Cannabis legalization is spreading like wildfire across the US, Canada and in many other countries around the world. The number of Americans who smoke marijuana has fallen from 50 percent in 2006 to 38 percent in 2011. The number of Americans who use medical marijuana has increased significantly in the past several years. For example, in Massachusetts, which legalized medical marijuana in 2002, medical marijuana use jumped to 28 percent of all adults in 2012 from 4 percent in 2005.
The decline in marijuana use among young Americans parallels a decline in the share of young adults who are non-white. In 1990, 49 percent of American 18- to 29-year-olds were non-Hispanic whites. By 2013, that share had dropped to 27 percent. The proportion of young Americans who are non-Hispanic whites is lower than it was in 1993, the first year with data on this question. The decline has happened among blacks and Latinos as well.
In addition, the percentage of Americans who favor legalizing the recreational use of marijuana has also increased in recent years. In 1990, 48 percent of Americans favored legalizing the recreational use of marijuana, while only 35 percent said they opposed it. By 2013, 50 percent of Americans said they favored legalizing the recreational use of marijuana, while 34 percent said they opposed it.
The survey shows that the older generations tend to be more supportive of legalizing marijuana and its consumption than young people are. The survey also shows that Republicans support legalizing marijuana more than Democrats. Sixty-five percent of Republican respondents supported legalizing marijuana, while only 46 percent of Democrats and 40 percent of independents said the same. Sixty-five percent of Republicans, 67 percent of independents, and 60 percent of Democrats said they support legalizing marijuana.
While these results aren’t too surprising, I wanted to take a closer look at what was driving these results. Why do young people seem to support legalizing marijuana more than older generations? Why is there such a large gender divide? And what is the racial divide?
Why Do Young People Favor Legalizing Marijuana More Than Older Generations?
The data suggests that attitudes about legalizing marijuana have changed considerably over the last ten years. Most younger Americans say that marijuana should be legal, including 49 percent of Millennials. A whopping 84 percent of young whites say that it should be legal. Young Democrats and Democrats aged 18 to 34 are about twice as likely as Republicans and Republicans aged 65 and older to favor legalization. Seventy-five percent of Millennials favor legalization, compared to only 46 percent of Republicans. A majority of Americans of all ages have become more accepting of legalizing marijuana over the past ten years, although the changes have been more pronounced among the younger population. In the early 2000s, there was almost unanimous opposition to legalization among seniors (who comprise the oldest cohort in the survey) but not millennials. More recently, as support for legalization has become a common and accepted position among young Americans, the older cohort has become less likely to oppose the move toward legalization. For further information, read this blog.
many thanks
i want learn cooking please let me know
Bengali wedding Feast :
With the Bengali wedding season going on Calcuttans have started booking caterers,& planning menus, Bengalis are known for their hospitality. Wedding dinner plays a major part in Bengali weddings. Bengali cuisine is renowned for it’s rich & spicy taste.
In olden days Bengali wedding menus were very typical. For example the menu starts with rice accompanied by Moong Dal followed by Alu Bhaja, or Beguni ( brinjal deep fried in split Bengal gram flour batter ), Chanchra ( a typical mixed vegetable curry with fish head), Ruhu Fish Kalia , a gravy sweet water fish preparation followed by a sweet Pulao & rich Mutton curry, Tomato Chutney, papad. Sweet dishes like sweet curd,Rasogolla, sandesh are served . After dessert the sweet tooth need a change so pan ( a little betel leaf with nut ) wrapped in banana leaves is served. Lemon slices & salt are also served.
Traditionally dinner used to be served on banana leaves & water in a Khuri ( terracotta tumblers ). Usually it has been a practice among Bengali households that the food is served by young members of the household’s relations & associates. Cooks were hired from places like Uriyapara, Sovabazar ,Kalighat etc. The most interesting aspect of Bengali wedding parties are the cooks ,who used to come from Orissa.
Till now ,the recipes for the best preparations, customized for Bengali weddings lie with them. With the advent of multistoried buildings & small families, Bengalis are now engaging caterers & traditional sit down dinners are replaced by exotic buffet spreads. As usual the menus have also changed. With spices & seasonings which are the vital core of Bengali cuisine, garnishing & presentation have become amazing nowadays. Salad bars with different type of salads are very popular with no taboos dictated by religion. Though it is a fact that Bengali muslims prefer to remain more or less traditional in their choice with Paratha ,Chicken Champ ,Mutton Biriyani , Burhani (a ghol made with sour curd , mint leaves, chat masala, cumin powder etc ) followed by firni as desserts.
Here is an example of a modern Bengali wedding menu. It starts with Naan,Dal Makhni ,Veg Jhalfreizi, ,Fish Paturi ( a real Bengali delicacy-boneless bekti marinated with ground coconut, white mustard paste,& black mustard paste ,mustard oil ,ground green chillies steamed after wrapped in banana leaves .
An array of salads in a well decorated salad bar with ice carving in the center. Then comes pulao or fried rice accompanied by Fish Begum Bahar ,Mutton Chilly Coconut Fry or Chicken Bagdadi. Prawn is very rarely seen nowadays in Bengali wedding mainly because of high cost. Fruit chutney & Papad is served. Traditional sweet dishes are replaced by ice cream with Chocolate sauce or Orange sauce, hot Gulab Jamun & hot Jalebi . Pans are served from a pan stall put up at the pandal or hall where you can get your choice of Zarda
Thanks for posting this sort of personal interviews
Jaya, enjoyed reading this interview of yours. Yours is one blog I go to for authentic Bengali cuisine.
Thanks for the mention.
.-= Sra´s last blog ..An Accidental Recipe =-.
Loves reading about jaya, I so often go to her place to see what she is cooking.
.-= Happy Cook´s last blog ..Banana Walnut Muffins =-.
Sudeshna and Kalyan,
Aww! It was so sweet of both of you for giving me such an honour.
and I liked the lil italics commentary you have put too :)…all the best in blogging world ..looking forward to more authentic recipes/food articles/cuisine from here..thank you!
hugs and smiles