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1920's Mexican immigrants introduce recreational use of marijuana leaf

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1920's Mexican immigrants introduce recreational use of marijuana leaf

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After the Mexican Revolution of 1910, Mexican immigrants flooded into the U.S., introducing to American culture the recreational use of marijuana. The drug became associated with the immigrants, and the fear and prejudice about the Spanish-speaking newcomers became associated with marijuana. Anti-drug campaigners warned against the encroaching "Marijuana Menace," and terrible crimes were attributed to marijuana and the Mexicans who used it.

The influx of Mexican immigrants after the 1910 Mexican Revolution introduced the recreational use of marijuana to American culture. As these immigrants were often stigmatized and feared, marijuana became linked to them, amplifying racial prejudices and fears. Anti-drug campaigners capitalized on these anxieties, warning of a "Marijuana Menace" and blaming marijuana for violent crimes supposedly committed by Mexican users. This association fueled negative perceptions of both marijuana and its users, contributing to the drug's increasing criminalization and social control.

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Mexican immigrants introduce recreational use of marijuana leaf

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During the Great Depression, widespread unemployment fueled public anxiety and resentment toward Mexican immigrants, intensifying concerns about marijuana use. This fear prompted a surge of research that associated marijuana consumption with violence, crime, and other forms of social deviance, particularly among "racially inferior" or lower-class groups. By 1931, these rising concerns led to marijuana being banned in 29 states.

The growing association between marijuana and marginalized communities during the Great Depression played a significant role in increasing government action to regulate the substance. The connection between marijuana use and crime, especially within immigrant or underprivileged populations, shaped public opinion and led to harsher laws aimed at controlling it. As a result, the issue became seen not just as a public health concern but as a threat to social order, prompting states to introduce stringent laws to combat its use.

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Concern about the rising use of marijuana and research linking its use with crime and other social problems created pressure on the federal government to take action. Rather than promoting federal legislation, the Federal Bureau of Narcotics strongly encouraged state governments to accept responsibility for control of the problem by adopting the Uniform State Narcotic Act.

The growing concern about marijuana use and its alleged connection to crime and social problems led to pressure on the federal government to act. Instead of creating federal legislation, the Federal Bureau of Narcotics encouraged state governments to take responsibility by adopting the Uniform State Narcotic Act. This decentralized approach increased marijuana control at the state level, leading to widespread legalization of marijuana bans, thereby tightening restrictions on its use across the country.

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After a lurid national propaganda campaign against the "evil weed," Congress passed the Marijuana Tax Act. The statute effectively criminalized marijuana, restricting possession of the drug to individuals who paid an excise tax for certain authorized medical and industrial uses.

The Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 had a significant impact on marijuana use in the United States. It was part of a broader, heavily sensationalized campaign against marijuana, which depicted it as a dangerous and immoral drug. The Act did not outright ban marijuana, but it imposed strict regulations and a heavy tax on its production, sale, and possession.

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During World War II, imports of hemp and other materials crucial for producing marine cordage, parachutes, and other military necessities became scarce. In response the U.S. Department of Agriculture launched its "Hemp for Victory" program, encouraging farmers to plant hemp by giving out seeds and granting draft deferments to those who would stay home and grow hemp. By 1943 American farmers registered in the program harvested 375,000 acres of hemp.

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1944 La Guardia Report finds marijuana less dangerous

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1944 La Guardia Report finds marijuana less dangerous

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New York Academy of Medicine issued an extensively researched report declaring that, contrary to earlier research and popular belief, use of marijuana did not induce violence, insanity or sex crimes, or lead to addiction or other drug use.

The 1944 report by the New York Academy of Medicine, which refuted claims that marijuana caused violence, insanity, or addiction, had the potential to decrease the stigma surrounding marijuana. By providing scientific evidence that contradicted earlier propaganda, it challenged the prevailing negative perceptions of the drug. However, despite its findings, the report did not immediately lead to legal changes or a shift in public opinion, as marijuana remained heavily criminalized due to political and social factors.

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1950s Continued Criminalization and Anti-Drug Efforts

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1950s Continued Criminalization and Anti-Drug Efforts

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The United States government remained adamantly opposed to marijuana in the 1950s. The Narcotics Control Act of 1956 further reinforced drug laws and penalties, and the Boggs Act of 1951 increased penalties for drug trafficking, including marijuana. Campaigns to raise public awareness of marijuana's dangers persisted, and during this period, marijuana use especially among young people continued to instill fears in society.

