Marijuana = Huxley's soma?
16 2012-11-09 by bhavsart
I was thinking about it today, marijuana has been illegal since the birth of the country or at least a taboo. It's caused a strong following so that it can be legalized. Many people are very pro-marijuana legalization. Also many consider it a big part of their lives. With its legalization on the horizon many people will start using it much more and the government will have the responsibility to control its use.
Huxley's soma was used by the people to forget unfavorable thoughts and put them into a state where they didn't care about anything at the moment, to a certain degree. This is how the government in this world stopped people from getting out of control, by pleasure. The government controlled them through making them happy and euphoric. Soma made these people forgetful of anything negative going on at the time.
People like to come back after a "bad day" and smoke to forget about it. Or smoke to make them feel better, not have to worry about the negative things in their lives, lazy and neglectful (at least for a time limit). I'm not against legalization or for it, in my opinion it I think America is dumb enough and they don't need another factor to abuse. On the other hand people have the right to do to their bodies as they please and shouldn't have anyone tell them they can't.
In either case is marijuana, soma? (I apologize for the repetitiousness, I was merely trying to push my point)
EDIT 1: I'm not arguing it's the only "soma" out there, just another one to add to the effect.
EDIT 2: I definitely agree with its associations, however, from what I've gathered THC inflates/expands the mind of said user, this being a very personal experience, not too different from alcohol. I've been around enough people who are complete idiots w/out THC and then even more so on it (in a more what-they-say type deal not actions). Marley was a great man and THC helped inflate that, but my buddies say dumber shit (again personal experience does not concrete facts) when stoned. The reason why I can't move on with the Bob Marley argument is the fact that Hemingway wrote some of his best work drunk, while others have murdered people because they stepped into a car (or whatever else). "Write drunk, edit sober." - One of the literary worlds heavyweights. Also, most people in this world are flat out unintelligent (meaning not formal education, but more of an unwillingness to learn, evolve, adapt, and merely think).
41 comments
23 ptownb55 2012-11-09
Marijuana is illegal largely due to the vast uses/benefits of hemp. Ive always thought of weed as a consciousness expander rather than something to numb the day away, but that depends on the person (and quality). Its a good thought, but the obvious attempt at replicating soma has been legal the whole time and marketed/prescribed with all sorts of different names from the pharmaceutical industry.
2 bhavsart 2012-11-09
Without a doubt, one word: antidepressants. I agree with it's ability to help you think beyond the realm you would soberly stay in, I was just stating my own experiences with THC and what I've absorbed from friends. I was thinking this may be another route to Huxley's soma.
Also do yourself a favor and pick up Botany of Desire, it covers four topics, one being marijuana. It dives into the legality of it, the spiritual nature, the author's personal experiences, biochemistry of it, genetics and pretty much everything about it all in 80 pages. It's a great read! I read it in a day at my university's library.
3 VELOXIMIDE 2012-11-09
Upvote for this book, it is really interesting. The parts on other crops aren't bad at all either.
2 [deleted] 2012-11-09
Upvote to you for mentioning "Botany of Desire"--I hope that everyone interested in this type of thing reads this book because it is AWESOME.
14 [deleted] 2012-11-09
American culture = huxley's soma
1 thefabledleviathan 2012-11-09
soo... TV, fast food and cheap liquor?
1 YouthInRevolt 2012-11-09
Toss some "Keeping Up With the Kardashians" on there and we're all set
0 praisekeyboards 2012-11-09
Truer words have never been spoken.
11 Orangutan 2012-11-09
I'd say Alcohol and Big Pharma are much more effective and profitable soma than marijuana will ever be.
1 bhavsart 2012-11-09
Very true, I was just thinking this may be a another outlet for them.
6 Orangutan 2012-11-09
I doubt it. Marijuana is more associated with freedom of thought and freedom from tyranny and resistance. Bob Marley for instance. And economically has the same potential.
http://youtu.be/2zSoFrVZFXU
Not historically known as a dumbing down drug in my opinion. But you bring up an interesting point that might turn out to be true unfortunately. Take care.
4 bhavsart 2012-11-09
I definitely agree with its associations, however, from what I've gathered THC inflates/expands the mind of said user, this being a very personal experience, not too different from alcohol. I've been around enough people who are complete idiots w/out THC and then even more so on it (in a more what-they-say type deal not actions). Marley was a great man and THC helped inflate that, but my buddies say dumber shit (again personal experience does not concrete facts) when stoned.
