Why Do Some People Assume That Wiccans Do Drugs?
Question by Stasi: Why do some people assume that Wiccans do drugs?
Background: I’m 27, and have considered myself a Solitary Wiccan since I was 14. It was the first religion I’d ever heard of that encompassed all my personal beliefs, unlike any others I’d known about/practiced with family and/or friends.
Anyway, I had some customers last week that were a definite family of hippies…Mom, Dad, 3 kids. They saw my pentacle necklace (I don’t try to hide it) and started talking about how cool Wicca is…the usual stereotypes from people who’ve only read Silverhawk. As I was packaging up their games, they made very odd, roundabout comments and I had no clue what they were trying to get at.
Finally, the 18-ish year old son leans over and says “What we mean is, you must know some great places to get pot, right? To make it easier to meditate and talk to the Gods?” I was shocked. I politely told them that not only is pot illegal, but it changes your hormonal balance and brain chemistry, and that I believe the rule of “Harm None” includes yourself…which is why I don’t smoke, do drugs, and only drink sparingly. (Also don’t eat ANY animals, but that’s more for them.)
You would have thought that I kicked their dog. They were very pissed looking for the rest of the transaction, and they refused to take the bag or change from my hands…I had to lay them on the counter so they could pick them up. As they left without speaking, the father turned and stomped back up to the counter. He leaned over and growled that he’d never shop here again since “even the Wiccans in this area are full of intolerance toward his family.”
I’ve never had an experience quite like THAT before, but I do know some people who have insinuated that I must get drunk every weekend (never), do illegal/addicting drugs (never) or must at least smoke (never). It gets very tiresome to have to explain that most serious practitioners don’t do these things.
I guess my question is: Why do people on both sides of this drug controversy think an entire religion is doing this?
Best answer:
Answer by Mackenzie
Wow, what a screwed up family. I worked as a cashier from my teens through college, sometimes you run into the most pathetic people.
I don’t know where people get that idea– I haven’t met a lot of people who think that, but yes I’ve had it said to me once or twice that the only reason I want to be Wiccan is so I can go wild with drugs (or indulge in other risk-taking, law-breaking, wild behaviors).
I’ve never done drugs, nor has my husband, nor do any of our friends (Wiccan or not) because it’s just not our thing. Never has been. I’ve never been to an open circle that didn’t ban drugs pretty strictly.
I’m sure there are Wiccans who do drugs, but I imagine you could find people in any religion who do.
What do you think? Answer below!