Legalização e descriminação da maconha sobre a perspectiva dos(as) estudantes do curso de Serviço Social.

Abstract

The debate about the legalization and decriminalization of marijuana has gained a lot of attention in Brazilian social media, and with this the dissemination of misguided information regarding to its consumption, whether recreational or medicinal, has contributed to the growth of conservatism and prejudice in good part of the population. Thus, the present research aimed to understand how the students of Social Work has approached the them as the profession praises the absence of prejudice and reductionist discourses based on "guesswork" and common sense. For that, a quantitative-qualitative exploratory study was carried out with 100 students from the first to the eighth period of the Social Work course of a university in the interior of Paraíba. The participants answered a questionnaire about marijuana use and marijuana legalization and decriminalization processes, and it was possible to observe that the majority had opinions based on the prohibitionist, common sense, religious beliefs and stigmatizing and reductionist discourses. The answers and justifications were marked by prejudice and contradiction, listing the lack of knowledge and involvement in discussions that approach the theme. A small portion of the students demonstrated ownership on the subject, expressing concise opinions and supported by scientific facts and social research. It is clear that, just as in society, most students, even without knowing about the historical process and the contexts surrounding marijuana and without being aware of what their legalization and decriminalization processes are all about, they are able to position themselves and justify against such proceedings. However, understanding all of the processes and contexts involving marijuana requires people to make the least amount of effort to find valid and sensible information in order to avoid the reproduction of discourses based on common sense and the mystification of herb users.