Analysis: Americans want to get high because they feel so low

Think the reason the legalization of marijuana is gaining acceptance across the country is because Americans are becoming more mellow on the subject? Wrong. According to socionomics research, it’s because Americans are increasingly cranky.
 
Bloomberg Businessweek reports studies by the Socionomics Institute in Georgia indicate that when society’s mood is optimistic, people buy more, expand their businesses more, are more peaceful and want to “fix” social problems such as recreational drug use.
 
In times of pessimism, such as when the economy is weak and people are worried, they lose interest in prohibiting pot when they consider the high costs of criminalization.

Read more from Bloomberg Businessweek.