ORIGINS

The earliest evidence of cannabis consumption dates back to the Jomon Period of Japan that ranged from 10,000-3000 BC. Through travel, trade, and war, the cannabis and hemp seed slowly spread over the world. Over the centuries, cannabis and hemp were listed in multiple pharmacopeias and religious texts throughout the East and eventually the West. In 1850, Cannabis was even listed in the Third Edition of United States Pharmacopeia as “Extractum Cannabis or Extract of Hemp”. The listing continued until 1942. 

History in the United States

The First War on Drugs in the United States began in the late 1800’s. It was a response to a surge in immigration fueled by the Mexican Revolution.  Slowly but surely, each state began to redefine cannabis, and by 1931 a total of 29 states had outlawed the plant. During this era,  the word “Marijuana” was popularized by anti-cannabis parties as a tool to make cannabis seem more foreign and shift cultural opinions on immigration.

Ideologies shifted as the United States came out of the Great Depression in the 1940s, attitudes began to change and scientists researched cannabis for its therapeutic benefits. This research continued successfully for a few more years: isolating CBN and CBD in 1940, and discovering THC in 1942. Unfortunately, between 1945 and 1956, multiple laws were passed limiting the legality of cannabis and placing it under the control of the Federal Narcotics Control Act.

In 1970 the Controlled Substances Act was passed, making cannabis a Schedule 1 drug. This implied it had no medicinal value what-so-ever and limited research even more. It wouldn’t be until the 1980s that research would rekindle.

The Second War on Drugs in the United States took place in the 1970s. As the world was looking towards another war, the movement of Flower Power was starting to take over and states started to decriminalize cannabis, with Oregon at the forefront in 1973. The response was a second War on Drugs, which served two purposes: to shut down conversations about cannabis- effectively limiting anti-war speech- and to target the growing Black Rights movement. Mandatory sentences were re-enacted by President Reagan along with the “Three Strikes” policy, requiring life sentences for repeat drug offenders.

The War on Drugs continued under President George Bush when he took office in 1989, calling cannabis the “greatest domestic threat facing our nation”. One year later he approved the 1033 program, equipping local and state police with military-grade equipment for drug operations that is still commonly used today.

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