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THE REAL REASON MARIJUANA WAS MADE ILLEGAL.

THE REAL REASON MARIJUANA WAS MADE ILLEGAL. 1,marijuana. The United States is currently experiencing a turning point as an increasing number of states have legalised marijuana, and the federal government is taking steps towards legalisation. However, the question remains as to why marijuana was banned in the first place. In 2012, Colorado and Washington became the first states to legalise recreational marijuana, which sparked a trend that has gained momentum throughout the country. As of February 2022, 18 states, along with Washington D.C. and Guam, have legalised recreational use of the drug. The U.S. Senate is currently taking action to end federal pot prohibition. Numerous studies indicate that marijuana is significantly less dangerous than legal and easily accessible drugs such as alcohol and tobacco. Despite this, marijuana is classified as a Schedule I drug by the federal government, which is the category of the most dangerous banned substances with no acceptable medical uses, such as heroin and LSD. Interestingly, cocaine and meth are Schedule II drugs, which are considered "safer" than marijuana, according to the United States Drug Enforcement Agency. As dispensaries continue to emerge across the country and the culture of smoking weed becomes more normalised, many individuals may question how and why this plant was made illegal in the first place. Prior to the end of the 19th century, Americans were encouraged to cultivate cannabis, also known as hemp, which was used to make clothing, rope, and other products. Hemp plantations were widespread throughout several states. However, cotton eventually replaced hemp as the material of choice for clothing, and hemp became a popular ingredient in medicines. The recreational use of hashish also spread from France to the United States. Americans did not have an issue with marijuana until migrant workers from Mexico began coming to states like Louisiana and Texas at the beginning of the 20th century. Americans grew hostile towards these immigrants, despite taking advantage of their labour. The Mexican workers referred to the plant by its Spanish name, marijuana. Even though most Americans had the drug in their medicine cabinets, usually listed as "cannabis," the plant became newly exotic and something to fear. By 1931, 29 states had banned marijuana, and the United States had created the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, which is the predecessor of the DEA. Meanwhile, Black jazz musicians began to adopt the drug as part of the "hep cat" lifestyle, and marijuana was even immortalised in song lyrics. Unfounded and racist claims that weed made men of colour violent and overtly sexual towards white women were presented in hearings on marijuana in the 1930. The sale and use of the plant were made illegal by the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937, and its place in the Schedule I category was established by the Controlled Substances Act in 1971. Despite the drug being made illegal, its place in the culture continued to grow and become normalised, particularly during the counterculture of the 1960. By the following decade, 11 states had decriminalised weed, and even the Nixon-appointed Commission recommended decriminalising the drug federally. However, President Nixon ignored the recommendation, though President Carter openly supported nationwide decriminalisation. At the very least, mandatory minimum sentences for drug possession were relaxed. But in 1986, President Reagan signed the Anti-Drug Abuse Act, reinstating minimum sentencing for drug offences. Marijuana was not granted much leniency, and drug arrests skyrocketed. Although there have been some modifications over the years, the bulk of the law, including mandatory minimum drug sentencing, remains in place. The fear of the unknown led to the prohibition of marijuana, which has had significant consequences.All in all marijuana has positive impacts proven.