Laws aside, 'no' is still the right answer on drugs

It surprises many people to learn that cannabis use originated in ‎Arab cultures. As an Arab myself, I was surprised to learn this fact in a class at the University of Miami with a professor who argued that use of the drug first appeared in the Arab world. It is called hashish, a drug people use to calm down.

Consumption of drugs is largely ‎governed by social conditioning and programming. In the Arab world, smoking is very popular ‎and normalized; however, smoking today is highly stigmatized in the United States. Conversely, drinking ‎alcohol is religiously forbidden and culturally frowned upon in Arab cultures; however, drinking is highly ‎normalized in the United States.

Culture comes first; everything else comes second. We are hardwired to follow our social ‎conditioning. ‎The truth of the matter is that the laws governing cannabis, which are changing in Minnesota, come secondary to cultural ‎norms. We see legalization of cannabis in ‎many states largely because society has become increasingly accepting of its consumption.

https://www.startribune.com/laws-aside-no-is-still-the-right-answer-on-drugs/600293809/