The widespread fear of the Cold War at the time was reflected in the widespread association of drug usage with moral decay and anti-American actions. The usage of marijuana was associated in some ads with communism, insurrection, and criminality. These concerns prompted draconian sentencing legislation in the 1980s, at the height of the War on Drugs, and laid the groundwork for decades of rigorous drug police.

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Enactment of federal laws (Boggs Act, 1952; Narcotics Control Act, 1956) which set mandatory sentences for drug-related offenses, including marijuana.

A first-offense marijuana possession carried a minimum sentence of 2-10 years with a fine of up to $20,000.

These laws allowed law enforcement to really crack down on the sales and use of marijuana.

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Charged With a Crime: Am I Going to Prison?

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The 1960s saw a major shift as marijuana use became closely tied to the counterculture movement, especially among young people, civil rights activists, and artists. It was often used as a symbol of rebellion against authority and connected to anti-war protests and the rise of hippie culture. Despite its growing popularity, marijuana remained illegal, leading to rising tension between youth and the government.

In response, law enforcement increased arrests for possession, particularly targeting college students and protestors. Media coverage fueled public fear, and despite some early calls for reform, the federal government continued to take a strict stance—setting the stage for tougher drug policies in the decades to come.

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1969  Shafer Commission (National Commission on Marihuana and Drug Abuse)

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1969  Shafer Commission (National Commission on Marihuana and Drug Abuse)

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The Shafer Commission was set up in 1969 by President Richard Nixon to investigate the societal impacts of marijuana consumption. In response to growing public concern, the federal government established the panel as part of a larger initiative to review drug policy. Many were shocked by the commission's conclusions, even though Nixon had anticipated their support for ongoing rigorous enforcement.
Proposing that marijuana was not nearly as harmful as previously thought, the study urged for its decriminalization upon its 1972 publication. The Nixon government, however, disregarded the suggestions and opted to keep and further tighten drug prohibition. The findings of the panel brought to light the widening gap between cannabis policy and scientific inquiry.

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When the Controlled Substances Act was passed, marijuana was classified as a Schedule I drug because of its great abuse potential and lack of acknowledged medical value. Many of the anti-marijuana laws in the United States have their origins in these tougher rules, which then curtailed both marijuana research and use.
Though public debate was rising and the Shafer Commission's findings were underlined, the classification of marijuana remained unaltered. Driven more by political goals than by scientific data, this decision set the path for what would become known as the War on Drugs a decade later by tightening federal government drug enforcement policies.

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1970- Repeal of Most Mandatory Minimum Sentences

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1970- Repeal of Most Mandatory Minimum Sentences

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Congress repealed most of the mandatory penalties for drug-related offenses. It was widely acknowledged that the mandatory minimum sentences of the 1950s had done nothing to eliminate the drug culture that embraced marijuana use throughout the 60s, and that the minimum sentences imposed were often unduly harsh.

Marijuana was also differentiated from other drugs. It has it's own category. This was done by the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act.

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In 1973, President Richard Nixon officially launched the War on Drugs by creating the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), a federal agency tasked with enforcing drug laws and targeting drug trafficking. This marked a major escalation in federal drug policy and a shift toward heavy criminalization.

Not only was marijuana not the sole objective of the more general campaign, but Particularly in communities already under social and political surveillance, more raids, arrests, and monitoring of cannabis users followed the establishment of the DEA. This aggressive approach helped to explain decades of strict drug control and contributed to the rising jail population.

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1974 U.S. Government-Funded Marijuana Research (Heath/Tulane Study)

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1974 U.S. Government-Funded Marijuana Research (Heath/Tulane Study)

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Governmentally sponsored controversial studies by Tulane University's Dr. Robert Heath from 1974 claimed that marijuana usage in monkeys resulted in brain damage. Broad media coverage of the results helped to justify the ongoing ban of the practice. Later criticism of the study focused on its inadequate technique, which included briefly low-oxygen breathing of significant amounts of smoke for monkeys.
Though it had numerous major methodological flaws, the study's influence on public opinion and anti-marijuana campaigns at the time was notable, thereby helping to propagate fear-based messaging about cannabis use.

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1976 - The Compassionate Investigational New Drug (IND) Program begins

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1976 - The Compassionate Investigational New Drug (IND) Program begins

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Allowed patients with serious or life-threatening conditions to access investigational drugs outside of clinical trials when no comparable or satisfactory alternative therapy options are available. This program is designed to facilitate the availability of experimental treatments to patients who may benefit from them

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1978 New mexico becomes the first state to enact legislation recognizing the medical value of marijuana 

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1978 New mexico becomes the first state to enact legislation recognizing the medical value of marijuana 

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New mexico passes the controlled substance therapeutic research act. they were the first state to pass legislation allowing for medical Cannibas use. This act permitted Cannibas purely for medical purposes. This was done through the a federally approved research program.

