#marist
By Martha Nelson, Global Editor in Chief
The topic of marijuana is at a tipping point. While some aspects of this tectonic shift in American society have been well covered – legalization, the business boom, the political divides – its impact on our most important relationships, those inside our homes, has been curiously underexamined.
Leveraging the power of the Yahoo network, Weed & the American Family is an in-depth and thoughtful examination of the way cannabis is affecting our families – from the generational split over usage, to shifting attitudes, to its impact on parenting and relationships.
At the center of our project is an exclusive Yahoo News/Marist Poll which offers the most comprehensive examination of this hot topic – Weed & the American Family.
This survey of 1,122 adults in America found that marijuana use has become surprisingly acceptable, particularly in families where parents are users. Having used – or merely tried – marijuana makes you much less concerned about its effect on your family, suggesting that as weed becomes more widespread in the age of legalization, more Americans will begin to feel the same way.
See the full poll results here: http://maristpoll.marist.edu/yahoo-newsmarist-poll/
Our examination includes an interview with former U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy, who co-founded an anti-legalization group called Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM); a discussion with Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper about the lessons he’s learned as a reluctant leader on the front lines of the marijuana revolution; and an intimate conversation with musician, mother and weed advocate Melissa Etheridge. We also produced video diaries of families who share how marijuana has affected their lives, both negatively and positively, including a compelling account of a mother using marijuana to treat postpartum depression and anxiety.
We hope that as you read through our fascinating poll data, reporting and first-person accounts on marijuana use, you’ll be able to develop a better sense of the complex and evolving attitudes about this deeply controversial issue in American life and that it generates discussion where it matters most – within your own family.
“The 50 Yard Dash” (2015)
This quirky and silly mockumentary, starring two-time Silver Fox Award winner Kaitlyn Murphy, follows a day in the lives of twenty-something undergraduates. With graduation quickly approaching, college roommates and best friends Lauren and Allie must come to terms with their post-grad lives going in opposite directions. Directed by Rachael Black and Devin Barbaro, this short film explores the pressure and emotions of four years of college coming to a close, reminding us that the most important thing we’ll take away from our higher education is the memories we’ve made.
If you’ve just graduated as I have, let me give to you something that is guaranteed to hit you right in the feels… and if not, I hope to provide a few laughs to you anyway.
After many months of hard work, good times, and a screening at the Marist Silver Fox Awards, I am extremely excited to present my senior capping film to you, the internet! I hope you have as much fun watching “The 50 Yard Dash” as we did making it.
This quirky and silly mockumentary, starring two-time Silver Fox Award winner Kaitlyn Murphy, alongside Natalie Palter, follows a day in the lives of twenty-something undergraduates. With graduation quickly approaching, college roommates and best friends Lauren and Allie must come to terms with their post-grad lives going in opposite directions. Directed by Rachael Black and Devin Barbaro, this short film explores the pressure and emotions of four years of college coming to a close, reminding us that the most important thing we’ll take away from our higher education is the memories we’ve made.
