Drinking culture remains a defining aspect of America in 2025. Though many Americans have concerns with drinking culture, alcohol consumption is widely accepted across the nation, and the association between alcohol use and American identity will not change any time soon.
Marijuana, another widely used substance in the United States, is more divisive. According to The Council of State Governments, states like California and Colorado have a very positive opinion of marijuana, while other states, like Louisiana, do not. According to U.S. News and World Report, since 2012, recreational marijuana has been legal in Colorado and Washington. In many other states, recreational marijuana remains illegal.
In my home state of Ohio, residents took the highly controversial matter to the voting booths in 2023. In an America where drinking culture, which often normalizes self-destructive and wild behavior, is widely accepted, one question comes to my mind: Why is recreational marijuana on my ballot but not alcohol?
Both alcohol and marijuana use can have varied effects on physical, mental and emotional health. According to MedicalNewsToday, alcohol is more damaging to brain health than marijuana. Marijuana is far less addictive than alcohol and has no direct fatal effects.
Overuse of alcohol has the potential to cause alcohol overdose, which can be deadly. Marijuana is not harmless, however. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, marijuana use is associated with lung cancer and increased risk of stroke, heart disease and other vascular diseases.
At Tulane University, alcohol is a massive piece of student identity. It is common for some students to drink three or more nights per week. When in moderation, a night of drinking can take a student’s mind off school and benefit relationships with friends. Despite this, many students do not see a problem with the intense drinking habits of Tulane students, and it is important to recognize that there are health issues that arise.
“[Alcohol] can be very negatively impactful … it can be a dangerous gateway into possible substance abuse,” sophomore Jamari Ross said. “Because you have such easy access to alcohol in New Orleans, it can be pretty easy to use that as a crutch to lean on if you’re really stressed.”
Marijuana exists and is widely consumed at Tulane, but it tends to stand in the shadow of alcohol use. Recreational marijuana use is not totally legal in Louisiana, but that does not stop Tulane students.
“I think alcohol use at Tulane can be beneficial for students who are stressed with school, and [it] can be helpful for students who are looking to make friends,” freshman Skylar Weitz said. “A good number of students use marijuana, but it’s not as prominent as drinking.”
Politicians represent a wide variety of stances on both marijuana and alcohol at the national level. A common narrative among anti-marijuana politicians is that marijuana is a “gateway drug.” While this narrative has indefinite answers, it is important to recognize that there is another, just as popular, gateway drug: alcohol. I am not seeking to glorify marijuana use. But if our politicians are so scared of the effects of substances like marijuana on Americans, why isn’t alcohol on my ballot?
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