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the campaign was a prominent anti-drug initiative in the United States during the 1980s, spearheaded by First Lady Nancy Reagan. The campaign aimed to discourage children and teenagers from engaging in illegal drug use by encouraging them to simply refuse offers of drugs.

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1982 – The Reagan Administration Cracks Down on Marijuana

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1982 – The Reagan Administration Cracks Down on Marijuana

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In 1982, the Reagan administration intensified its anti-marijuana efforts by issuing Executive Order 12368, which centralized federal drug policy coordination under the Drug Abuse Policy Office. The Surgeon General's report that year highlighted marijuana's health risks, particularly for youth. Additionally, the administration launched the South Florida Task Force to combat drug smuggling and conducted Operation Tiburon, a joint U.S.-Colombian initiative that seized over 6 million pounds of marijuana. These actions marked a significant escalation in the federal government's War on Drugs.

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1985 – FDA Approves Marinol (Synthetic THC)

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1985 – FDA Approves Marinol (Synthetic THC)

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In 1985, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Marinol (dronabinol), a synthetic form of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), for treating chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Initially classified as a Schedule II controlled substance, it was reclassified to Schedule III in 1999, reflecting its lower potential for abuse. Marinol's approval marked a significant step in the medical use of synthetic cannabinoids in the United States.

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1986 – Anti-Drug Abuse Act Introduces Harsh Sentencing

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1986 – Anti-Drug Abuse Act Introduces Harsh Sentencing

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In 1986, the U.S. Congress passed the Anti-Drug Abuse Act, instituting mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenses, including a controversial 100-to-1 sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine. This meant that possession of just 5 grams of crack cocaine triggered the same five-year mandatory minimum sentence as 500 grams of powder cocaine, leading to significant racial disparities in incarceration rates. The Act also allocated $1.7 billion to the War on Drugs and increased penalties for various drug-related crimes.

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1989 – President George H.W. Bush and the "Drug-Free America" Campaign

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1989 – President George H.W. Bush and the "Drug-Free America" Campaign

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In 1989, President George H.W. Bush launched the "Drug-Free America" campaign by introducing the first National Drug Control Strategy, emphasizing a comprehensive approach to combat illegal drug use. This strategy called for coordinated efforts across federal, state, and local governments, as well as community involvement, to address the drug crisis. The administration allocated substantial resources to law enforcement, prevention, and treatment programs, marking a significant escalation in the nation's War on Drugs.

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1990- Zero Tolerance Drug Policies in Full Effect

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1990- Zero Tolerance Drug Policies in Full Effect

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Twenty years prior, the Drug Abuse Prevention Act in 1970, federal penalties for possession and selling of marijuana were eased up on. It caused eleven states to decriminalized the drug. According to the DEA, the decriminalization of the drug spiked an increase in marijuana use. In Alaska, more than twice the teenagers used marijuana than the rest of the country. This led many states, including Alaska, to recriminalize marijuana in 1990.

In 1990, the Zero Tolerance Drug Policies were in full effect. The George H. W. Bush administration increased the penalties for drug possession and trafficking. This meant that any drug offenses, despite how minor it may be, were prosecuted to the full extent of the law. There would be no leniency and strict punishments would be enforced. It applied to any amount of drugs possessed, including marijuana. The Zero Tolerance Drug Policies took effect in schools, workplace, and public institutions.

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1991- San Francisco passes Proposition P (Medical Marijuana)

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1991- San Francisco passes Proposition P (Medical Marijuana)

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In 1991, San Francisco voted in favor of Proposition P (Medical Marijuana), pushing the city to support the medical use of marijuana. In other words, this Proposition P asked city officials to make medical cannabis available to seriously ill people and to deprioritize marijuana arrests for patients using it medicinally. In addition, the proposition would restrain licensed physicians from being penalized for or restricted from prescribing hemp preparations for medical use. Hemp preparations included any products made from hemp, cannabis, or marijuana for human consumption as a treatment for any disease, pain relief, or healing purpose.

