By Sacramento Daily Press Staff
With Independence Day coming up and people ready to cut loose, it’s easy to feel like using weed is just part of the celebration. For some Sacramento residents, it can seem like it’s expected—that if you’re not lighting up, you’re missing out. But if you’ve ever questioned whether marijuana really lives up to all the hype, you’re not alone—and you’re not wrong to wonder.
Gallup, one of the most respected polling groups in the country, released data showing a major shift in public opinion. For the first time, majorities of Americans now say that marijuana use negatively affects both society and the individuals who use it. Back in 2022, people were more split—some even said it had a positive effect. That’s changed.
Nathan Johnson, Executive Director of the Sacramento Foundation for a Drug Free World, says he’s noticed the trend toward a healthier lifestyle among local youth.
Sacramento Drug Free World volunteers educate youth on the harms of drugs and the benefits of being drug free.
“I do talk to a lot of young people at the community events we do for Drug Free World. Thirty-three events in the last year and a half, and the ones I talk to are very aware of the harm drugs cause, especially marijuana,” Johnson said. “They sign the drug free pledge board without hesitation.”
Even with legalization in 24 states, the shine is starting to wear off. More Americans—from parents to health-conscious adults to folks who’ve never touched the stuff—are saying what they see: too many people losing motivation, calling it healing when it’s really just checking out.
Medical experts have been warning about this for years. A 2019 study published in The Lancet Psychiatry—a leading British medical journal—found that daily cannabis use is associated with a three- to five-times higher risk of developing psychotic disorders, especially with high-potency strains.
A lot of regular people—working people, serious people—are calling this out for what it is.
