijuana in real life end up experiencing the negative side of the drug. For instance, in the movies Walk hard: The Dewey Cox Story, Strange Wildness, Extract, Van Wilder: Freshman Year and Pineapple Express shows the blatant misrepresentation of the side effects of the use of marijuana among people across America. These movies theme is lure the viewers to consider the usage of marijuana as vital both mentally and physically.
Popularity of these movies
Popular movies where the usage of marijuana is common may include Walk hard: The Dewey Cox Story, Strange Wildness, Extract, Van Wilder: Freshman Year and Pineapple Express. These movies present the positive side of the drug usage which always lures the viewers into the usage of the drug in real life. Many people will only consider the medication importance of the drug while ignoring the many negative effects it brings. Most of these movies have a high level of rating and thus many viewers or audiences always view such films consistently something that tricks them into using the drug (Allhoff, Dale and Rick 181).
US drug policies
US drug policies usually prohibit the usage of the drug whether in the movies or in real life. However, these policies seem dormant since many people across USA use the marijuana openly. Even though there are some states across America that have allowed and even legalized the use of marijuana for medical purposes, many people use this advantage to abuse the drug. Many people tend to believe that marijuana has positive effects since it has been legalized and thus abuse it (Miller 2).
Summary
In a nutshell, media has contributed to the rampant use of the drug across America. Whether legal or illegal in the state in which it is being consumed, many people tend to acquire such behaviors from popular movies which always lure the audience into the consumption of the drug. Moreover, media pushes marijuana users to violate the government polices on the consumption of marijuana. The government usually legalizes marijuana for medical purposes but people tend to misuse these policies.
Works Cited
Allhoff, Fritz, Dale Jacquette, and Rick Cusick. Cannabis - Philosophy for Everyone: What Were We Just Talking About?Chichester: John Wiley & Sons, 2010. Internet resource.
American Journal of Public Health: Jph. New York, N.Y: American Public Health Association, 1971. Print.
Balio, Tino. The American Film Industry. Madison, Wis: University of Wisconsin Press, 1985. Internet resource.
Miller, Loren L. Marijuana: Effects of a Human Behavior. New York [u.a.: Acad. Press, 1974. Print.