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1993- Rising Medical Marijuana Advocacy & Senate Joint Resolution 8 (SJR 8)

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1993- Rising Medical Marijuana Advocacy & Senate Joint Resolution 8 (SJR 8)

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In 1993, medical marijuana was becoming a growing public issue. Although in 1991 San Francisco had already passed Proposition P (Medical Use) but was not legally enforced, in 1993, there was a movement to implement meaningful legal protections. There was a rise of medical marijuana advocacy in the U.S., especially in California due to patients with AIDS, cancer, and other illnesses publicly fighting for their right to use cannabis for relief. Patients emphasized how marijuana helped them manage symptoms like pain and nausea. Groups, like HEMP, started to emerge and actively engaged in raising public awareness in all aspects of medical marijuana use. It emphasized its medicinal, agricultural, economic, and environmental value. Consequently, due to people sharing their stories regarding the marijuana medical use and advocacy groups raising public awareness, medical use of marijuana started growing public support.

Also in 1993, the California State Legislature passed Senate Joint Resolution 8 (SJR 8). The SJR 8 advocated for the federal government to reclassify marijuana from a Schedule 1 substance to a lower schedule, permitting its legal use for medical purposes. Patients would, in addition, have legal access to marijuana for therapeutic use, under a doctor's supervision. Although marijuana was still illegal during this time, SJR 8 became important in laying the groundwork for Proposition 215 (1996).

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1994- Crucial year of organizing for Proposition 215

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1994- Crucial year of organizing for Proposition 215

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1994 was the turning point when activists moved beyond local organizing in San Francisco and got serious about building a full-scale statewide campaign. Activists, like Dennis Peron, officially launched efforts to pass a statewide medical marijuana legalization initiative. They finalized the early versions of the Prop 215 text, focusing it strictly on medical use, not recreational, to maximize public support. Slowly but surely, funding for the proposition started. This year was important because the AIDS crisis was extreme. Although illegal, many patients relied on cannabis usage to manage their symptoms. In addition, strategic partnerships between medical marijuana patients and advocates, civil rights groups, and some politicians started forming this year as well.

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1996- The Compassionate Use Act (Proposition 215) passed in California

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1996- The Compassionate Use Act (Proposition 215) passed in California

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In 1996, California voters approved Proposition 215, the Compassionate Use Act, which granted exemptions from criminal liability under state law to qualifying patients and their primary caregivers for the medicinal possession and cultivation of marijuana. California became the first state to pass medical marijuana laws. In effect, the passage of the Act legalized the medical use of marijuana in California for individuals with a physician’s recommendation, enabling patients to possess and cultivate cannabis without facing criminal prosecution. Doctors were also protected with the act from being punished when recommending cannabis. The Compassionate Act was passed strictly for medical use, not for recreational use.

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1998- Medical Marijuana Legalized in Other States 

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1998- Medical Marijuana Legalized in Other States 

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In 1998, other states followed California's legalization of medical marijuana. Alaska passes Measure 8, which legalized medical use of marijuana for patients with a doctor's approval. Measure 8 also allowed home cultivation for personal use. Similarly, Oregon passes Measure 67, which legalized medical marijuana with a doctor's recommendation. Washington passes Initiative 692, approving medical cannabis for seriously ill patients and allowing for possession of a 60-day supply. Washington D.C. passes Initiative 59 the same year, but congress blocked its implementation for years through budget restrictions. Lastly, Nevada passes the initial vote for Question 9, legalizing medical marijuana for chronic conditions. Due to Nevada requiring two votes, it was then passed again in 2000.

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2000 - The public debate over medical marijuana

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2000 - The public debate over medical marijuana

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In the early 2000s, the public debate over medical marijuana continued and this allowed for many states in the U.S to pass the law to obtain medical marijuana for those who have a doctors prescription. Hawaii was the first state to legalize medical marijuana through state legislature. Nevada and Colorado were the first states to legalize cannabis. Many states after paved for the way for medical marijuana and for the recreational use of cannabis as well.

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2005 Significant events shaping the Marijuana Landscape in the US

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2005 Significant events shaping the Marijuana Landscape in the US

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The conflict was based on the concern of federal and state laws. the supreme court case Gonzales v. Raich decided federall government could till enforce the controlled subtances act. This even included states with legalized medical marijuana. As a result of this the DEA raided 11 medical marijuana dispensaries in California showing the tension between these policies. This is also when the California department of public healtha medical marijuanna program (MMP) begun issuing medical cannibas identification cards in some countries

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In 2010, the pressure for legalization increases and makes for more public and public support with many more studies and articles coming out and showing their support for the cause also. This brought for the fight towards decriminalization towards marijuana. The support of decriminalization of marijuana drove for arguments to reduce the cost, reduce penalties, and recognize the medical benefits of marijuana. On November 2010, Proposition 19 was rejected which would have legalized the use, possession, and cultivation of marijuana for those adults the age of 21 and older. On September 30, 2010, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law CA State Senate Bill 1449, which led to reducing the charges of possession of one ounce or less of marijuana, and reducing the charge from misdemeanor to an infraction.

