In the month of February, there were several students cited for marijuana offenses on campus. The number is alarmingly high in such a short period of time, which begs the question: Why are students using the drug?

One of the main reasons encouraging recreational drug use is social media. On Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, there are pictures glorifying the use of marijuana. People often talk and converse about using the drug. Since our generation is so addicted to social media, the constant references and allusions to marijuana use can encourage students to experiment with the drug.

Students, especially freshmen and sophomores, are always looking to establish friendships at the onset of their high school careers. Often, students who use the drug say they try unfamiliar things that they know they should not be trying, like marijuana, just to assimilate to the “cool” school culture and be accepted by their peers.

For upperclassmen, probably the largest marijuana demographic of marijuana users at this school, most use the drug as a way to get away from the pressures of their daily lives. Another reason that students, mostly upperclassmen, use the drug is for partying and mixing it with alcohol to get a different type of a buzz.

Another factor that could be a potential reason for an increase in marijuana use is the ingestible forms of the drug which students who use it say have no smell, the tell-tale sign of drug use. This new form comes in many different forms such as gummies, baked goods, and even powders, all of which make marijuana use so much harder to detect.

The evolving legal status of the drug is also affecting students’ attitudes. As more and more states legalize recreational marijuana usage, the stigma surrounding pot usage is starting to fade. 

Even worse than that, music and pop culture is riddled with marijuana references and allusions. A study done by the University of Pittsburgh in 2005 on mainstream music showed that one-third of all songs that reach Top 25 Billboards reference drug usage. The media epidemic has continued to grow so that wherever students go, they are constantly inundated by some sort of reference to drug use, whether it be on the radio or on their smartphones.

Marijuana culture is growing stronger and faster. Wherever students go, they are continuously bombarded by the influence of marijuana and the sources only continue to grow. Whether it be from peers, social media, or pop culture, the grip that marijuana use has on students continues to strengthen. It’s hard not to conclude that the recent busts at SHS are just a small indication of a larger drug culture on this campus and many others across the nation, and schools will be fighting this fight for a long time to come.