A History Of Cannabis In North America
Originally, the cannabis plant was a sought-after resource for the production of various household items. It was cultivated and processed to make things, like paper and fabric, and plants were part of a fair-trade agreement with King James in England which helped build America. For years, the psychoactive properties were not known, but once the information became common knowledge, the scene started to change. Cannabis products became viable healing aids in pharmacies in the mid to late 1800’s, but with its acceptance as a medical tool, came all kinds of regulatory measures. Laws were slowly introduced and reinforced around the country and things like labeling, licensing, prescriptions and dose control were put into effect. Around the same time, recreational use was flourishing. Parlours, comparable to opium dens, were opened in major cities with New York estimated to have five hundred spots for folks to enjoy their bud. Throughout the early 1900’s, laws were made and amended to eventually make use, possession, cultivation and preparations illegal, both for recreational and medical use. Over the decades to follow, the fines and prison times were increased. In more recent years, the tides are shifting yet again. Medicinal use throughout the United States of America is becoming legal and more widely accepted. Decriminalization or full legalization, even for recreational use, is spreading throughout the states. Medical users in many areas are permitted to cultivate their own and possession limits are increasing too. Colorado and Washington were the first states to take the leap to full legalization, but many others are following suit.
When Did Marijuana Arrive In the USA
It is speculated that cannabis arrived on the scene in North America in the 1500’s. It was introduced by the Spanish and was considered a desirable resource for the numerous practical items that can be made from the processed plants. Its fibers were first harvested and used to produce paper, rope and other commonly used products. Its cultivation played a valued and vital part in the establishment of the country, so much so that the plant itself appeared on the ten dollar bill up until the year 1900. It was not until the 1800’s that the general population became aware of its psychoactive properties, and as early as the 1890’s, physicians of Western medicine were already recommending it to support neuralgias. Not long after this realization, cannabis was deemed a drug by Congress and unsupported claims were made about the risks of use, such as addiction and overdose. Prescriptions were necessary to acquire the substance, the item itself had to be labelled with harmful effects and the sale of products outside of a licensed establishment was not allowed. A glance at the United States Department of Agriculture Bulletin from 1905 shows that, by this time, twenty-nine states had laws in place around cannabis use. It was slowly made completely illegal throughout America, with California being the first state to prohibit its use. Over the years it has been a hot item for Congress to manage. Restrictions and regulations have been implemented and amended for decades, but in more recent years, widespread decriminalization and legalization has occurred around the country.
Criminalization Of Cannabis In North America
Shortly after marijuana was recognized as a psychoactive, criminalization was in the works. Restrictions began as early as 1906 and by the 1920’s prohibition was in place. By the mid 1930’s, cannabis was regulated as a drug under the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937, and in 1970, the Controlled Substances Act made any use, even for medical purposes, outlawed. From the year 1906 until 1938 the United States Congress passed the Pure Food and Drug Act which required special drugs, such as marijuana, to be accurately labelled. Continued revisions with the goal of restricting use, limiting sales to pharmacies and access to doctor’s prescriptions, were implemented over the coming years and remain in effect today. In 1930, the Federal Bureau of Narcotics was formed, headed by Harry J. Anslinger who pushed the beliefs that cannabis led to violent, irrational, or overly sexual acts. These claims were perpetuated and reinforced in the media for years and in 1952, mandatory sentencing and other punishments were enacted to make first time use or possession severely penalized. The Controlled Substances Act, introduced in 1970, prohibited the use of cannabis for any purpose, though slackened some of the punishments around possession. Various acts and amendments continued to be introduced in an attempt to control possession, use, distribution, and cultivation. In 1990, the Solomon-Lautenberg amendment even urged for the suspension of driver’s licenses for anyone committing drug offences. Fortunately, folks around the country started to petition and speak out against the regulations, and the power of the plant is being recognized and valued yet again!
Decriminalization of Weed In America
Decriminalization has been in the works since the 1970’s, with the first state, Oregon officially decriminalizing in 1973. It has come in waves, with the second wave starting with Nevada in 2001. This shift is part of the move towards legalization, which began with a Washington D.C. resident who was arrested for cultivating plants used to ease the symptoms of glaucoma. He fought his cause in trial and won, becoming the first U.S. citizen to receive medical marijuana from the government in 1976. This man's journey to wellness was the beginning of the Compassionate Investigational New Drug Program, which brought medical cannabis from the federal government to patients. By the late 1970’s, many states had passed legislation to address medical cannabis use. However, these laws were mostly ineffective, as medical cannabis remained prohibited at a federal level. In 1972, it was petitioned that the DEA remove marijuana from the Schedule 1 drug list so that physicians could prescribe its use. It was recommended by the DEA Chief Administrative Law Judge in 1988, but was rejected in a final decision that took place in 1989. Despite the continued prohibition of use by state and federal law, folks in San Francisco and surrounding cities opened dispensaries with far-leaning voter support of medical cannabis use. In 1996, California voters approved the Compassionate Use Act of 1996, making it the first state in the country to legalize medical use. This was the start of a country wide shift to legalization, with new states jumping on board every year.
