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Unbecoming a Marijuana User

Eduardo Durán

Qualitative Sociology June 23, 2026 DOI: 10.1007/s11133-026-09634-3 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Qualitative study Peer reviewed
Sample size 38
Population Current and former marijuana users
Topics Cannabis
Keywords Experiential learning Narrative Cross-cultural psychology Taste State computer science Process computing Epistemology Fragility Aesthetics Work physics Innovative human-technology interaction
Key findings Becoming a marijuana user is a dynamic state of tension rather than a linear process, with even experienced users facing the ongoing threat of 'unbecoming.'

Abstract

Abstract In this paper, I critically engage with Becker’s seminal work on marijuana consumption, challenging the notion of “becoming” a user as a straightforward process of taste acquisition. Drawing on the personal narratives of 38 current and former marijuana users, I show that “becoming” a marijuana user constitutes a dynamic state of tension rather than a linear trajectory with a terminal endpoint. In light of these tensions, even experienced users—despite having undergone the social processes that render an ambiguous activity coherent—face the ongoing threat of “unbecoming.” I contend that such destabilizing processes extend beyond marijuana use, highlighting how people's taken-for-granted relationships with experiential objects—sustained through processes of reality maintenance—risk lapsing into unfamiliarity. This study thus contributes to our understanding of experiential breaks and ruptures, offering insights into the fragility of the continuity underlying the world of common sense.

Comparable studies

Other qualitative studies on cannabis, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
Psychoactive substances as a last resort—a qualitative study of self-treatment of migraine and cluster headaches Users of online forums discussing cluster headache and migraine treatments 2017 Qualitative thematic analysis
Psychoactive drug or mystical incense? Overview of the online available information on Spice products Web pages related to Spice products 2009 Qualitative study n = 200
Patterns, Trends, and Meanings of Drug Use by Dance-drug Users in Edinburgh, Scotland Clubbers in clubs and pre-club bars 2004 Cross-sectional survey with focus groups n = 124
Fascination and Social Togetherness-Discussions about Spice Smoking on a Swedish Internet Forum. Swedish internet forum users who posted reports about Spice intoxication 2013 Qualitative study n = 40
Cannabis as entheogen: survey and interview data on the spiritual use of cannabis. Participants recruited from seven online communities, median age 33, 81% male 2020 Mixed methods (qualitative interviews and quantitative survey) n = 319

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