The reason why I can't move on with the Bob Marley argument is the fact that Hemingway wrote some of his best work drunk, while others have murdered people because they stepped into a car (or whatever else). "Write drunk, edit sober." - One of the literary worlds heavyweights.
Also, most people in this world are flat out unintelligent (meaning not formal education, but more of an unwillingness to learn, evolve, adapt, and merely think).
3 Orangutan 2012-11-09
True. All good points. Similar experiences here.
1 [deleted] 2012-11-09
[deleted]
3 cock_blockula 2012-11-09
To me this line of thought just seems like such bullshit. This not the effect of marijuana, it doesn't turn you into a free thinker, if anything it would be the other way round. Due to marijuana being illegal in most legislatures many of the people who decide to use it are people who already question the system. In this instance the "system" being draconian drug prohibition laws and more and more people are seeing through all the bs that goes along with them.
4 BenevolentBoneitis 2012-11-09
I don't think so - cannabis makes me more empathetic, I have a hard time eating meat when I'm high, I think a lot about my impact on the world and vica versa. Generally it makes me question things that I've been conditioned to accept as normal - which is IMO the opposite of what you want if you are trying to control people.
Then again I'm pretty sensitive to it and my experience with cannabis is probably really different from many other peoples.
3 YouthInRevolt 2012-11-09
My thoughts as well. Marijuana makes people question their 9-5 routines. It forces people to ask themselves why their government (to whom they pay substantial taxes to) wants to throw them in jail for growing a plant that colonists were originally forced to grow in their yards. Soma tuned everyone out, whereas weed makes the public ask "uncomfortable" questions that challenge existing power structures.
3 Weedtastic 2012-11-09
its called fluoride what you mean.
3 [deleted] 2012-11-09
Fluoride is the new Soma? Despite the fact that fluoride has 0 of the effects that Huxley's soma does, sounds legit bro.
1 Weedtastic 2012-11-09
this are pretty much the effects of fluoride when consumed on high dosis or long time.
-1 [deleted] 2012-11-09
Are you completely disregarding alcohol, antidepressants, etc etc which fit that description much better than fluoride? Fluoride doesn't put people into a state of euphoria or give them pleasure, it doesn't cause people to be controlled by their government, it cleans their fucking teeth. Do you really buy into every single little thing Alex Jones claims? rofl
0 Weedtastic 2012-11-09
sure fluoride doesen't make you happy or euphoric but Goverment used it to control the people.
They used it in the Nazi Concentration Camp that is mainstream. Also i don't belive what Alex jones says i do my own research.
Also i belive in facts:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/24/idUS127920+24-Jul-2012+PRN20120724
1 Yossarian4242 2012-11-09
That isn't actually true.
0 [deleted] 2012-11-09
Just because it says Reuters on it doesn't mean your bullshit source has any credibility.
It's also been debunked, btw.
1 Weedtastic 2012-11-09
you can't debunk history.
1 evenmoretiredoflibs 2012-11-09
Umm, thats what conspiracy theorists do all the time
3 liesperpetuategovmnt 2012-11-09
Marijuana has nowhere near been illegal since the birth of the country, and neither a taboo until relatively recently. Taxes used to be paid in hemp, and smoking shit weed was commonplace from those who grew it.
2 w122 2012-11-09
it is a good question.
Obviously some drugs are "soma" right now. antidepressants, probably mdma, amphetamines...even cocaine when is chemically altered like this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5z1yYbiKQo
Cocaine is used by local population to relief high altitude symptoms by chewing leafs of coca plant as one example.
Traditional medical uses of coca are foremost as a stimulant to overcome fatigue, hunger, and thirst. It is considered particularly effective against altitude sickness.[22] It also is used as an anesthetic and analgesic to alleviate the pain of headache, rheumatism, wounds and sores, etc.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coca#Medicine
Could that have "soma" effect on native Indians ?
Maybe...
