1
Manuel Torres
University of Delaware
Culture and the Medical Marijuana Movement
The medical marijuana (MM) social movement (SM) claims that marijuana can
be used for various medicinal purposes. Backed by medical literature, marijuana is
proposed to aid the suffering of those with HIV/AIDS, Cancer, Multiple Scoliosis,
Anorexia, Glaucoma and other various illnesses. Within the MM SM there have been
many conflicts between local, state and national organizations with federal opposition in
the United States. Various degrees of success have occurred within the MM SM.
Resource Mobilization Theory (RMA) claims that it is the resources available and
mobilized by a SM that determine its success. In the current issue under study I feel that
the limitations of RMA fail to capture why the MM SM may succeed or fail. John
Lofland’s work on culture may offer insight into the influence and success within the
medical marijuana movement. In comparison between two social movement
organizations Wo/Men’s Alliance for Medical Marijuana (WAMM) and Oakland
Cannabis Buyer’s Club (OCBC) evidence of culture is found to differ, a possible reason
for varied success. WAMM currently is able to supply medical marijuana while the
OCBC is not. Through analyses of WAMM’s ability to survive federal opposition, I want
to highlight the importance of culture and its use to carry out the goals of WAMM in the
face of federal opposition.
In the 1960s and 1970s, increases of marijuana use and the 1970 passage of the
Controlled Substances Act (CSA) lead to debates over the legal status of marijuana. The
CSA divided drugs into 5 schedules, and marijuana was classified as a schedule 1 drug,
considered most harmful. From 1973 to 1978, 11 states have adopted statutes that have
Page 1 of 22 
Convention