Many who have discovered and know the many benefits of the cannabis plant firsthand naturally seem drawn to being a part of the cannabis culture. Cannabis has inspired humor, language and phrases, etiquette, and even art, literature, and music over the years. This leads to many users ending up online, on social media, and on different forums wanting to discuss all things cannabis.
A popular and well-known platform for cannabis users who want to discuss or get information on cannabis is Reddit. Reddit is one of the largest online community websites sharing user-generated content, such as text-based posts, photos, videos, and links. It is essentially set up as a forum or bulletin board-type system.
Before online platforms like Reddit, the cannabis world was historically influenced by pop culture in the form of music, movies, and TV. Films like Pineapple Express and Up in Smoke helped destigmatize cannabis use with their light and humorous displays of the plant. Snoop Dogg, Bob Marley, and other artists who openly sang about cannabis also helped normalize its use.
After the internet came along, blogs and chat rooms became a common place to discuss all things cannabis. However, none of them have likely had the impact Reddit has on cannabis culture.
Today, Reddit is perhaps the largest “sounding board” of the cannabis community. Reddit users exchange tips, tricks, their favorite strains, how to approach tolerance breaks, or discussions on their reasons for cannabis use and the impact it has made on their lives.
In fact, r/trees, which has often been dubbed the “go-to subreddit for anything and everything cannabis,” has users discussing everything from their first time trying cannabis to the impact of long-term use.
Mental health and its relation to cannabis is another popular topic across many subreddits. Users will ask questions or turn to other Reddit feeds seeking advice on common issues related to how cannabis has affected their mental health.
For example, a common discussion relates to how cannabis helps many feel relaxed when anxiety hits. Having a dialogue with other users about cannabis and its benefits for mental health provides support and insight from others when people around the world may have felt isolated from discussing these topics before.
As recently as 15 years ago, the open online discussions about cannabis were not very impactful. Now, with Reddit, cannabis culture has become more normalized and has changed social perceptions in a big way. If a large majority of people are all saying the same thing, and if someone searching on Google stumbles on these Reddit posts, this begins to affect cannabis culture in general — even off the Reddit site.
It has perhaps even encouraged people who might not have otherwise been interested in cannabis to give it a try. For example, subreddits like r/eldertrees cater to older adults who are exploring cannabis for the first time, often for medicinal purposes. These subreddits offer advice on dosages, methods of consumption, and potential side effects, helping to promote responsible use. Additionally, the platform’s anonymity allows users to ask questions and seek advice without the fear of stigma.
So many real-life user testimonials on Reddit singing their praises for cannabis and sharing their own stories about first-time usage can help prompt someone who may be on the fence about cannabis to finally give it a try themselves.
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Reddit posters challenge the outdated stereotypes, squashing those nuanced views of cannabis culture with its large sounding board. And with more cannabis users finding their way to Reddit — and, thus, to cannabis — the culture and industry grow too.
The answers to these questions on Reddit, especially when a pattern appears amongst posts and subreddits, can have a strong impact on how cannabis culture as a whole begins viewing or talking about these topics.
However, there can be downsides to how Reddit is shaping the cannabis culture.
The younger generations prefer to get their information primarily from online platforms like Reddit. While this can be a good thing for seeing how others are experiencing cannabis, it can be harmful if they are searching for answers about cannabis and end up finding unverifiable misinformation in these posts.
For example, look at r/saplings, a Reddit community whose goal is to provide young people with information on cannabis-related topics. While responses to users’ posts were generally pretty thorough, many came from opinions and personal experiences rather than reliable, educational sources. Gathering these personal stories is important, but young people are particularly vulnerable to misinformation and should be guided to resources that are more based on facts.
While Reddit has been a great way to discuss personal use and encourage others interested in trying the plant, one of the most significant impacts of Reddit on cannabis culture as a whole is its influence on advocacy and legislation.
Communities on Reddit commonly participate in campaigns for cannabis legalization and reform. Politics are almost always a controversial topic, especially in online forums. Fortunately, thanks to Reddit, active users who may not have a finger on the pulse of cannabis politics can stay informed about legislative changes and medical advancements.
By sharing news, discussing the implications of legislative changes, or organizing petitions, Reddit users contribute to the broader movement toward cannabis acceptance and legalization. This could have a big sway in the polls on measures like voting to legalize cannabis in states without medicinal or recreational programs.
These small impacts can snowball into a big deal for cannabis culture overall. As more and more states begin to legalize adult-use cannabis, Reddit and other online marijuana boards continue to influence the overall public perception of cannabis. In turn, this creates a positive feedback loop where culture and legislation inform and shape each other.
Reddit’s influence on cannabis culture is multifaceted, and it has provided a space for personal storytelling, support, creative exploration, asking questions, and advocacy for the plant.
The platform’s diverse and engaged user base ensures that cannabis culture outside of Reddit continually evolves too, as it reflects the real-life experiences and insights of its community members. By fostering open dialogue and sharing information, Reddit not only mirrors the current state of cannabis culture but also helps shape its future off of the site.
The internet is constantly changing, so it’s uncertain what role Reddit may play in the future of cannabis advocacy and policy. However, no matter how things play out over the upcoming years, there is no denying that this platform has cemented itself forever as a major player in influencing marijuana use and culture all over the world.
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