There is a fine line between use and abuse of substance. For some people hamburgers are "soma". Just take a look at this movie http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-eRXuuH9AI
Cannabis should be taken with care and considerations to its effects. As any substance entering ones organism. Over consumption of anything is not advisable. And it is a deadly sin
Derived from the Latin gluttire, meaning to gulp down or swallow, gluttony (Latin, gula) is the over-indulgence and over-consumption of anything to the point of waste.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_deadly_sins#Gluttony
2 Trainasauruswrecks 2012-11-09
I can't speak for everyone but pot did the exact opposite that soma is supposed to do. It didn't block any thoughts but made me realize how many thoughts I dismiss as white noise in my head. I enjoyed pot if i could focus on something because I could focus the shit out of it... but when I smoked and didn't focus I'd hear every thought in my head at once... and I liked that too. It was daunting and lead down a LOT of rabbit holes in thought. Lot''s of philosophical actualization. I've noticed that people who sound dumb regularly sound dumb on pot. And people who are introspective sound introspective. People who are pessimistic... same. Outwardly pot doesn't change who you are unless you are really high, new to it, and can't stop talking about how high you are.
2 [deleted] 2012-11-09
Marijuana has NOT been illegal since "the birth of the country" dude!
It was made illegal in 1936 by Harry Anslinger through tremendous pressure from a few companies--DuPont was the chief push behind this of course.
If you've read any Huxley it's pretty tough, IMHO, to compare marijuana with the mythical "Soma."
2 jakenichols 2012-11-09
As a weed smoker, I agree with your analysis. It is one kind of Soma, all the "illicit" drugs are Soma, but they are mixing Brave New World with 1984, so by making "soma" available yet illegal, they can advance 2 directives at once. The legalization of means they are getting into more of the brave new world scenario where they just give us drugs to keep us docile.
1 youngcynic 2012-11-09
Marijuana that affects the dream portion of the brain (rewrites/damages the hippocampus and temporal lobes depending on how much you smoke) results in hypnosis. It's like you're writing new code for your computer from scratch. That goes above and beyond pleasure.
1 Cupcaketf2 2012-11-09
If a drug can raise your consciousness to the point where you realize that you are more than just a physical being than it is not a Soma coma.
1 sevenoutdb 2012-11-09
No
1 inkandpaperguy 2012-11-09
MJ was the victim of a huge smear campaign by the alcohol lobby. Prior to this bashing, this product and it's close cousin, hemp, was used in many products including rope, canvas and paper.
1 Nicodemus81 2012-11-09
When I smoke, I find it's just the opposite. I'm more productive, willing to clean, go hike, walk the dog for a couple hours, write. I think it's too situational to call it Huxley's Soma for everyone.
1 YouthInRevolt 2012-11-09
Interesting post. The difference for me is that usage of Huxley's soma was encouraged by society, whereas with weed it's the opposite. With soma, there was nothing to think about after you took it. They simply enjoyed it and that was that. With weed, you smoke it, realize that it's enjoyable, and then you begin to question why your government wants to put you in jail for what you just did. Doors open in your mind, and you begin to consider all of the monied interests who profit immensely off of the War on Drugs.
1 happiness_isawarmgun 2012-11-09
No. You are wrong.
if anything, soma in brave new world would be an opiate/opiod
0 marcuswinfieldjr 2012-11-09
Come on man, you think Marijuana is soma? But you completely ignore alcohol. You completely ignore sodium laden MSG laced overly abundant fast food. You ignore pharmaceuticals. If anything is soma anti-depressants are soma. You've ignored caffeine, and its often accompanied sugary beverage. Even video games, and must watch TV and the bread and circus we call sporting events deserve some mention here. But maybe even none of them are soma. Maybe we don't have a soma, maybe soma is in the works somewhere. Maybe we'll never have a soma. What we do have is marijuana, and marijuana is marijuana, and soma is soma.
0 iamnotfromtexas90 2012-11-09
Soma has been around for centuries various forms. weed, pills, but most importantly BOOZE
0 archonemis 2012-11-09
Alcohol would be closer to soma.
Of my various friends the stoners tend to be smarter.
It's not a direct cause / effect.
But it is funny that this happens to be the case.
0 thefabledleviathan 2012-11-09
Anecdotally, marijuana seems to amplify my sensations (food, music, movies) and help with self-awareness. The only emotion marijuana doesn't seem to amplify is anger. Usually when I smoke pot, and I'm not a frequent user so it takes only a toke or two to feel rather magnified, I wind up cleaning my apartment, fixing something, and then reflecting for hours about my current state of affairs. I've read a brave new world and if anything, Soma would be a sort of super-opiate with zero negative side effects.