The History Of Marijuana Of America Essay - 1121 Words

Joshua Russell Modern World History December 5, 2016 The History of Marijuana in America In America there are a lot of problems, ranging from violence to obesity. A growing concern of many Americans is the drug â€Å"epidemic† with the growth of the war on drugs. Marijuana, throughout history, has been demonized and illegalized, however now a newfound acceptance of the drug is growing rapidly with some states fully legalizing the drug recreationally, and others medically. Marijuana has a deep history in America, being in the Americas since 1545 when the Spanish brought it over with them. Later, it was again brought over with the English colonists to Jamestown. Here it was used as a large cash crop similar to tobacco and was used as a major source of fiber. Later in the 1890s, a similar plant, hemp, became another large cash crop in the southern half of the US even replacing cotton. Around this time marijuana was also used in medications, although it was not on the scale of cocaine and opium, being used to treat everything from labor pains to rheumatism, â€Å"any disorder of the extremities or back, characterized by pain and stiffness† (The Definition of Rheumatism). Further on, in the 1920s marijuana became increasingly more popular with jazz musicians and even special cafes/clubs opening for its use. It was not until the 1930s when a campaign conducted by the Federal Bureau of Narcotics whom labeled marijuana as the harmful â€Å"gateway drug† it is seen as today. ThoughShow MoreRelatedMarijuana Use Through Western History905 Words   |  4 Pagesto 40% of high school students in North America have used marijuana once in their lifetime, and 20% report using it on a regular basis.† Mariguana (Spanish for â€Å"intoxicant†) is â€Å"the most commonly used illicit drug†. â€Å"Marijuana† consists of the dried leaves of a hemp plant and usually refers to hemp’s religious, medicinal and recreational use, while â€Å"cannabis† is the fibrous pa rt of the hemp plant, and refers its industrial and commercial use. Marijuana has been used for centuries for diverse purposes:Read MoreShould Marijuana Be Legal?1453 Words   |  6 PagesMarijuana is arguably the most controversial drug in history. In general, when someone hears the word â€Å"drugs† they think of a terrible substance that will destroy the human body. However bringing up marijuana, many people think of different things. Some think of a degenerate hippie, but many Americans simply do not know what to think, and bringing up the legalization of the substance is even more controversial. There is a large group of people that believe the legalization of marijuana is pointlessRead MoreThe Truth Behind Marijuana Legalization1462 Words   |  6 PagesThe Truth Behind Marijuana Marijuana is arguably the most controversial drug in history. In general, when someone hears the word â€Å"drugs† they think of a terrible substance that will destroy the human body. However bringing up marijuana, many people think of different things. Some think of a degenerate hippie, but many Americans simply do not know what to think, and bringing up the legalization of the substance is even more controversial. There is a large group of people that believe the legalizationRead MoreThe History and Possible Legalization of Marijuana Essay1165 Words   |  5 PagesDrug Laws There has never been a death from marijuana overdose. â€Å"A person would have to smoke 20,000 to 40,000 times the amount of THC in a joint to overdose† (Wing). Marijuana was classified as an illegal drug in 1970, because it can be abused very easily (â€Å"infoplease†). Marijuana was then grown indoors. Marijuana is illegally used by many people daily. Marijuana should be legalized because it is naturally grown and can be used to help cancer patients, relieve stress, and be used daily. CannabisRead MoreCauses and Effects of the Controlled Substances Act of 19701653 Words   |  7 Pagesfalling under the same category as opiates and heavy hallucinogens, is Marijuana. Since this Federal Law was passed in 1970, millions of Americans have been arrested and sent to prison for drug related crimes. Many of these drug related crimes were for violations as small as possession of Marijuana. Our prisons are overflowing with these offenders. Although the Controlled Substances Act was passed in 1970, there is an extensive history of drug use in the United States, which has lead to this act. ThisRead MoreMarijuana Essay1593 Words   |  7 PagesMarijuana is one of the oldest, most versatile, most historically significant plants in the history of man. Commonly referred to as hemp, it was the fiber used to create the sails of the conquistadors until steam power ruled the ocean blue. Hemp was universally known and clothed a lot the known world, even before cotton and wool. Its versatility was a virtue and was envied as one of the most valuable plants for any farmer, on any continent. Legislators in many different states across AmericaRead MoreMarijuana Should Be Legal Debate Over The United States1071 Words   |  5 PagesMarijuana has been a tremendous on-going legal debate over the last few centuries in America. In the last few decades marijuana use in America has been on the rise, especially among young adults. Marijuana comes from the hemp plant known as Cannabis Sativa. In 2727 B.C, the Chinese were the first to document the use of marijuana for medicine. Chine se would use the seeds of the hemp plant for food (Borges, 2014, Ch. 15). Marijuana has been known for a lot more than just getting high though. In theRead MoreMarijuana Should Be Banned Marijuana1449 Words   |  6 PagesMarijuana has been used throughout history since before the 1600s and the timeline has continue to today. But it did not become an issue until the 1900s through 1920s after the Mexican Revolution. During this time many Mexicans immigrants arrived in overwhelming amounts into the United States introducing marijuana as a recreational drug to Americans and its culture. As a result, many Mexican immigrants became associated with marijuana and the terror and preconception that they all used marijuanaRead MoreDrug Usage In America Essay969 Words   |  4 PagesDrug Usage in America America has a problem with drugs. In order to understand the problem, we first need to understand what is considered a drug. It is â€Å"any ingestible substance that has a noticeable effect on the mind or body†. (Schmalleger, 2011) Drugs are used for medicinal as well as recreational purposes. Unfortunately both types of drugs have played a role in American culture. History of Drug Use Drugs have been part of the American culture as far back as the 1800’s. Using drugs for medicinalRead MoreThe American War On Drugs1598 Words   |  7 Pagesexorbitant amount of people behind bars, and in a subservient status. First, America has a storied history when it comes to marijuana use. However, within the last 50 years legislation pertaining to drug use and punishment has increased significantly. In the modern era, especially hard times have hit minority communities thanks to these drug laws. While being unfairly targeted by drug laws and law enforcement, minorities in America are having a difficult time trying to be productive members of society