Marijuana use has been well documented as far back to China in 2737 B.C. It was first utilized by humans as an agent for achieving euphoria. The ancient Chinese, which were the first society documented to discover its usage considered marijuana a medicinal herb. Marijuana use spread from China to India and then to North Africa, and reached Europe as early as 500 A.D. Flash forward to colonial North America. Marijuana, or as it was known, hemp, was grown as a source of fiber. And, during World War II, was cultivated extensively when major sources of Asian hemp were cut off. Marijuana was categorized in the United States Pharmacopeia from 1850 until 1942. It was frequently prescribed for a myriad of conditions including labor pains,
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You cannot discuss marijuana prohibition within the United States without mentioning Harry Anslinger. Harry Anslinger was a former railroad cop and marijuana prohibitionist who many credit as being responsible for the United States’ ban on marijuana. Harry was named America’s first drug czar in 1930, when he attempted to get the Bureau of Narcotics to fit in their budget, that was hampered by the Great Depression, propaganda that would work towards transforming marijuana’s imagine in the American public from a low grade nuisance into an evil “as hellish as heroin,” in his own words. Anslinger preyed on racial prejudices to hammer home in his point of demonizing the plant. He coined phrases such as, “reefer makes …show more content…
The earliest written reports of marijuana use come from Chinese writings in the 27th century BC. In states where medical marijuana is currently available, it is almost exclusively sold in drug emporiums in a raw state meant to be smoked. Patients prescribed medical marijuana are typically issued a card which acts as a license for their prescription. Laws differ from state to state in regards to how these patients can obtain marijuana. Some states allow a certain number of plants to be cultivated by an individual, while others require patients to receive marijuana from a state licensed dispensary. A majority of medical marijuana users claim that they suffer from chronic pain or anxiety and smoke the raw plant for their treatment. Unfortunately, marijuana suffers from a lack of credible research on its effectiveness in medical treatment. The scheduling of marijuana by the Drug Enforcement Agency as a schedule I substance, has eliminated valuable research that could be conducted on the drug. Rescheduling marijuana to a less dangerous classification would lead to more scientific findings, and possibly more benefits or side effects of the drug. As of now, marijuana has insufficient research and the schedule I classification fuels the controversy surrounding the drug and its
You cannot discuss marijuana prohibition within the United States without mentioning Harry Anslinger. Harry Anslinger was a former railroad cop and marijuana prohibitionist who many credit as being responsible for the United States’ ban on marijuana. Harry was named America’s first drug czar in 1930, when he attempted to get the Bureau of Narcotics to fit in their budget, that was hampered by the Great Depression, propaganda that would work towards transforming marijuana’s imagine in the American public from a low grade nuisance into an evil “as hellish as heroin,” in his own words. Anslinger preyed on racial prejudices to hammer home in his point of demonizing the plant. He coined phrases such as, “reefer makes …show more content…
The earliest written reports of marijuana use come from Chinese writings in the 27th century BC. In states where medical marijuana is currently available, it is almost exclusively sold in drug emporiums in a raw state meant to be smoked. Patients prescribed medical marijuana are typically issued a card which acts as a license for their prescription. Laws differ from state to state in regards to how these patients can obtain marijuana. Some states allow a certain number of plants to be cultivated by an individual, while others require patients to receive marijuana from a state licensed dispensary. A majority of medical marijuana users claim that they suffer from chronic pain or anxiety and smoke the raw plant for their treatment. Unfortunately, marijuana suffers from a lack of credible research on its effectiveness in medical treatment. The scheduling of marijuana by the Drug Enforcement Agency as a schedule I substance, has eliminated valuable research that could be conducted on the drug. Rescheduling marijuana to a less dangerous classification would lead to more scientific findings, and possibly more benefits or side effects of the drug. As of now, marijuana has insufficient research and the schedule I classification fuels the controversy surrounding the drug and its