Smoking Alone: The Social Disembedding of Marijuana Consumption and Its Consequences

• In Event: 30661 - Section on Sociology of Consumers and Consumption Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 2. Consumption and social inequality

Abstract

This article examines the transformation of marijuana consumption from a socially regulated activity to a hypercommodified, individualized practice, using Karl Polanyi’s concept of “disembedding” as a theoretical framework. Historically, marijuana use was embedded in social norms and rituals, with consumption occurring in small, intimate groups that moderated its frequency and intensity. Howard Becker’s important 1953 work highlighted how novice users learned to appreciate marijuana’s effects through socialization, emphasizing its communal nature. However, recent decades have seen a radical shift driven by technological advancements, legalization, and market competition. High-potency marijuana products, such as concentrates and edibles, along with discreet consumption methods like vaporizers, have normalized solitary and frequent use, eroding the social constraints that once governed its consumption. This hypercommodification, fueled by profit-driven imperatives and state reliance on “sin taxes,” has led to significant public health challenges, including addiction and mental health disorders. Drawing parallels to historical cases like the deregulation of the grain trade and the commercialization of sugar, the article argues that the disembedding of marijuana from its social context exemplifies broader neoliberal dynamics that prioritize capital over well-being. To address these issues, the authors propose re-embedding marijuana consumption within social norms, advocating for de-commodified production and consumption models that prioritize public health and communal regulation over market expansion. This approach seeks to restore a balanced relationship with marijuana, guided by norms that safeguard well-being rather than profit.

Authors

• Will Charles, Miami University-Ohio

• Ryan T. Steel, Miami University

• Stephen Lippmann, Miami University-Ohio