The use of soma in Brave New World is key to the stability of society. Although there are obvious side effects of drugs like dependency and eventually death, this use of control is quite ingenious. Why can't steps be taken to utilize this kind of drug control today?
Marijuana is a plant whose parts were used extensively in the production of items like hemp cloth, fuel and even plastic (http://brainz.org/420-milestones-history-marijuana/). However, prohibition leader Harry J. Anslinger spearheaded a campaign that would radically alter the view on marijuana. He became the first commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics.
The opposition to marijuana and its legalization for not only medicinal purposes is widely debated. However, what implications could its legalization and support have on control? Giving someone what they've yearned for will increase and compound the joy they feel upon receiving it. This is a kind of Christmas present concept. So what if we apply the Christmas present concept to marijuana and other psychedelic drugs?
I believe that the recreational and legal use of marijuana and drugs could be used to not only control, but also consolidate the hold of drugs on future generations. Psychedelic drugs could become as normal as vitamins someday and this could be used to spread control. This concept is similar to the ones used by the British on the Chinese during the Opium Wars. Although the idea that we could become hopelessly addicted to drugs is frightening, Brave New World has reintroduced the concept of weaponized happiness
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Most people have used violence to get the drugs that they want. If the government legalizes the drugs, the people will feel triumphant and want to use violence to get other things that they want. I think that this will be a sign of weakness from the government.
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