ABSTRACT

Does recreational marijuana legalization have the potential to transform urban spaces? Using Denver’s “Green Mile” as a case study, this study explores the potential for marijuana legalization to encourage the creation of thematic urban spaces. More specifically, the analysis contributes to understandings of gentrification by suggesting that commodified vice (i.e., marijuana) can function as a driver of gentrification, when accompanied by the evolution of societal (or gentrifier) perceptions. Utilizing a grounded theory method, we describe a specific type of commercial gentrification—marijuana gentrification—characterized by economic change and displacement due to the infusion of marijuana-related businesses and associated symbology into an area. Major elements of this process include: (1) commodification supported by the middle and upper classes that in turn serves as a magnet for other businesses frequented by the more affluent, (2) signs and symbols associated with a marijuana-themed environment that carry meanings appealing to particular urban gentrifiers, and (3) people attracted by, and with access to, the marijuana industry sharing the classic traits of gentrifiers. Explicating this process contributes to literature related to the impacts of marijuana legalization on urban spaces and adds to research on gentrification and thematic urban districts, by introducing legalized marijuana as a material foundation for both.

摘要

娱乐性大麻合法化是否有可能改变城市空间？本研究以丹佛的“绿色英里”为案例研究，探讨了大麻合法化鼓励创建主题城市空间的潜力。更具体地说，该分析表明，当伴随着社会（或中产阶级）观念的演变时，商品化的罪恶（即大麻）可以作为中产阶级化的驱动力，从而有助于理解中产阶级化。利用扎根理论方法，我们描述了一种特定类型的商业高档化——大麻高档化- 其特点是由于大麻相关业务和相关符号系统注入某个地区而导致的经济变化和流离失所。这一过程的主要要素包括：（1）中上层阶级支持的商品化反过来又吸引了更富裕的人经常光顾的其他企业，（2）与大麻主题环境相关的具有意义的标志和符号对特定的城市中产阶级有吸引力，(3) 被大麻产业吸引并有机会接触大麻产业的人具有中产阶级的经典特征。解释这一过程有助于撰写有关大麻合法化对城市空间影响的文献，并通过引入大麻合法化作为两者的物质基础，增加了对士绅化和主题城市地区的研究。