The Basic History of a Complex Plant
The history of cannabis in the United States is as complex as it is multifaceted, spanning centuries and involving various cultural, economic, and political factors – who would've guessed…
Cannabis has been used by indigenous people in North America for thousands of years for medicinal, spiritual, and recreational purposes. In the early 19th century, cannabis began to be used as a medicine in the United States and was included in the United States Pharmacopeia, a list of officially recognized medicines, until 1942.
In the early 20th century, cannabis began to be associated with Mexican immigrants and the Black community, and as a result, in 1910, California became the first state to criminalize cannabis with other states soon to follow. In 1937, the federal government passed the Marihuana Tax Act (yes, that is the correct spelling of the act), which effectively criminalized the possession and sale of cannabis nationwide.
During the 1950s and 1960s, the use of cannabis among counterculture and youth rebellion joined the already stigmatized use by minorities. This led to increased arrests and incarceration of young people, particularly those from marginalized communities. In the 1970s, several states decriminalized possession of small amounts of cannabis, but it remained illegal at the federal level as it does today.
Ironically, California became the first state to legalize cannabis for medical use in 1996. Other states took note, and in 2012, Colorado and Washington became the first states to legalize cannabis for recreational use.
Today, as the history surrounding this plant continues to be written, cannabis is legal for medical or recreational use in over half of the US, and many states continue to work diligently to address the past harms of cannabis criminalization, such as expunging criminal records and investing in communities most impacted by the unethical war on drugs. We’ve come a long way, and there’s much more to be done.
Cannabis Rooted in Purpose
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