History of Cannabis

Prohibition Era and the War on Drugs (1900-1970s)

The 20th century saw widespread prohibition driven by moral panic, racism, and economic interests. In the U.S., states like California banned "locoweed" in 1913, associating it with Mexican immigrants. Harry Anslinger's Federal Bureau of Narcotics launched a 1930s campaign with "reefer madness" propaganda, portraying cannabis as causing insanity and crime among minorities. The 1937 Marihuana Tax Act effectively criminalized it federally.

Internationally, the 1925 Geneva Convention restricted it, followed by the 1961 UN Single Convention classifying it as Schedule I. Post-WWII, the U.S. pressured allies, leading to bans in the UK (1928) and Canada (1923).

The 1970 Controlled Substances Act solidified Schedule I status. Despite this, counterculture in the 1960s-70s, fueled by Vietnam War protests and figures like Timothy Leary, popularized it as a symbol of rebellion.

Counterculture, Activism, and Decriminalization (1970s-1990s)

The 1970s marked resistance to prohibition. Oregon decriminalized possession in 1973, followed by 10 states by 1978. Advocacy groups like NORML (1970) challenged laws, citing overcriminalization.

The AIDS crisis in the 1980s highlighted medical benefits, with activists like Dennis Peron distributing it to patients in San Francisco. 

Internationally, the Netherlands tolerated coffee shops from 1976. In the U.S., California's Proposition 215 (1996) legalized medical use, the first state to do so, sparking a wave amid federal raids.

Medical and Recreational Legalization Waves (2000s-2010s)

The 2000s saw medical legalization expand to 13 states by 2010. Colorado and Washington legalized recreational use in 2012, launching retail in 2014 and generating tax revenue for education. Uruguay became the first country to legalize nationally in 2013, followed by Canada in 2018.

U.S. federal policy shifted with the 2014 Cole Memo, deprioritizing enforcement in legal states. The 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp, boosting CBD products.

By 2019, 11 states had recreational laws, with equity provisions addressing past injustices.

Global Reforms and Contemporary Developments (2020s-Present)

The UN removed cannabis from Schedule IV in 2020, acknowledging medical value. U.S. states like New York (2021) and Rhode Island (2022) legalized, reaching 24 recreational by 2025.

Federal efforts include the MORE Act (passed House 2020, stalled Senate) and Biden's 2022 pardons for possession offenses. In 2024, the DEA proposed rescheduling to Schedule III, finalized in 2025, easing research and taxes. 

Challenges persist with black markets and youth access. As of July 21, 2025, U.S. sales hit $31 billion annually, with projections of $45 billion.