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2012 states begin legalizing marijuana for recreational use 

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2012 states begin legalizing marijuana for recreational use 

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In this year washington and colorado became the first states to legalize marijuana for recreational use. While states began making marijuana legal purely for medical reasons this was a huge step. This influenced other states to also legalize marijuana recreationally. This is the same conflict that has been mentioned when talking about state vs federal laws.

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2014 Rohrabacher-Farr Amendment blocks Department of Justice from prosecuting state legal cannabis businesses

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2014 Rohrabacher-Farr Amendment blocks Department of Justice from prosecuting state legal cannabis businesses

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The Rohrabacher-Farr Amendment was a piece of legislation passed by the house in 2014 although it was first introduced in 2001. It was meant to prohibit the department of justice from spending funds to interfere with the states medical marijuana laws. This was a huge step for those who advocated marijuana as the department of justice has been a constant issue when dealing with this drug. This Amendment must be renewed each fiscal year to remain in effect. It did not legalize marijuana federally but allowed it to avoid federal prosecution of individuals and businesses compliant of state medical marijuana laws.

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2015- The growth of the marijuana industry 

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2015- The growth of the marijuana industry 

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In 2015, the growth of the cannabis industry was having a rapid growth in the United States. The United States started to make the movement to legalizing marijuana with many states passing and expanding many low-THC and high-CBD medical marijuana laws. Five more states in 2015 passed low-THC and high-CBD medical marijuana laws which included Virginia, Georgia, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wyoming. While this made some states start its process to have full recreational legalization. This made the United States marijuana sales increase from 4.6 billion in 2014 to 5.4 billion in 2015. Marijuana was started to be seen in a more positive light

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2014 Sales of Adult-Use Cannabis Has Made Over $15 Billion in Tax Revenue

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2014 Sales of Adult-Use Cannabis Has Made Over $15 Billion in Tax Revenue

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Since the legalization of marijuana has happened the market has grown tremendously. In just ten years the market has generated more than $15 billion in tax revenue. That means the business is booming. More and more people are opening their own medicinal shops that adults may use for recreational use or others for medicinal use. Either way they are being taxed and the government loves it because it has interrupted the illegal market.

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Types of Taxes – Income, Property, Goods, Services, Federal, State

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2016- The Adult Use Of Marijuana Act (Proposition 64)

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2016- The Adult Use Of Marijuana Act (Proposition 64)

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Proposition 64 was passed November 9, 2016 and is the legalization of personal use and the cultivation of marijuana for those adults 21 years of age or older. This act allows adults 21 years of age or older to obtain, transport, or give up to one ounce of marijuana or 8 grams of concentrated marijuana to other adults 21 years of age or older. Adults 21 years of age or older may obtain up to 6 plants per residence. Proposition 64 reduces the criminal penalties for specified marijuana-related offenses for adults and juveniles and it also gives for those eligible marijuana-related convictions with resentencing or dismissal of cases.

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According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a driving while impaired offense could cost up to $10,000 for first time offenders. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) estimates the cost of an offense at approximately $13,500, which includes insurance hikes, attorney and legal fees, restricted licensing, days off work to go to court, a criminal record and more. In 2018 alone there was 42% of all drivers that were killed and tested positive for some form of legal and illegal drugs. Each year that goes by the percentage goes up.

According to the California Office of Traffic Safety Marijuana affects a persons driving in many ways. It slows a persons reactions and ability to make decisions, the higher a person is they are likely to thaw more risks, also the people who drive within the first thirty minutes of smoking are likely to get into a crash by 25-35 percent.

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New Campaign from Traffic Safety and Law Enforcement Launches: DUI ...

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Found on Google from safetrec.berkeley.edu

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2020s- Recent years and it's shifts towards normalization of marijuana use

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2020s- Recent years and it's shifts towards normalization of marijuana use

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In the recent years marijuana has shift its was to normalization and marijuana is also legal for medicinal or recreational use in many parts of North America and several other countries around the world. Marijuana's benefits focuses on its health benefits that allows for it to help with chronic pain, mental health issues, and sleep disorders. Recent years has seen shifts in the rise of cannabis dispensaries in the Unites States. As the acceptance of marijuana continues to grow the more normalization of marijuana use and which leads to the shift of public opinions which has increased as time has passed of people in favor of marijuana legalization and its benefits.