How Prohibition changed Perception
- Sanjana Vadrevou
- Dec 7, 2025
- 5 min read
Cannabis today remains as one of the most feared drug being illegal in most countries around the world.
With the increase in knowledge and understanding, we’re seeing a wave of policy reforms.
But what impact did its criminalisation have on public perception? What happened when a plant once cherished and respected was abruptly cast as a threat?
And so I dug deeper..
Studies Conducted on this topic show a clear duality in the way people perceive cannabis. While some people like indigenous communities still see cannabis as part of their life, the others still view it as a danger. For example, a study conducted in Sub-Saharan Africa where cannabis has had a long history of being used for spiritual, medicinal and recreational purposes; Many people associate cannabis use with criminality, mental illness, or moral decay and it is largely due to colonial-era laws and anti-drug campaigns. But some communities view cannabis as a natural medicine or a social equalizer, especially in areas with limited access to formal healthcare.
Limited knowledge about the plant also plays a very important role in forming perceptions about the plant, often forming duality in the perceptions again where people tend to over or under exaggerate the uses and harmfulness of the plant.
A Mexican study found that when residents received factual and science-based information about cannabis, their attitudes became significantly more neutral or positive. This suggests that deeply ingrained narratives in prohibited regions can be challenged by education, but for now contribute heavily to negative public perception. Highlighting the need for awareness and education on the subject.
While awareness can soften attitudes, the influence of law continues to shape public opinion across borders.
Multiple cross-national studies show that stricter cannabis laws correlate with stronger stigma. For example, a Europe-wide survey of cannabis users found the lowest stigma in the Netherlands (where use is effectively legal) and the highest stigma in Greece (where laws are most punitive)
While laws have started to change and cannabis is slowly being reintroduced into mainstream conversations, its perception hasn't entirely caught up. As Matt Reid notes in his sociological review, stigma still runs deep. It shapes how cannabis is viewed at structural, social, and personal levels. Users continue to face stereotypes, discrimination, and internalised shame, often hiding their relationship with the plant for fear of judgment or exclusion.
Move to Parvati Valley
Curious to witness this duality firsthand,I headed to Parvati valley in Himachal Pradesh.
Cannabis has been used for centuries across the Himalayan region, where it grows abundantly and has long been part of traditional life. In Parvati Valley, particularly in places like Kasol and Malana, the plant is both naturally occurring and culturally embedded, known for the high-quality resin it produces.
Located in Himachal Pradesh, the valley is a place of immense natural beauty, where snow-capped mountains, dense pine forests, and the winding Parvati River create a dramatic and serene landscape. Home to a largely agrarian community, locals grow apples, maize, and vegetables, while also foraging for wild herbs and mushrooms with medicinal value. Cannabis, growing freely on hillsides and in forest clearings, is as much a part of the valley’s ecology as its people’s quiet familiarity with it as present, enduring, and intertwined with their way of life.
During my stay in Parvati, I noticed the same pattern of duality emerge
I encountered a complex and often contradictory relationship between the community and the cannabis plant. Many people were hesitant to talk at all, some even assuming i was part of the law enforcement and refused to engage in conversation. A number of locals dismissed cannabis entirely, labeling it simply as a drug and expressing indifference toward its legal status. There was a strong sense of resentment toward tourists, who were often seen as arriving only to indulge and cause disturbances in local home stays, even when there was no clear link to cannabis use. For some, the plant carried a heavy stigma, being viewed as a gateway to other drugs and a source of personal and familial disruptions and disputes.
Yet, the deeper I dug, the more contradictions surfaced. Some of those who criticised cannabis were themselves quietly using it. When asked about traditional knowledge or uses of the plant, most admitted that while cannabis once held cultural value, that knowledge had largely faded or been forgotten. Still, not everyone viewed it with disdain. A few spoke with pride about the plant’s deep roots in the region, expressing hope for its legalisation and the economic opportunities it could bring if allowed to be cultivated and used openly.
The perception of cannabis remains entangled in decades of prohibition, colonial influence, and moral policing. Even in places where laws have started to shift, stigma doesn’t disappear overnight. Studies confirm that stricter laws breed stronger stigma, while regions that have embraced more progressive policies show a clear trend toward reduced fear and increased acceptance.
If the past has shaped perception, the future can shift it. Honest public education and inclusive policymaking that respects both the risks and the potential of cannabis are essential to breaking the cycle of misinformation. Only then can the silence lift, and a more balanced understanding take root, one that reflects not just legality, but lived experience.
About the Author and this Blog Series
Hi, I’m Sanjana, a researcher with a master’s in environmental science. My research sits at the intersection of environment, agriculture, and culture. During my master's, I studied cannabis in the Parvati Valley, exploring local knowledge, traditional practices, and global policy debates.
That is when I realised that cannabis is not just a plant but a story full of history and controversy. Many from the valley chose not to speak about it, many have forgotten about the traditional use, and many are just milking it for the sake of money. But overall, nobody wants to talk about it. Few wanted to talk about it, fewer wanted to be seen with it, and almost no one wanted to touch it. This silence and stigma around cannabis is what inspired the title of this series - "The Untouchable Plant."
References
Skliamis, K., Benschop, A., & Korf, D. J. (2020). Cannabis users and stigma: A comparison of users from European countries with different cannabis policies. European Journal of Criminology, 19(6), 1483–1500. https://doi.org/10.1177/1477370820983560
Kvillemo, P., Strandberg, A. K., & Gripenberg, J. (2022). Attitudes to Cannabis use and Public Prevention information among Young Adults: A Qualitative interview study with implications for Prevention practice. Frontiers in Public Health, 10, 830201. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.830201
Camberos-Barraza, J., Osuna-Ramos, J. F., Rábago-Monzón, Á. R., Quiñonez-Angulo, L. F., González-Peña, H. R., Pérez-Ramos, A. A., Camacho-Zamora, A., López-Lazcano, H., Valdez-Flores, M. A., Angulo-Rojo, C. E., Guadrón-Llanos, A. M., Picos-Cárdenas, V. J., Norzagaray-Valenzuela, C. D., & De La Herrán-Arita, A. K. (2023). Scientific facts improve cannabis perception and public opinion: results from Sinaloa, México. Scientific Reports, 13(1), 17318. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-44185-5
Reid, M. (2020). A qualitative review of cannabis stigmas at the twilight of prohibition. Journal of Cannabis Research, 2(1), 46. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42238-020-00056-8
King, D. D., Gill, C. J., Cadieux, C. S., & Singh, N. (2024). The role of stigma in cannabis use disclosure: an exploratory study. Harm Reduction Journal, 21(1), 21. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-024-00929-8
Robson, D. (2023, December 20). How we get high: Unlocking the secrets of the endocannabinoid system. New Scientist. https://www.newscientist.com/article/2394424-how-we-get-high-unlocking-the-secrets-of-the-endocannabinoid-system/
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